Not giving fair treatment to your pets

Warning 

The photographs below contain contents that is graphically disturbing, viewer's discretion is advised.

By Mark Tan

You have been seeing many happy pictures of Noah’s Ark.  It is time that we bring you behind the scene - a very sad one for this dog…

Very often we wish to bid the sanctuary good night after a hard day’s work and head out for a nice, happy, reasonable, and a good dinner in JB but some nights are just not meant to work the way we will it.

Last Sunday was one of those nights.  The case of a rotting Bulldog was brought to Ah Bee, our volunteer/pet transporter’s attention and without hesitation, he brought the Bulldog to Noah’s Ark ABC Clinic.

There was a huge tear on his left ear.  While checking on how severe the tear was, about 8 maggots crawled out.  A closer check, we found at least another 20 maggots in its badly infected ear canal.

A hole was spotted on the fold of his muzzle while Lee our Clinic Assistant was removing the maggots from its ear.  A further check revealed about 16 maggots infested holes on various parts of the poor Bulldog’s skin. The maggots have traveled beneath his skin, drilling through his flesh.

Further probes revealed that it all started with a dog fight.  The owner owns a few other dogs, and clearly in this case, the Bulldog wasn’t particularly the favourite in the pack.  His fight wounds were left to “self-heal”, which, in our Asian weather, is a near impossible process.

The open wounds were the perfect nesting place for houseflies.  When left untreated, the maggots literally eat through the dog, killing it eventually.

With the help of Lee and Alice, we managed to pull out all the visible maggots and cleaned up the holes.

The saddest part of it all?  The owner was not willing to spend more than RM300 (no, you didn't read me wrong.  THREE HUNDRED RINGGIT) for the dog's treatment.

With a case of neglect to this extent, how can one be spared a harsh reprimand by our founder, Raymund?

Let’s make this a lesson and not to repeat the same mistake by buying or adopting more than we can manage.  A pet is a lifelong commitment.  They need our time and effort to maintain them, apart from loads of TLC (tender loving care).

Ok - actually the saddest part was our dinner...  The stench of rotting flesh and rotting maggots lingered in our nostrils while we tried our best to enjoy a nice Chong Qing Steamboat at Bukit Indah.

Dumped and Left to Die

Warning 
The photographs below contain contents that is graphically disturbing, viewer's discretion is advised.

This dog was found dumped outside Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary (NANAS).
Workers at the sanctuary immediately took the dog in to clean its wounds
which were already infested with maggots. 

It was a typical Sunday afternoon at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary (NANAS) when the workers were alerted to a mongrel that was dumped just outside the sanctuary.  

Immediately, the workers rushed to the dog’s aid and brought it in to seek medical treatment.

The prognosis was bad, maggots were already devouring and infecting the dog’s wound. There was only one option - which was to remove the maggots individually before treating the wound. The reality was that 100 maggots were able to eat through about ½ a pound of flesh. If left untreated, the dog would suffer a slow and painful death.

The main problem lies with the owner not knowing or being ignorant of the meaning of responsible pet ownership. Being responsible means going through the right channels to surrender your pet.  

Animal sanctuaries such as Noah's Ark and organizations such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)  seek the public co-operation to use the right channels to safely surrender your pet if need be. 

The sad outcome of these dogs is that they lose their sense of direction. Often they yearn for their owners, are susceptible to further abuse and attacks by other strays. Surrendering of your pet should be done as the last resort and always seek the right help for your pet. Medical treatment and financial assistance plans are available, thus there should be no reason for the dumping of pets.

Bruno, estimate to be about 3 years old is on the road to recovery. He also has a permanent place to call home.  Practice animal responsibility and never dump your pet. There are always alternatives available and a pet is a life-long commitment. 

by Darren Chan

The Street is Not Their Home

This afternoon a dog was brought in from the street with maggots in her eye, more than hundred maggots was eating her eye. 

Noah's Ark Animal Birth Control (ABC) Clinic serves the compassionate caregivers with limited disposable income who cares and feels for the street angels.

Maggots crawling on her eye ball.

When the dog arrived, immediately we removed the maggots from her eye, cleaned up the mess to get  her ready for  her eye ball to be enucleated (i.e. the removal of the eye ball).

A kind soul has agreed to give her a home after her recovery.

Helping one dog at a time.  This country will be a better place for all if we "Respect all Creatures Great and Small".

By Raymund Wee