Therapy Dog Spunk A Canine Hero Now

Story Courtesy from Petpositive

Therapy Dog Spunk A Canine Hero Now

DATELINE: IPOH, PERAK

ALL IT TOOK WAS FIFTEEN MINUTES.

AND HISTORY WAS CREATED FOR ANIMAL- LOVERS IN THE CITY OF IPOH - ONCE FAMOUS FOR ITS TIN MINE INDUSTRY.

That's the incredibly short time that the Ipoh City Council (MBI) gave the animal and disability rights delegation (that's us!) when we met them yesterday - after making us wait for almost an hour!

However, what we initially thought was going to turn out to be a a disastrous event amazingly worked to our favour when MBI secretary Datuk Abdul Md Ariff started to warm up to our concerns minutes before he left.

He announced the immediate cessation of dog-shooting after we unequivocally expressed our outrage at the shooting-to-death of a therapy dog belonging to an elderly PETPOSITIVE member on October 30th last month.

The groups that were represented at yesterday's meeting were Petpositive from Kuala Lumpur, Independent Living and Training Centre, Rawang, Selangor, SPCA Selangor, Noah's Ark of Ipoh (protem), Ipoh SPCA and Ipoh Animal Welfare Society.

There were three representatives from the Department of Veterinary Services from Perak who played an instrumental role in helping the council to decide on the ban on dog-shooting.

Ipoh, here we come!

The journey to Ipoh from Petaling Jaya began at 7.30 in the morning. Francis Siva from the ILTC (left) and I were worried about our stomachs playing up at the last minute. Fortunately for us, no such disaster happened.

Say "cheese" everybody!

The news-starving cameramen insisted that we take a photo-shoot outside the MBI before our meeting. We cordially obliged not knowing what was going to happen next.

Powwow before the battle

Yours Truly as leader of the group had to make sure we clarified our goals of what we wanted that money. No point in contradicting anyone and confusing the council.

No telling what was going to happen

The arrangement of the discussion table seemed to be something like a war zones. Was worried if there was going to be shouting matches, etc.

Memorandum Handover

Datuk Rahim makes the first move. He walks down from his podium to greet his guests in wheelchairs. We take the opportunity to collectively hand over the memorandum.

The press conference after the meeting

The media couldn't wait to talk to us. We announce the good news - half believing ourselves what we had heard. The MBI responded warmly. Dog-shooting was off. They said they were sorry and would get in touch with the elderly woman who lost Spunk. Amazingly, a stray dog had given his life so that other strays could live on without fear of being brutally murdered.

Lunch with Noah's Ark, Ipoh

Had a terrific Chinese lunch. From left: Malika Ramiah, President of Noah's Ark, Dr Ranjit Kaur (Treasurer) and Francis Siva (Petpositive Adviser and President of ILTC.

"V" is for VICTORY!

Another one for the album outside the Chinese restaurant. (Far left: Vice President of Noah's Ark Jayamalar Jeyaratnam, Noah's Ark animal rescuer Victor (in singlet) and standing second to right, ILTC volunteer.)

At limestone heaven: ISPCA shelter

No victory can be complete if not shared with a special friend. This little pup from the ISPCA is moving on to his new owners soon. We simply couldn't resist the temptation to have him in our picture to make it - and our trip complete.