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First of all, let’s not mix rabies outbreak control with strays population control.

When the news of rabies outbreak was announce, NGOs were not inform or rather invited to have a discussion on how to overcome the crisis. In fact, they have a closed door discussion among themselves and next the thing we knew, the culling order was signed. NGOs are well aware that culling does not solve the problem of rabies, but it will worsen the crisis. Strays will run for their lives seeing the dog catchers and if so unlucky one of these dogs are rabies carrier? Then surely it will spread to a new area and the cycle continues. It is undeniable that strays are smart and with them witnessing their own species being brutally killed, it will make them turn protective and aggressive. This is when dog bite case will hike. Indirectly, if the cull continues, human lives will be at risk. This is the same mistake that every country has repeatedly made when they panic after the first case of rabies detected in a “dog”. We thought our country will be different given better education and all but it proves otherwise. Countries like India, Africa and Bali made this mistake because the rabies outbreak happened mostly at villages where people are poor and access to medical care is not easy, They are lack of proper education on this. When they are bitten by dogs, they would just leave the wound without getting proper medical treatment. This is when rabies become 99.9% fatal. Our State has announced that they had no choice due to shortage of vaccines. NGOs again, step in and offer their help…but was push away…well, at least until the press stepped in and reported the issue, then only they were granted the opportunity for a round table discussion. Unfortunately, NGOs were termed as “roadside” experts thus the State refused to take into consideration their opinions even though they have statistics and proven records from (World Recognized NGOs i.e. WHO & WVS). NGOs worked their ass out, day and night to help find solution and at last, their effort paid off with WVS agreeing to help (IF our Government approve) and they are willing to offer free vaccines to all the strays of Penang. WVS even offer to fly in their expert to discuss with our Government on their proposal and the effectiveness of mass vaccination. Are this not hard work from NGOs, proving and finding solution? In addition, does our Government make any move to provide any education to Public on the outbreak of rabies? No, they did not. The effort comes from NGOs who gather volunteers to setup booths at various places to educate Public. We do not understand why the people (especially those supported culling) continuously accused us for “keyboard warriors” and “cybertroopers”. In fact, this so called, “keyboard warriors” and “cybertroopers” are not just saving animal lives, they are also looking at the safety of humans. Have you all not realize the increase of dog bite cases since culling started 2 weeks ago? Have you still not realize the danger this mass culling is bringing to human lives? We hope that the day you realize, it’s still not too late.

Next, if you are using this culling as the opportunity to reduce the population of strays, then you will be up for another disappointment. Remember how our State has been stressing that during BN time, they adopt the killing method? Well, do you see any decrease on the number of strays today? No, right? Then do you still think this method can work? OK, so DAP took over and say they stop killing but that does not mean they stop catching. In Mainland, strays caught to Pound were left to die. The staff do not feed and clean. These animals are just left to rot and die on their own until SPCA Seberang Perai step in and send their volunteers daily to the Pound to feed and clean. When the pound become full, truck after truck they send those dogs to SPCA Seberang Perai’s shelter. In a matter of few years, the number of dogs in the shelter increase from a mere 200 to 800+. So, the method of sheltering was tried out but do you see any deduction in the number of strays? No? Then it means sheltering is not the right method as well. Many a times we have propose the idea of TNR (Trap, Neuter & Release) to our Government but obviously they are not ready to adopt this method. But then a lot of studies has shown that only through TNR, we can see a good deduction in the number of strays. Although the State has not agreed with this method, but NGOs has been all this while working with rescuers and feeders to provide subsidization for spaying strays. Of course, our work is limited as we are lack of resources and funds to run a big scale TNR program. Nevertheless, NGOs are working hard to help, and not just talk. They walk the talk. If you can attend the Bersih 4 rally and sleep on the streets just for the better of the next generation, why not have the heart to allow and accept TNR? It’s also for the good of your next generation since you are always worried that kids and your love ones will be harmed by the strays. You never expect Ah Jib will step down overnight when you attended the rally, right? But you still do it because you want to fight for the better of future. Same theory applies here. Similarly, we can’t expect strays to be gone overnight but with the support from everyone, we are sure we can help to reduce the numbers. And how do you feel sleeping on the road during the Bersih rally? Bear in mind these strays sleep on the road everyday and they are happy enough just to be given food and a chance to survive.

So, who is the actual talk and no solution people, we shall leave it to you to think and decide…but hope it won’t be too late by the time you realize.

#StopKillingStartVaccinating

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/guan-en..

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