Latest news with #SPCASandakan
Daily Express
20 hours ago
- General
- Daily Express
Cash-strapped SPCA Sandakan appeals for funds again
Published on: Wednesday, July 02, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: Delays in neutering can result in over 100 new puppies each month, many of which will face starvation, disease or road accidents. - FMT pic for illustration only SANDAKAN: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Sandakan has issued an urgent appeal to the public for financial support as it struggles to sustain its ongoing stray animal neutering programme. According to its Secretary, Voo Min Gin, out of an estimated 878 stray dogs, 133 have been successfully neutered to date, however, 745 dogs remain untreated. 'SPCA Sandakan is now facing a critical shortage of funds. Payments for upcoming veterinary procedures must be settled this week, and without immediate public donations, the program is at risk of stalling. 'Veterinarian Dr Randolf is scheduled to arrive in Sandakan on 1 July 2025 to resume the neutering efforts. 'However, after paying two urgent bills, the spay / neuter fund will be nearly depleted. 'This is a life-saving programme. Every dog we neuter today prevents dozens of homeless puppies tomorrow. We've built the system, what we need now is financial support to keep it going,' said Voo. The urgency is further compounded by the approaching monsoon season, which typically leads to increased breeding among stray animals. Delays in neutering can result in over 100 new puppies each month, many of which will face starvation, disease or road accidents. Members of the public who wish to support the cause can donate via bank transfer to SPCA Sandakan Maybank account number: 560166133482 (account name: Medication Account). For more updates, visit SPCA Sandakan's official social media platforms. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Over 600 dogs, no space, no vets: Sandakan SPCA's crisis amid stray dog crackdown
SANDAKAN, June 29 — The Sandakan Municipal Council has ramped up efforts to tackle the town's stray dog population, capturing more than 600 dogs in recent operations. However, the sudden success has created a new crisis. The influx has overwhelmed the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Sandakan shelter, which is now operating far beyond its capacity and urgently calling for help. Many of the captured dogs require immediate health checks, quarantine and medical treatment, but the shelter lacks adequate facilities, medicine and volunteer veterinarians. Without proper care, there is an increased risk of disease outbreaks, which could force the authorities to resort to mass culling. Overcrowding has made the situation worse. Shelter operators say they need to quickly build more kennels to separate the animals and prevent the spread of contagious diseases, which pose risks to both the dogs and volunteers. In the short term, the SPCA Sandakan is appealing for donations of food, medicine and building materials. Volunteers are also needed to help with feeding, cleaning and daily maintenance. Animal welfare groups stress that this crisis shows the need for a more sustainable approach. A proven method, used successfully in countries like Turkiye, involves catching, neutering and ear-tagging stray dogs to keep the population under control. Cooperation between the Sabah State Veterinary Services Department and local animal welfare organisations is key to ensuring that stray management is both effective and humane. Community involvement in tracking and reporting strays could also help gather data to improve future measures. Animal advocate Remy Majangkim urged the community to remember that stray animals rely entirely on human compassion. 'The creators do not make mistakes in their creations; rather, it is we who often ignore their existence and plight,' Remy said recently. He added that every contribution counts — whether it is through donations, volunteering, or simply raising awareness. 'Together, we can create a safer, healthier future for Sandakan's stray dogs,' he said. For donations or volunteer opportunities, the public can contact SPCA Sandakan directly. — The Borneo Post
Daily Express
23-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Sandakan SPCA is unable to cope, desperate for aid
Published on: Friday, May 23, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 23, 2025 By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: The overpopulated SPCA Sandakan shelter. SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA Sandakan) is facing an unprecedented crisis as its shelter reaches breaking point with over 800 dogs in desperate need of care. The non-profit organisation, which operates solely on public donations, is now launching an ambitious 12 month sterilisation programme and urgently appealing for financial and material assistance. Since its founding in 2012, SPCA Sandakan has been a refuge for stray and abandoned dogs, stepping in to provide humane care after the local council ended its controversial shoot-to-kill policy. However, the shelter's capacity has been pushed to the limit, what was once a manageable population of 350 dogs has now exploded to 828, with new arrivals coming in daily. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sandakan dog shelter at breaking point
Voo tending to the dogs at SPCA Sandakan. SANDAKAN (May 22): The Sandakan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA Sandakan) is in urgent need of funding to continue caring for more than 800 dogs currently under its care. SPCA Sandakan secretary Gin Voo said that the shelter is facing an unprecedented crisis as its shelter reaches breaking point with over 800 dogs in desperate need of care. She added that the non-profit organisation, which operates solely on public donations, has also launched an ambitious 12-month sterilisation programme and urgently appealing for financial and material assistance. SPCA Sandakan was founded in 2012, and served as a refuge for stray and abandoned dogs, stepping in to provide humane care after the local council ended its controversial shoot-to-kill policy. However, the shelter's capacity has been pushed to the limit — what was once a manageable population of 350 dogs has now exploded to 828, with new arrivals coming in daily, she said. She added that the crisis stems from uncontrolled breeding due to irresponsible pet ownership, mass abandonment of unwanted litters, continued capture of strays by the municipal council, and the lack of government funding for sterilisation programs 'Despite taking on the enormous responsibility of housing Sandakan's stray population, SPCA Sandakan receives only RM5,000 per year from the local council — a sum that covers less than four days of operations,' she said. SPCA Sandakan's monthly expenses of around RM40,000 includes medical care for injured and sick rescued dogs, food and shelter for the over 800 dogs, salaries of seven employees, as well as purchases of utilities and for maintenance. 'We're drowning in costs while saving lives,' said Voo. 'Our RM5,000 annual grant disappears in four days. Without help, we cannot continue.' Voo said SPCA Sandakan opines that sterilisation is the only ethical and effective way to control the stray population. 'Killing strays is not the solution — it's cruel and doesn't address the root cause,' she said. 'Mass sterilisation breaks the endless breeding cycle humanely. For every female dog we spay, we prevent hundreds of unwanted puppies from suffering on the streets.' She added that the shelter's critical mass sterilisation programme aims to sterilize 100 dogs per month (1,200 in 12 months). She said that the cost per surgery is RM180 and that they need RM216,000 to undertake the programme. Voo reminded that they operate with zero government support and 100 percent community-funded. Aside for the cost to run the mass sterilisation programme, Voo said that their shelter also needs materials to create a recovery facility consisting of 50 recovery cages (for post-op care), three heavy duty canponies (for shaded recovery space), wire mesh fencing (to secure the area), 400 gallon water tanks and piping system (for hygiene) and construction labour cost to construct the facility. Voo also urged the community to neuter their pets and not contribute to the overpopulation and to consider adopting a dog as well as support their sterilisation programme. 'Every adoption creates space to save another life,' she said. She also said that a RM180 donated funds one life saving sterilisation, RM1,800 covers 10 dogs, and RM5,000 supports a month's medical supplies. 'Aside from that, we also welcome donation in the form of cage materials (metal), weatherproof canopies, galvanised wire mesh, water storage tanks, plumbing supplies and skilled labour volunteers,' she said. Corporates and business entities are also welcome to sponsor construction materials and hardware, medical equipment and adopt monthly funding pledges, she said. 'The stakes have never been higher. Without immediate help, the shelter population will exceed 1,000 dogs by the end of the year and raise the likelihood of disease outbreaks resulting from overcrowding. We also risk becoming bankrupt,' she said. 'This is Sandakan's last hope to humanely solve the stray crisis,' said Voo. 'We're not just asking for money — we need hands-on help. If you can donate materials or labour, you're building a future for these animals. Together, we can make Sandakan a model for compassionate stray management.' To donate, please contact 0168319119 for further information or bank in to: Maybank 560166133482 (SPCA Sandakan).
