Money can buy you a fine dog but only love can make him wag his tail.
– Kinky Friedman, American songwriter
Gina, a dear old friend in Kuching, is an animal lover. She loves dogs so much that at times I wonder whether the flurry canines are more important to her than her own self.
People love dogs for a variety of reasons. Talk to a dog lover and he/she will surely tell you that dogs have been known to be man’s best friends for good reasons. Because they really are.
They are there for us through thick and thin. They never judge and are always happy to see us return, whether we’ve been gone five hours or five minutes.
Some dog lovers also claimed that they have benefitted greatly from pet therapy, including patients undergoing chemotherapy or those with post-traumatic stress disorder. Even students can take advantage of pet therapy that alleviates feelings of homesickness and depression.
In an ideal world, it would have been a great love story between a man and his dog and they should live happily ever after.
But sadly, this world is far from ideal and the love story of the dog and its owner remains a fairy tale, at best.
The never-ending issue of stray dogs, rabies and culling of the animals in Kuching and its surrounding areas is not something to be proud of.
As a Kuchingite myself, let me say that I’m actually ashamed of the seriousness of the stray dog/rabies situation and perhaps, should share the blame too although I spend very little time in my hometown now.
(There are similar problems elsewhere but for the purpose of this article, I’m only concentrating on Kuching.)
Besides reading from press reports, Gina has been my top source of the stray dog menace in Kuching. On several occasions, she had called me to pour out her lamentations of the stray dog operation by the local authorities.
Gina is a fierce defender of the strays, rightly or wrongly, and I have to salute her determination and guts to see that the rights of dogs, even strays, are not trampled upon.
Hello, how many of us talk about the rights of animals (some idiots talk about race and religion more) except for people like Gina.
I believe even those with little affection for animals are happy that there are Gina and her kind around to defend and support the vulnerable canines loitering unwanted in our streets.
Last year, Gina told me a story of how she gate-crashed into the residence of Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian over the reported culling of a stray dog which she had just heard of.
As Gina had related to me, a female stray had just given birth and was seen around the market in Kenyalang Park, most likely in search of food.
Someone complained to the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and a team came to catch the poor animal which was later put to sleep, as Gina had reliably learnt.
I’m not sure I would be knocking on the door of Dr Sim just for a stray dog but Gina would. She also wanted to see the good minister in charge of local authorities to enlighten him on the stray dog situation from another standpoint.
Are we not glad that Kuching is still a place where we can make an impromptu visit to a minister’s home and would likely be welcomed there? Not all ministers perhaps, but for a service-oriented person like Dr Sim who is always ready to offer a helping hand when approached, even if it’s only a stray dog problem.
Dr Sim spent a few minutes with Gina to listen to her views, after which he asked for her contact number.
Four main points brought up by Gina to Dr Sim were, one, the issue of stray dogs was exacerbated by pet abandonment; two, the high cost of neuter; three, the modus operandi of catching and culling strays must be upgraded and carried out more professionally; and four, reports of the operations to be transparent and made public.
Another Gina poser was also legitimate, in my view. Stray dog operations have been going on and yet, cases of rabies keep resurfacing. Is this an indication that such operations have not yielded the desired results?
Sorry, I don’t have an answer to that. Perhaps the authorities concerned can help.
Gina was grateful for Dr Sim’s proactive reaction after her visit to his residence. An officer from Sim’s ministry contacted Gina after that.
Then, there was this ding-dong thing from the ministry to the Department of Veterinary Sciences and to the enforcement unit. Then everything fizzled out, Gina said. It has been a year since.
MBKS has embarked on another anti-rabies operation beginning May 8 in the city and this will include catching stray dogs.
I’m glad that Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng has also advised the public, especially pet owners, to jointly take responsibility by vaccinating their pets and not abandoning their animals.
For one, Gina’s point of pet abandonment has been noticed and taken up by the local council.
I will give A++ to Gina for her effort and resilience and to the good Dr Sim, an ‘A’ for always being helpful to the public when approached and for walking his talk.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
