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Some might ask, what is the price for
freedom?
To these dogs, it means the ability to find a place
where they are
protected and loved forever.
“Our task
is to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion
to embrace all living
creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”
- Albert Einstein
Noah’s Ark Natural
Animal Sanctuary (NANAS) has always put the interests of the animals first with
the establishment of the Vet Help Program for aspiring and voluntary
veterinarians to come forward to volunteer their time at the Animal Birth
Control (ABC) Clinic. However, Noah's Ark has been forced to step in to lend a
helping hand in dire situations that threaten the animals’ welfare. Such dire
situations arises when due to limitations, the animal shelter involved in
taking care of these animals are unable to adequate medical care for these
animals.
In this instance,
Noah's Ark has graciously accepted to take in a few animals from SPCA Melaka that were suffering from various medical ailments and as a gesture of goodwill to give
these animals a place to recover and to call their own at the sanctuary. This
gracious exception will put an end for the animals’ fervent search at finding a
permanent home.
The truth is that shelter
animals are always waiting and searching for good owners to welcome them into
their homes so that they would not be confined to a shelter for the rest of
their lives. Moreover, shelter animals make excellent pets as they only ask for
companionship and the basic necessities which are food, water and shelter to
feel contented. The harsh reality is that some shelter animals are not given
that chance. Furthermore, people have the urge to buy a pet instead of adopting
one from a animal shelter, this will deny the animals a chance to find a
permanent home.
These animals are the
more privileged ones that have gotten rescued and be recipients of the medical
assistance that they so badly deserved. Animal shelters are also faced with a
huge amount of abandonment cases that they are spread thinly at the expense of
the animals.
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Marco a Rottweiler was neglected for the last two years
without proper
medications. He was suffering from
chronic
mange and fungal infection.
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Raymund Wee, founder
of Noah's Ark says, “The world is such that we are constantly urged to chase after a
moment of fame. The feel good moment will last only when we are unseated by the
next winner. Perhaps we need to step off and consider how we can impact the
animals. Such efforts will bear fruit that last through time.” Adding on he
further elaborates by saying, “When leadership of the animal shelters fail, the
killing goes on.”
Raymund observes that some animal shelters hide behind the
word “Mercy Killing” as an easy way out than trying to save them.
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An emaciated Japanese
Spitz, weighing a mere 5 kg, down
with suspected tick fever. Immediately it was given
an emergency IV drip and
vitamin B12 to boost it immunity system.
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The truth is that
Noah's Ark has been taking in close to about 100 animals from SPCA Melaka to provide
them with urgent medical treatments and a place where they are able to
recuperate. Raymund provides his own insight on the limitations that animal
shelters faces. He says, “Animal Shelters similar to SPCA has their own
constitutions where the shelter gives half-way housing for surrendered or
rescued animals and they do not have sanctuary facilities.” Adding on he says, “To
help the animals, animals that are to be kept longer than 3 months need to be
moved to a foster home which applies to senior animals and those with
disabilities so that they have a higher chance of getting adopted.”
Animal welfare
organisations need to know when to step off the publicity train so that they
can focus their attention on more pressing matters at hand which is for the
welfare of the animals and not themselves. With humility and compassion, more
animals can find that loving home that they are seeking for most of their
lifetime and meet responsible owners who are ready to make that commitment.
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| Nelly, a final year veterinarian
student from Glasgow was on attachment as part of Vet Help@Noah's Ark giving Marco a physical examination. |
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| From left: Vincent, SPCA Melaka President, Loy and Mei, Noah's Ark Volunteers, Tong, SPCA Volunteer and Angeline, SPCA Melaka Vice President. |
Also, the public has
to understand that it is their own responsibility to care for their pets till
they pass on as it is part of their duty as a guardian. It is a simple reason
is that a pet will be by your side at any time, without hesitation. The best we
can do for them is to give them the company and love that they need. The
question is “Which legacy do we wish to live and leave behind?” It is a matter
of our own choices that will determine the progress of animal welfare and the
weight of its impact on the animals.
By Darren Chan
