KOTA KINABALU: The lives of hundreds of rescued cats and dogs are at stake as the public-funded shelter homes they are living in around the city face financial difficulty.

       The operators of Shelter of Hope Penampang and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Kota Kinabalu have made an urgent appeal for donors to come forward and assist.

       “SPCA Kota Kinabalu has only RM60,000 left in our bank account, which can only cover our next month’s expenses,” said SPCA Kota Kinabalu operator Temmy Chang in a Facebook post.

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

       He explained that out of almost RM60,000, the largest chunk (RM25,000) of its budget goes to medical expenses while other costs include animal food, utilities and employee salaries.

       Chang said although finances had always been tough, it still tried its best to source for funding and continued with its rescue work.

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

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

       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 RM300,000 of donated funds on animal neutering and treatment, with 1,530 cats and dogs successfully sterilised.

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

       He said the shelter was 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 Kota Kinabalu 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, who cares for 83 cats and 68 dogs, said its food supply and savings for other expenses were critically low.

       “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.

       She said the cats and dogs that come in ill or with any skin diseases would be nurtured back to health before they are put up for adoption.

       Adrienne works with local vets who are willing to rescue first, before asking for payment.

       She said there were still backlog vet fees that she is unable to settle on her own, and was depending on public donations.

       Anyone willing to lend a helping hand can visit Shelter of Hope Penampang’s Facebook page.