SPCA Penang

The SPCA Penang, formerly known as RSPCA, was founded in 1948.

SPCA Penang is a non-profit community-based organization which primary role is protecting and caring for animals.

Monday – Friday : 10am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 4.30pm
Saturday : 10am – 12.30pm
Sunday : Closed
Public Holiday : Monday thru Saturday opening hours apply EXCEPT for May Day, Governor’s Birthday, King’s Birthday, Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day when we are closed. Closed on other Public Holidays if they fall on a Sunday. We welcome visitors to our shelter.

GPS Coordinates: 5.395896,100.319504

OBJECTIVES: Prevent animal cruelty. Promote kindness to animals.

MISSION: 

1. Care for and protect abandoned animals. SPCA Penang is not a ‘no kill shelter’. All animals will only be taken in when the public/pet owners comply to our policies/regulations.
2. Educate the community by actively promoting an ethical attitude in raising animals.
3. Encourage responsible pet ownership.

SPCA Penang is the oldest animal welfare organization in the country.

SPCA Penang’s Policy on Collection of Strays:

• SPCA Penang does not pick up healthy stray dogs, only those that are injured or sick or in genuine distress.  The seizure of healthy stray dogs is a local council responsibility.
• Strays will only be picked up if they are confined in an enclosure by the public.

SPCA Penang’s Pet Euthanasia Policy:

• SPCA Penang will only accept unwanted animals from pet owners and members of the public with the full knowledge and understanding that the animal may be put to sleep.
• The SPCA abhors the practise of euthanasia, but under certain circumstances and conditions,  are forced to perform it. Pet owners and caregivers should not surrender an animal if they are unable to accept that the animal may be euthanised.
• Unwanted animals should only be given up to the SPCA as a last resort after every effort possible has been made by the owner to find alternative homes for them. This will greatly help reduce the burden on the SPCA.

The SPCA is the only shelter that accepts all animals – be it strays, abandoned or unwanted by owners. This means  nearly 200 animals are received each month. An average of only 10 animals are found homes for each month.

Why SPCA Penang practises euthanasia?

1. Any animal that is handed to the SPCA becomes the property of the SPCA. Limited space dictates how many animals can be kept at any one time. We are only able to hold about 50-70 animals at any one time (depending on size & age). This means the SPCA is unable to keep all animals surrendered/rescued. Consideration should be made before handing the animal over. Calling a few days later to take the animal back may be too late.
2. In determining the difficult decision whether or not to euthanise a healthy animal, the following are some factors that are carefully considered:

• Age: Any young animals below the age of 2 months (8 weeks)
• Diseased, sick and/or injured. Dogs with skin diseases as it takes a long time to treat. The SPCA cannot afford to treat these animals, especially when there are so many other healthy ones to keep for adoption.
• Temperament of the animal. When the animal becomes aggressive or a nuisance.
• Bitches that come into heat.
• Adult animals – depending on age and potentiality of rehoming.
• Overcrowding at shelter i.e. length of time the animal stays in the Shelter

How is the euthanasia performed?

The animal is humanely put down with minimum stress or suffering. The animal is given barbiturates by intravenous injection. Euthanasia is done by a veterinarian. As for the very young ones, chloroform is often used. This is performed by trained staff of the SPCA.

How you can help to avoid euthanasia?

Think before adopting or buying a pet. The lifespan of a pet (especially dogs and cats) can be more than 10 years. One cannot expect a pet or stray surrendered to the SPCA to be guaranteed a home. There is no guarantee that the animal will be kept for adoption. The pet owner must try to find a home for the animal. The SPCA does not believe in confining animals in its shelter kennels for long term as the quality of life would be severely affected. Do encourage pet owners to sterilise their pets. This will help us reduce the necessity of euthanasia. Encourage your friends to adopt unwanted animals from your local shelter and not buy animals from pet shops.

Observe the five freedoms:

1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst – by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
2. Freedom from Discomfort – by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease – by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
5. Freedom from Fear and Distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Findings

The SPCA is often blamed for putting animals to sleep when in fact the reality stems from:

• IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS who allow their pets to breed, thus leading to unwanted litters.
• Pet Owners who adopt/buy and then abandon their pets when the novelty has worn off or when circumstances change.

The SPCA PENANG does not run a ‘NO KILL SHELTER’. It is an animal shelter that provides temporary housing of unwanted adoptable animals. This is no fault of the shelter, but of the previous pet owner. The public should not be mistaken by the fact that SPCA (SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS) should not be killing animals when it should be one of those preventing cruelty to animals.

SPCA’s role throughout the world is to:

1. Attend to sick and injured animals and unattended animals
2. Educate the public on the care and needs of animals
3. Humanely euthanise animals that are untreatable or unadoptable  for various reasons.

Note on emergency calls (04 281 6559). SPCA’s Inspectors are disappointed that many times when they attend to emergencies after office hours, there are no animals when they arrive. We will ask that the caller stays with the animal until we arrive. Only genuine emergencies will be attended to out of hours and only during daylight hours. Our phone should be answered from 8am until 7pm, 7 days a week.