The SSPCA began its work in Kuching in 1959, formed by a small group of expatriate officers who were moved by the sight of the diseased dogs and sick animals that roamed the streets. It was legally registered under the Registrar of Societies as the “Kuching Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KSPCA) on 11 September 1962.
In 1977, the Society changed its name to the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or SSPCA. In the years that followed, dedicated volunteers and their very active cadre of Junior Members, organised awareness - raising events, rescued and re-homed stray animals, initiated a pilot neutering scheme, and organized fundraising events.
They were also instrumental in reaching an agreement with the local councils in Kuching to house and care for all the stray animals picked up by these councils. It’s an agreement which has carried through to this day, and remains the only formal arrangement between an animal welfare organization and local councils in Malaysia.
Perhaps their most notable achievement was securing tax-deductible status for the Society. This has proved an invaluable asset to the Society in its fundraising efforts.
In 1999, through the generosity of the Sarawak State Government, the SSPCA secured a 0.6-acre piece of land at 61/2 mile Penrissen Road, Kuching on which to build its animal shelter. In the years since, this little piece of land has served as a refuge, a haven for thousands of stray, abused and abandoned animals.
Some have been fortunate enough to be given a second chance at life, others have lived out their days in the loving care of our shelter staff, and many have gone on to the ‘Great Kennel in the Sky’. As our finances improved, we expanded and improved the Shelter facilities and services to cater for the ever-increasing number of animals brought to our door. Unfortunately, this meant having to make sacrifices and utilise the exercise/play areas.
At the moment SSPCA is taking care of mostly stray and abused animals. The shelter mainly depends on donations from the public to run its operations. It has six full time staff assisted by volunteers to care for 260 animals.
The society needs almost RM30,000 every month for the shelter upkeep and to provide medical care for the animals. Besides caring for the animals, SSPCA is also working at getting a new home for them. All the animals will be given proper care and treatment before being put on the adaption program.
The shelter is now getting overcrowded with the increasing number of animals there and the growing development surrounding the area. Hence, SSPCA is looking at building an integrated purpose-built Animal Village. The Animal Village is estimated to cost RM1.8 million to build and SSPCA hopes to raise as much from all its fund raising activities to achieve this dream.
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