History
The world's oldest and largest animal welfare charity organization - The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was founded in 1824 by a group of twenty-two reformers to support the working of an Act passed in July 1822 against cruelty to farm animals, particularly cattle. The Society was granted its royal status by Queen Victoria in 1840 to become the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Society's first few years were a constant struggle against ignorance, prejudice, lack of funds and public support, and apathy amongst many authorities. Nonetheless, The Society was vigilant in its duties. A self-funded tiny committee of 3 persons was formed inspecting the markets, slaughterhouses and the conduct of city coachmen. In 1824 they managed to bring 63 offenders before the Courts. In the late 1830s the Society began the tradition of the Inspector. By 1841 there were 5 inspectors, based in London, paid a guinea a week, travelled to various parts of the country bringing suspected offenders before the Courts. The society's best known inspectorate tradition became a core image/activity of most animal welfare societies today.

The RSPCA was successful in government lobbying. The Acts which the RSPCA managed to push through included the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, which outlawed baiting. The Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 followed which aimed to control animal experimentation. In 1911 the Parliament passed the Animal Protection Act covered domestic or captive animals including farm animals.

Other independent animal welfare groups have sprung up around the world since then and have continued to carry the torch in promoting animal welfare.

Animals Welfare in Malaysia
In Malaysia, the oldest SPCA organisation (and the oldest animal welfare organisation in the country) is the SPCA Penang, which was founded in 1948. This was followed by the formation of the SPCA Selangor, Kuching, Ipoh, Melaka and Johor. These non-profit organisations are independent, and are not considered as branches.
The youngest SPCA organisation in Malaysia to date is now the SPCA Kota Kinabalu, which was officially registered on the 14 February 2006.

It all began on 6 March 2004. A licensed dog named Maximus, who was mistaken for a stray, shot by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall Dog Unit, when it ran out of its compound to check on some commotion outside, caused its heartbroken owner to initiate the establishment of SPCA KK in memory of Max and to prevent similar untoward tragedies to innocent pets. As a result of this, and with the enthusiastic support of a handful of animal lovers, SPCA KK was born. The fist Annual General Meeting was held on 29 March 2008, election of office bearers too place. The first president was a veterinarian named Dr Rassit Ibrahim.

After a short spell of inactivity, SPCA KK was reactivated only recently under a new leadership and a team of staunch animal lovers and activists. Although cash-strapped and without much resources, the organisation hopes that with generous public assistance and support it can continue the never-ending battle to prevent animal abuse. The organisation also aims to create awareness and bring about change to situations and practices in which cruelty, neglect or unnecessary sufferings exist.

Mission and objectives
SPCA KK believes that many people are unaware of inhumane practices and the suffering that many animals are forced to endure. No one likes to talk about pain, suffering and death, but change cannot take place until the facts are presented clearly to the public. Adults and children must be educated about problems such as pet overpopulation, factory farming and animal experimentation. Once they know and understand what has been hidden from them, a percentage of these people will at least speak out against the inhumanity or actively decide to help.

The mission and objectives of SPCA KK are to:
- Encourage responsible pet ownership by:
* Promoting and encouraging the neutering of pets
* Providing information, assistance and advisory service in the proper care of animals
* Educating the public and school children through informative articles, talks and visits
* Organising discussions, dialogues, seminars, exhibitions and relevant activities emphasising responsibility towards animals
* Cooperating with veterinarians in providing guidelines for the proper care of animals
-Lobby the government towards more effective legislation and human enforcement
- Eliminate animal cruelty by:
* Discouraging the sale of animals by unlicensed pet breeders and the consumption of cat and dog meat as food
* Endeavoring to reduce animal overpopulation

The SPCA KK logo was designed featuring different kinds of domestic and local animals - a dog, cat, hornbill and a fish. Put together, they form the outline of Mount Kinabalu. The SPCA's theme is "Speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves" - highlighting the SPCA's role as a voice for the animals.

Sub-committees
To operationalise the objectives of SPCA KK, it is divided into various sub-committees:
(a) Education - sources relevant educational and informative materials on animal welfare for publishing into leaflets, flyers, posters, slides, etc for public awareness. The sub-committee also focuses on organising awareness talks, roadshows and campaigns at educational institutions and public venues.
(b) Publicity/Press/Media - responsible for arranging press interviews, writing up on SPCA KK public events in the local newspapers, making campaign announcements on radio, websites and also billboards (media).
(c) Rescue/Inspectorate - attempts to aid hurt, hungry and homeless animals on an ad hoc basis and aims to set up an effective adoption network for rehoming rescued domesticated animals. However, at the present moment, the lack of manpower and resources severely limit SPCA KK's capabilities where rescue and rehoming are concerned. Inspectorate investigates reports of animal abuse and brings them to the attention of the relevant authorities for further action, such as fines or confiscation of the abused animals.
(d) Special Function is responsible for fund raising, government lobbying and networking; making proposals to the government authorities, amongst them the reduction of medical costs at government vet clinics, mandatory spaying/neutering, the setting up of a "Kembiri" clinic and the imposition of higher penalties on animal abusers.
(e) Event is responsible for organising school talks, exhibitions at public places, membership drive, Family Day, etc.

Activities
SPCA KK has successfully held various awareness, membership and donation campaigns at schools, colleges and Institutes of Higher Learning, and shopping centres.

A courtesy call to Kota Kinabalu City Mayor Datuk Iliyas bin Ibrahim on July 6, 2009 marks a significant milestone for SPCA KK where a place in the City will be identified to set up an animal shelter to house stray animals.

Conclusion
The Society exists to protect animals, but as the Prince of Wales wrote, in 1924: "May I suggest that in contemplating what the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has done, and is doing, for animals, we should not lose sight of the humanising effect of its work on the hearts of the community."

Sharon Cheuk
SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
KOTA KINABALU, SABAH

Posted by webmaster on 30 Sep 2009, Wed