Understand the Roles of Shelters and the Blames

by Raymund Wee

In order for veterinarians to work effectively with shelters they should understand the various roles or functions they may be asked to serve, the mission and philosophy of the shelter/sanctuary. 

Each shelter has their own strength, Noah's Ark strength is to provide low-cost spay and neuter for animal guardians with lesser disposable income, also for those who can't afford other medical services for their pet/pets.

Limiting Disease Transmission

If there is a possibility of an infectious animal population, the only "treatment" that will prevent any disease transmission is true isolation.

Unfortunately, few facilities in Malaysia and Singapore have a space that is physically and environmentally separated from the rest of the shelters.

The canine population typically exhibits problems limited to a few common diseases, isolation areas should reasonably focus on those diseases, name:

• Infectious kennel cough
• Distemper 
• Canine parvovirus
• Fungal skin infection and scabies

RESCUING 70 dogs that were rounded up from the multiple areas from the dog pound in JB all at once sounds pathetically humane but their outcome regarding their well being need to be questioned.

While considering the implications of the impact of other insidious diseases and their effects on an adopted animal and the adopter.

Keeping exposed and sick animals in the shelter jeopardizes the health of current and future populations often falls on the deaf ears of untrained management who are influenced heavily by public sentimentality.