RSC-Remembering Sheena Campaign, Revisited

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RSC-Remembering Sheena Campaign, Revisited Sunday, 11:27 PM Who was she?Born seven years ago, Sheena was a beautiful German Shepherd who died in August 2005. The hope and happiness of a puppy were dashed when Sheena ended up in the hands of a cruel guardian who failed to take care of her. Aside from neglecting her, Sheena’s guardian decided to end her life in his house, leaving no food and water for her “because she was considered old”. When the Malaysian Selangor Veterinary Services Department rescued her, she was found tied up, sleeping in her own faeces. Sheena had to be put to sleep, due to her malfunctioning organs caused by years of malnutrition. The photos below are of Sheena in the last days of her life. These photos splashed across the national newspapers with her ribs sticking out and stomach bloated sitting by her rusty bowl of contaminated water, broke hearts of all across the country. Her guardian, an engineer from Subang Jaya, Malaysia had kept her tied up and starving in the filthiest of conditions. Based on the post-mortem report, Sheena was infected with ticks. She also suffered brittle bones due to malnutrition from young and the malfunction of all her major organs causing water retention which resulted in a bloated abdomen, empty bladder and stomach. According to newspaper reports, a neighbour had trice telephoned the Malaysian Selangor Veterinary Department, but nobody went to save the dog. Finally, she called the SPCA, and Sabrina Yeap, SPCA Animal Inspector rushed to the scene to find her still tied and sleeping in her own faeces. However, it was unfortunate that the rescue came too late. Sheena had to be put down on August 18, 2005. The post-mortem revealed that she had suffered neglect for years. Ironically, it is likely that Sheena, the very same dog starved by her guardian, would still lick his hand today if she were alive. Reports that came in just days after Sheena’s story broke Soon after Sheena’s ordeal was highlighted in the Press, the Star Newspaper carried on its front page, the story of a Malayan Tiger that was butchered into four pieces. The perpetrator was apprehended and brought before the court, but set free after he paid a RM7,000 approximately US$2000 fine. The parts could easily fetch much more on the market than the fine he had paid. And only days later, another story appeared in the Star of a breeder who kept his cats in such deplorable conditions that even the published photographs of one cat did not look like a cat at all. Why we should remember her?Sheena stands for all the abused and neglected Companion Animals in Malaysia. The 21st century has seen an increase in reported abuse of domestic animals. Many of these Companion Animals are returned to their guardians after the case is investigated, and prosecution takes place. The Malaysian Animal Ordinance 1953 has a maximum of RM200 approximately US$50 fine and/or 6 months imprisonment as penalty for abusing an animal. In Sheena’s case, her guardian admitted guilty, and was fined only RM100 approximately US$30, not even a quarter of the price of a German Shepherd puppy, and definitely not even close to the price of her precious life. Sheena must be remembered so that other animals won’t suffer her fate. For every animal rescue, there are many more out there who are still waiting to see the light of day. The only way forward now is to educate people on how to treat animals. This evidence of cruelty does not necessarily end with the animals. When we breed a race of abusive pet owners, we can rest assured there will be other social problems that will arise along with animal cruelty. Please do not think that this cruelty will end with the animals. When we allow an environment which is conducive for abusive pet owners to breed, we can rest assured there will be other social problems that will arise along with animal cruelty. So please help us give a voice to the voiceless. Please support our Remembering Sheena Campaign.