IPOH, June 17 — Animal lovers are at their wits’ end over the fate of 100 strays at the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals shelter in Jalan Gopeng, following a spat with its neighbour, a columbarium operator.
Society chairman Ricky Soong said problems began two years ago when a company bought land in front of the shelter to operate a columbarium.
“The company sealed off the only access road leading to the shelter,” he said.
“Initially, the company director allowed us access to the shelter but recently, they have been making it difficult for us to gain entry.
“Sometimes when donors come to drop off food for the animals, their vehicles are not allowed entry, forcing them to carry the 20kg bags from the entrance to our shelter.”
Soong said he applied for right of way from the Batu Gajah Land Office last month.
“We prepared an opening last week that bypasses the company’s perimetre wall to give volunteers and donors access to the shelter,” he said.
“The next day, I was shocked to discover someone had used tree trunks to block it.”
Appealing to the land office to speed up the approval of his application, Soong said the animals at the shelter are in danger of starving to death.
He voiced concern as donors could not make their way into the shelter to drop off food.
“We need four 20kg bags of food daily and the stock I have now can only sustain the animals for a week,” he said.
“We tried appealing to the land owner to give way but to no avail.”
