KUALA LUMPUR, SPCA Selangor and Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank) organised World Animal Day at the SPCA premises in Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama, Ampang here on Monday, as a day of advocating animal welfare and respecting the existence of animals.
Themed “Creating Caring and Compassionate Communities (CCCC)”, the event began with the arrival of SPCA’s Royal Patron, Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, followed by a ‘Potong Royong’, a large-scale on-ground project that implements spay and neutering of stray animals.
EXIM Bank in a statement said the programme aims to reduce the number of stray animals, enhance public health and safety as well as foster responsibility among pet owners with a total of 1,349 animals being spayed or neutered across locations such as Rawang, Hulu Langat and Klang as of Oct this year.
“The project would not have been successful if it wasn’t for the support of Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, like-minded organisations, team members and volunteers,” according to the statement.
EXIM Bank said during the event, its Chief Strategy Officer Dr Liza Mydin also made a contribution of RM15,000 to SPCA Selangor and the World Animal Day.
Other activities held for the public included Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya Licensing and neutering registration, sales of pet merchandise, games and fun activities, pet insurance registration booth, busker performance and dog training tips.
EXIM Bank said CCCC is a dedicated initiative that fosters empathy, kindness and compassion as well as bridges communications and actionable gaps so that the council, residents, animal rescuers and relevant stakeholders will be able to work harmoniously to reduce stray animals and encourage adoption.
One of the many efforts include proposals for Municipal Councils with regard to the management of stray animals and implementation of animal freedom; freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, fear and distress as well as freedom to express normal behaviour, the statement said.
According to the statement, CCCC also takes a strong stand in encouraging Municipal Pounds to provide education, spay or neuter and rehoming programmes as opposed to the catch and kill approach.
With this in mind, Exim Bank said CCCC strives to prioritise seven pillars of implementation including among others taking the lead in establishing training workshops to train personnel to be responsible with proper dog-catching techniques and prevent unnecessary suffering.
Also Work with relevant communities to allow Tap-Neuter-Return (TNR) stray animals with acceptable SOP whereby rescuers can continue to feed, treat and manage them and encourage commercial enterprises to be responsible and spay or neuter stray animals that they keep within or surrounding their commercial compound.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency