Public help sought for SPCA shelter
Kota Kinabalu: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Kota Kinabalu is seeking the public’s assistance over the construction of its new shelter on a 4.5 acre site in Kg. Gana, Papar.
The new SPCA Kota Kinabalu Rehabilitation and Adoption Centre is expected to give the 210 dogs and cats currently sheltered by SPCA Kota Kinabalu more space to move around freely.
SPCA Kota Kinabalu spokesperson Jenny Chung said they were previously located in Kg. Ketiau in Putatan before relocating to Kg. Lomunu in Kibabaig, Penampang.
She said the shelter in Kg. Lomunu was then shifted to Inanam in October 2014 before moving to their current temporary shelter in Lok Kawi on December 2014.
“We hope to get the new shelter completed by end of this year, as the current space is too crowded and expensive,” she said.
Meanwhile SPCA Kota Kinabalu President Dr Stuart Chin said the first phase of construction started on Aug 11 this year and since then site preparation has been done.
He explained that the first phase is the construction of eight units of dog run, each measuring 35 feet by 70 feet in size.
“Approximately three acres of the original ground level had to be elevated by five feet to avoid flooding in the future and the earthwork for this was completed in January this year,” he added.
He said electricity and water supplies have been connected, and all piling work and footings have been completed and work on the ground beams and floor slabs are now in progress.
“We hope to be able to raise the outstanding funds and complete the building of this phase by November 2016.
“This will allow us to move our two hundred cats and dogs from our present makeshift shelter into better conditions,” he said.
He said they are also raising funds to complete the rest of our new shelter which will consist of a cattery, clinic for sterilisation (Trap-Neuter-Return unit), quarantine unit for newly rescued cats and dogs, kitchen or a food preparation area, staff quarters, a volunteers’ canteen, and an administrative unit.
“The completion of this new shelter will enable us to provide a better environment to rehabilitate and rehome rescued cats and dogs.
“This will also enable us to be more effective in our effort to control the large population of strays here by providing a trap, neuter and release service,” he said.
Approximately three acres of the original ground level had to be elevated by five feet to avoid flooding in the future.
The earthwork for this was completed in January 2016.
The SPCA Kota Kinabalu has had several challenging moments over the past year, among them was in 2014 when animals sheltered at their then shelter in Kg. Lomunu, Penampang, was hit by floods which hit the district.
It took three days and the best display of human spirit to bring all the animals to safety.
The new shelter in Kg. Gana, Papar will provide sheltered animals a space in a safe environment instead of being kept in cages.
Those wanting more information may contact Jenny at 016-880 5400 or visit their Facebook at SPCAKK or www.spcakk.org.
Source: Daily Express
