KOTA KINABALU: Several animal rescue shelters housing hundreds of cats and dogs here have appealed to the public for donations to help them survive.

       One of the two that have sent out an appeal to the public is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Kota Kinabalu, which said in a Facebook post on its official account that it only has enough to cover another month's expenses.

       “SPCA Kota Kinabalu has only RM 60,000 left in our bank account, which can only cover our next month's expenses,” said SPCA Kota Kinabalu operator Temmy Chang.

       Chang said that the possibility of being forced to shut down is high if no one is willing to help, thus posing another serious problem as to where the 66 cats and 240 dogs under their care would go.

       He added that out of approximately RM60,000, the largest chunk or RM25,000 of their budget goes to medical expenses while other costs include animal food, utilities and employee salaries every month.

       Chang said that though finances have always been tough, they still tried their best to source for funding and continue with their rescue work.

       “The number of cases we continue to help whenever we can has increased. We are still taking critical cases, even when our resources are almost gone,” he said.

       Some of the rescued dogs in SPCA KK.

       “We are responding first and banking on your generosity to pull us through again. Please share this appeal as widely as possible,” he added.

       He said that the SPCA receives about 300 calls per month for help and they often involve animals that are abandoned, abused, ill, victims of hit-and-runs, or those in dangerous situations.

       In 2021, SPCA Kota Kinabalu spent more than over RM 300,000 of donated funds on animal neutering and treatment, with 1,530 cats and dogs successfully sterilized.

       Chang urged pet owners to help the situation of overbreeding by neutering their pets and encouraged animal adoption instead of buying.

       He said that the shelter is not able to take in more pets due to space and financial constraints.

       “We don't enjoy making this appeal, but we have no choice. Help us stay open,” he added.

       Those who wish to help can either send food supplies to SPCA KK or make online transfers via the Maybank account 510198677767 under the name Persatuan Mencegah Kezaliman Terhadap Haiwan (SPCA Kota Kinabalu).

       Meanwhile, Shelter of Hope penampang operator Adrienne Godfrey Johniu said their food supply and savings for other expenses were critically low.

       Some of the cats in SPCA KK.

       “For every rescued cat and dog we have, we make sure they are vaccinated and neutered accordingly,” she said, adding they wouldn’t have lasted this long without public donations.

       The Shelter of Hope Penampang cares for 83 cats and 68 dogs, and on this Adrienne said that the cats and dogs that come in ill or with any skin diseases will be nurtured back to health before they are given up for adoption.

       Adrienne works with local vets who are willing to rescue before asking for payments and on this she said that there is still a backlog of vet fees that she is unable to settle on her own.

       Anyone willing to lend a helping hand can check out the details at the Shelter of Hope Penampang Facebook page.