Hello! My friends and I willing to become volunteers at PAWS as PAWS need more help! We are actually Mass Comm students from Limkokwing. We will try our best to promote PAWS as we will broadcast thru campus radio! I went to PAWS last week with my friends. To interview Mr.Edward, but he gave me Chris's no. We're doing PR research at PAWS. After asked Edward some question, we asked his permission whether we can become volunteers or not. And he assigned us to play with puppies and later came an Australian ( I guess so, I heard her aussie slang) lady assigned us to walk the dogs. We are going to PAWS next friday!!! I wonder what can I do? I'm willing to help out events and all that!

ya...i would love to help out....but currently onli free on weekends.....but i'll soon have my 4 months holiday....from nov till feb....

amanda85@chilam.com

Hi Leecy,



I’m writing unofficially but as a seasoned volunteer at PAWS. This is my view. I sense here that you are trying to put PAWS on the spot about its’ policies, especially why animals are ‘put to sleep’. Please let me explain something.



Regarding pedigrees - In countries where pet owners are generally more responsible (most neuter their pets, so unintended breeding is less) there will be a higher percentage of pedigree animals at the shelters. Here in Malaysia neutering is less common, so most of the unwanted and stray animals are mixed breed. (This can easily be seen at both PAWS and SPCA and also on the streets)



It is usually relatively easy for owners of pedigree animals to re-home or even re-sell their animal themselves; so few are brought to PAWS. It’s a sad fact of life that many people seem to think a pedigree is ‘better’ or more ‘impressive’, more ‘beautiful’ or a better companion than a mixed breed dog. I personally disagree but, like Mercedes, pedigree dogs and cats continue to sell like hotcakes.

In the same way, when we do get the occasional pedigree animal surrendered at PAWS it usually gets picked first, unless it is elderly or seen to be imperfect for some reason. So – in answer to your question – PAWS gets a few pedigrees and they usually get chosen first.



As I'm sure you know, PAWS (like every shelter everywhere) has many, many more animals surrendered and abandoned than are adopted. And, being a shelter with limited space, resources, staff, money, regular volunteers and especially a limited number of people coming to adopt… (in fact, limited everything, except an abundance of surrendered animals)… the shelter cannot expand every month to take in more and more… and more. It would explode!



So, regarding the euthanasia policy, it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that many animals in local shelters are ‘put to sleep’. The imbalance between surrenders and adoptions is HUGE. Many are unwell or unsocialised. Only a small percentage can be found new homes. This is the reality. Shelters are not sanctuaries or retirement homes. People bring their surplus or problem animals to PAWS and expect to surrender both the animal and the responsibility of rehoming – including the responsibility and decision of putting them to sleep. Surplus animals sadly pay the penalty for all the humans who could not be bothered or did not understand that neutering is necessary to control the stray population. Taking the ‘extras’ to PAWS will not solve this problem. There are simply many more animals than there are caring, responsible owners.



So, if you want to help PAWS please understand that the answer to this problem starts with you, and with each of us who care about animals.

· Share the message about NEUTERING

· Learn to APPRECIATE MIXED BREED ANIMALS

· ADOPT FROM SHELTERS (this SAVES TWO LIVES as the adopted animal has a new home and the shelter can then take in one more)

And THAT IS HOW WE CAN ALL HELP THE SHELTERS SO THAT FEWER ANIMALS WILL BE PUT TO SLEEP.

The power and the responsibility is in our hands, in your hands…



And that is my own honest opinion. There is no easy, comfortable answer here. I’m sorry if it’s not exactly what you expected or wanted to hear Leecy!

Liz

Hello Amanda,

You wrote:

" ... i found a 2 months puppy n now she is currently living in foster home tat have other dogs around .... n if no one where to adopt her ASAP .... we might thought of sending her to PAWS .... hope tat she had a higher chance there .... do u think tats a better idea? but on d other hand, i afraid tat if no one adopt her then she will be put 2 sleep... "

The first thing that PAWS & the volunteers at PAWS will say is ... Please think carefully before surrendering a pup/dog ...

Not because PAWS does not care or does not wish to help, but because of the realities of managing an animal shelter.

You see - as long as surrenders (& the number of dogs being abandoned at PAWS) outnumber the number of animals that can be adopted or re-homed - the risk of "putting to sleep" remains a reality. It is not something desired by PAWS or wished for by those who work/volunteer their effort and time at PAWS but it is a reality.

At PAWS, at all animal shelters in Malaysia and everywyhere around the world - there are more abandoned, rejected, strays & unwanted animals than there are opportunities for adoption or re-homing.

At almost all times, PAWS is working at maximum capacity with over 400 cats & dogs (juvenile, young & adult) to care & feed, medicate & to find homes for ... while space, man-power & finance are all limited ...

Which is why LCK is calling for volunteers - with more hands, more minds & more hearts working together - several things will happen ~

(a) Better & more efficient care can be provided to the animals at PAWS ... and just as important (b) by working together hopefully the rate of adoption & rehoming can be increased ... All of which will help bring the rate of putting to sleep down, and give all animals a better chance.

If you are worried about your pup - email me at surchinmy@yahoo.com with details & pixs of your pup - and I will circulate around the support system ... and hopefully your puppy will find a good home.

Cheers

Harlo...Gopi...I tried to call you but no one answer...ermmm...maybe you see the number start 04-? Because I called you from Penang la! ...Okie...me and my friend, 2 of use willing to help out! We are free on almost every Friday or althernate weekend (If I don't go back to Penang). Is it ok for you? Or you dont get what I mean? Oh...even myself I also don't really know what I'm talking about! Anyways, we are going to PAWS again on this coming Friday! Ya...I have a housemate who wants to adopt a puppy from PAWS. All her friends encourage her to adopt (they tell her try and see because she has no experience at all!!! OMG...how can take a pup and try?) whereas I dont really encourage because I know her condition here and she cant really take care of the pup. I told her I dont wish to see the pup end up at PAWS again...Now, she's angry at me. I know she's from Kedah, every holiday she will fly back to Kedah and how is she gonna take care of the pup? Moreover...we spend most of our time in college and come home only in the evening. Meaning the pup has to caged from morning until evening. You encourage her to adopt? Now I'm praying hard and wish that pup find a better and capable owner!