‘Adopt pets from shelters to reduce strays’
MIRI: The local community has been urged to adopt stray dogs and cats from shelters, instead of buying from pet shops, to help reduce the stray population.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin made this call during a visit to the temporary shelter of Zero Strays Miri (ZSM), a nonprofit organisation ( NGO), last Saturday.
“I have been following the activities and programmes of ZSM since its inception in 2013. The effort and hard work they put in to spread the awareness are beyond their responsibility,” said Lee.
I have been following the activities and programmes of ZSM since its inception in 2013. The effort and hard work they put in to spread the awareness are beyond their responsibility. Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture
Lee further reiterated that the local community should not hesitate to adopt dogs and cats from ZSM as they have been neutered, spayed and vaccinated.
“Even though we encourage adoption, it should be based on love for the pet because we do not wish to see irresponsible owners abandon the animals on the streets,” he added.
Neutering, spaying and vaccinating require a huge amount of money.
Thus, Lee expressed his appreciation towards the Sarawak government and the public who gave monetary support to enable ZSM to continue saving strays.
On the rabies problem in Sarawak, Lee advised pet owners to have their pets vaccinated as soon as possible and for those bitten either by dogs or cats to seek immediate treatment at the nearest hospital.