ANIMAL shelters are staring at a bleak future for strays as well as for the cats and dogs in their care during the movement-control order (MCO) period and beyond.

A combination of problems – lack of food for strays, and an anticipated drop in pet adoptions and donations to shelters – are their main worries under the MCO, said the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA Selangor) and Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB). 

Shelters are keeping cats and dogs in their care but the lack of food for strays on the streets due to people’s restricted movement is worrying, said SPCA senior animal welfare officer Kelvin Cheah.

Strays, normally fed by concerned public or animal welfare groups on their rounds, now have less food, especially with eateries closed except for takeaway and deliveries. 

Cheah, 35, said the animal rescue and stray feeding groups in Selangor that he knows of have not been able operate as the MCO has confined people to their homes.

Purchasing food supply from pet shops is also difficult as many are closed and people are only allowed to leave their homes for grocery shopping and medical emergencies.

SPCA is working on sending pet food to these groups. 

“We have a network of rescuers around Selangor. We plan to help them by sending them some food,” said Cheah.

MBBD founder Wani Muthiah said the groups she has collaborated with would normally feed dogs around their workplace and near factories.

But as most animal rescuers in her network are now at home, these dogs are expected to have a hard time finding food.

“A lot of restaurant owners feed strays in their localities, while a lot of them take care of strays around their offices and factories. Since they are not going to work and there are roadblocks everywhere preventing them from moving around, these strays will suffer.”

Wani appealed to restaurant operators to consider preparing additional food for strays.

“Since stalls and restaurants are not operating and only do takeaways, it will be difficult for the strays to get food because there isn’t as much waste or leftovers.

“Unless the restaurant operators are kind enough to prepare additional food for the animals, which would help. Not all will, though,” she said.

Cheah said although he is worried about animal welfare under the MCO, people are also expected to focus on their finances and own needs before thinking about strays.

“Already the adoption rate at the shelter has dropped drastically since the implementation of the MCO and with the extension, animals are going to be here longer. 

“There will probably be an economic slowdown and if that happens, donations would be further reduced.

“The bad economy will also affect adoptions. If one doesn’t have enough to eat, then pet adoption would be their last priority.”

Cheah and Wani said their respective shelters are able to sustain themselves albeit with problems obtaining additional food supply because of roadblocks and transportation issues under the MCO.

Both shelters feed the animals in their care a combination of pet kibble and cooked food.

SPCA has more than 100 dogs and more than 60 cats.

Cheah said some of the pet food suppliers SPCA depends on are still trying to obtain exemptions from the government to operate and deliver supplies.

Wani said she, too, is facing challenges obtaining food supply for dogs.

However, a taxi driver whose services she uses frequently is assisting with getting supplies delivered.

“We have big freezers, so we load the freezers with food for the dogs as well as for the workers but if it is running out, we’ll get a taxi to deliver us the food. He would go to the suppliers, take the supplies and then deliver to the shelter. 

“We also give him a letter stating the reason he’s going out (for police checks at roadblocks). So far, there hasn’t been any problem,” she said. 

MDDB cares for more than 200 dogs spread throughout several shelters with the main shelter in Rawang, Selangor. – April 13, 2020.