Sandakan dog shelter at breaking point
Voo tending to the dogs at SPCA Sandakan.
SANDAKAN (May 22): The Sandakan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA Sandakan) is in urgent need of funding to continue caring for more than 800 dogs currently under its care.
SPCA Sandakan secretary Gin Voo said that the shelter is facing an unprecedented crisis as its shelter reaches breaking point with over 800 dogs in desperate need of care.
She added that the non-profit organisation, which operates solely on public donations, has also launched an ambitious 12-month sterilisation programme and urgently appealing for financial and material assistance.
SPCA Sandakan was founded in 2012, and served as a refuge for stray and abandoned dogs, stepping in to provide humane care after the local council ended its controversial shoot-to-kill policy.
However, the shelter's capacity has been pushed to the limit — what was once a manageable population of 350 dogs has now exploded to 828, with new arrivals coming in daily, she said.
She added that the crisis stems from uncontrolled breeding due to irresponsible pet ownership, mass abandonment of unwanted litters, continued capture of strays by the municipal council, and the lack of government funding for sterilisation programs
'Despite taking on the enormous responsibility of housing Sandakan's stray population, SPCA Sandakan receives only RM5,000 per year from the local council — a sum that covers less than four days of operations,' she said.
SPCA Sandakan's monthly expenses of around RM40,000 includes medical care for injured and sick rescued dogs, food and shelter for the over 800 dogs, salaries of seven employees, as well as purchases of utilities and for maintenance.
'We're drowning in costs while saving lives,' said Voo.
'Our RM5,000 annual grant disappears in four days. Without help, we cannot continue.'
Voo said SPCA Sandakan opines that sterilisation is the only ethical and effective way to control the stray population.
'Killing strays is not the solution — it's cruel and doesn't address the root cause,' she said.
'Mass sterilisation breaks the endless breeding cycle humanely. For every female dog we spay, we prevent hundreds of unwanted puppies from suffering on the streets.'
She added that the shelter's critical mass sterilisation programme aims to sterilize 100 dogs per month (1,200 in 12 months).
She said that the cost per surgery is RM180 and that they need RM216,000 to undertake the programme.
Voo reminded that they operate with zero government support and 100 percent community-funded.
Aside for the cost to run the mass sterilisation programme, Voo said that their shelter also needs materials to create a recovery facility consisting of 50 recovery cages (for post-op care), three heavy duty canponies (for shaded recovery space), wire mesh fencing (to secure the area), 400 gallon water tanks and piping system (for hygiene) and construction labour cost to construct the facility.
Voo also urged the community to neuter their pets and not contribute to the overpopulation and to consider adopting a dog as well as support their sterilisation programme.
'Every adoption creates space to save another life,' she said.
She also said that a RM180 donated funds one life saving sterilisation, RM1,800 covers 10 dogs, and RM5,000 supports a month's medical supplies.
'Aside from that, we also welcome donation in the form of cage materials (metal), weatherproof canopies, galvanised wire mesh, water storage tanks, plumbing supplies and skilled labour volunteers,' she said.
Corporates and business entities are also welcome to sponsor construction materials and hardware, medical equipment and adopt monthly funding pledges, she said.
'The stakes have never been higher. Without immediate help, the shelter population will exceed 1,000 dogs by the end of the year and raise the likelihood of disease outbreaks resulting from overcrowding. We also risk becoming bankrupt,' she said.
'This is Sandakan's last hope to humanely solve the stray crisis,' said Voo.
'We're not just asking for money — we need hands-on help. If you can donate materials or labour, you're building a future for these animals. Together, we can make Sandakan a model for compassionate stray management.'
To donate, please contact 0168319119 for further information or bank in to: Maybank 560166133482 (SPCA Sandakan).
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