By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Feb 19: The Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) animal shelter was flooded again following incessant rain since last night.
Its president Datin Donna Drury-Wee said its animal shelter was once again affected by the heavy downpour after the last one on Jan 13 causing three dogs and one kitten drowned.
She was alerted at 6.30am that waters were rising.
Although this time round there were no drowned animals, Donna disclosed that the shelter had not had floods since 2013, so they thought that those dreadful days were gone after the drains surrounding the area were properly built, on top of all the development around them.
“However, now our land is below the road level and therefore causes problems when there is heavy rain with all the water rushing into this ‘valley’.
“After the Jan 13 incident, we made some higher platforms using wooden pellets and sandbags that were donated by the public. All of our new electrical goods have been raised almost three feet above the ground using hollow blocks,” Donna explained.
Currently, the shelter has about 360 animals, while the younger ones were all moved to foster homes after the Jan 13 flood.
In view of such a dire situation, she is hopeful that the authorities can assist them to speed up the approved plans for the shelter’s new Animal Village.
Without the approval plan, Donna said they cannot proceed nor can any construction works begin.
Located at Sungai Tapang, the Animal Village will be built on a 0.8-hectare land which was awarded by the Sarawak government.
“At the same time, we are also appealing to the public for funds to help us build our new Animal Village. Those who wish to come forward can channel to the shelter’s CIMB account 8005274525,” Donna said, adding that donors can also put a note ‘for Animal Village’ as their reference. -DayakDaily
