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前段日子开始接触动物收容所、独立义工、参与会议、观察网民留言和收集网络网讯等之后，关于流浪狗问题为何没办法解决一事，有了小小体会。
任何国家的流浪狗问题都不单靠政府一方就能解决，尽管政府扮演最关键的推动角色。因为在必要时刻，政府可以立法和加强刑罚，来强制人民守法，哪怕这是被强迫出来的「尊崇法治」。
除了政府方面，为什么马来西亚流浪狗还在受苦，可以归类于以下多种因素，其实都是环环相扣的。
第一，对动物的错误理解，产生仇视。多数人从小就被大人灌输错误观念，说「流浪狗会咬人，看到它们就拿起石头，假装丢向它们」，就这样无故地「启动」了狗狗的自我防卫模式，以为你要打它而先下手为强。我也是这几年开始关注流浪动物课题后，才全面了解对待狗狗的正确方式。
有些人会因为自己的无知而被狗狗咬伤后，就认为「狗咬吕洞宾」而怪罪它们，更多的人却只是因为听闻少有的「狗咬人」事件就产生敌意，极为抗拒而要政府「铲除」狗狗。如今网络发达，上网就能查询如何避免狗狗袭击、和接触狗狗的正确步骤等资讯。很多时候和流浪狗擦肩而过，它们都不搭理人，比较兴奋的最多会在身边绕几圈闻闻，看看有没有食物给它们。此时你就安静地呆在原地片刻，直到狗狗失去兴趣就会离开了。
第二，严重缺乏包容的爱心社会。世界这么大，但就是有些人眼里「容不下一粒沙子」。上个月我区住户投诉保安亭警卫不应饲养浪浪——小白，小白长时间待在保安亭附近，也没有扰民或咬人，就因为这些投诉，小白狗被送走了（还好保安公司老板有良心，没有随便丢在街上，带它到去看守工厂）。厌恶动物群体认为流浪狗不应存在，因为它们会翻垃圾和随地大小便。莫忘，地球也是属于动物的，应该获得人类的包容，而非嫌弃。
被赋予智慧和怜悯之心的人类，为何要怪罪没有判断能力的它们，不管愿不愿意接受，动物从古至今都是地球的成员，这本是事实。再说，有智慧的人类不好好把垃圾放进有盖垃圾桶，承包商不根据使用量来准备足够垃圾桶，怎么就轮到狗狗的错了？
就算没有狗狗，垃圾问题一直存在着。多少次我途径多处地段和商店后巷，垃圾一包包放在地上（小学老师就教了垃圾要丢进垃圾桶啊！），不然就是旧床褥、沙发、神台等大型垃圾，在路旁的草地上堆积成山。
肚子饿了要找吃本是天性，如果民众有更多的包容心，轮流喂养流浪狗（当然要带走饭后垃圾），它们又怎需要翻找垃圾。
第三，键盘侠远远超过实际行动者。社交媒体出现多个流浪动物救援群组，让更多人知道是好事，遗憾的是太多人只处于「up/comment/like」状态，救援人等待支援的时候，至少几千人到上万成员的群组中，却少有人能够伸出援手。
更心寒的是，还有一群人只会责骂发帖者「为何不自己救、不带回家」，我也听过某政府官员说「你们这么爱狗就应该愿意为他付出所有，多少钱都不是问题」。真心的救援人士当然想尽可能救完所有流浪动物，但生活还是要面对，大家都量力而为。
键盘侠在不知道救援者的家庭和经济状况下，凭什么就可以批判救援者的对错，把救援者的付出视为理所当然？单靠少数的救援人士和团体，流浪狗何时才能被结扎完，可想而知。
第四，弃养和宠物繁殖业者。不负责任的弃养事件越来越多，就因为不是人命。也因为政府没有严格执法，所以弃养人也不必担心被对付，导致除了浪浪以外，街边不时还出现没有谋生能力的名犬。
在流浪狗已经不受控制的我国，加上国人缺乏正确养狗知识、政府没有对付不合格的繁殖业者也是恶化流浪狗问题的帮凶之一。不明白为何政府还不效仿一些西方国家，禁止宠物买卖或向购买者和繁殖业者征收高额税收。
第五，收容所之间的不团结。某些收容所之间的「不和睦」关系已不是秘密，其实很可能是旗下一些「害群之马」在外的言行所引发。所有人的统一目标都是帮助流浪动物，只是管理方式和理念可能有差异，那又相煎何太急呢。
有些隶属特定收容所的义工可能「护主心切」，觉得本身所属机构才是最棒的而对其他收容所产生敌意或摆出高姿态。虽然只是个人的发言，可是你若自称属于某团体就会影响有关收容所的声誉。不要当害群之马，少说话、多做事。
与此同时，有另一类人是无故眼红规模较大或比较有名气的收容说，本身从未接触过就已有偏见和心结，这样的心态只会残害救援流浪动物的发展。
收容所其实更应该相互感谢和珍惜彼此，因为大家同样在拯救性命、减轻彼此负担，也唯有彼此才能同理救援这条不归路的艰辛。（当然不包括以盈利为主的收容所，甚至不配被称为收容所）
真心希望所有收容所能摒弃成见，团结到底，否则一盘散沙又诸多是非的状态，要如何跟政府协商？这也是为什么一些民众宁愿当个独立救援者，也不愿搅进是非圈。
至于不曾涉及其中的我们，不要因为曾和某义工有不愉快事件或纯粹听闻，就杯葛所属收容所，很多时候是个人人品问题，哪里有需要就帮忙哪里，因为最后受惠的是狗狗。
第六，收容所的有心无力。救援后的长期开销是收容所的最大挑战，所有收容所都面对同样问题。他们没有放弃，也不惜一直为狗狗生活筹款。如果正在阅读你是三餐温饱衣食无忧，还有能力旅行、买名牌，是否可以考虑将一点爱分给毛孩？
有人质疑善款会否被私吞，这非常合理。不过，若大家都因此分毫不舍，收容所无法维持开销，又怎能继续救援。如果你不愿意出钱，那就出力当收容所义工，如果你只能出钱但又怕被骗，那就捐物资或者不定期到访收容所和参与其中活动亲自了解，再或者加入成为当中委员。如果你不出钱又不出力，那你没有「话多多」和举报的权利，而且要感恩自掏腰包的流浪动物救援者和收容所。
老实说，我也拍被狗咬（还在学习克服中），平时只能随缘喂食眼前的浪浪或集资。这条路上经常被质疑「与其捐款给动物，不如帮小孩和老人？」我想说的是，
第一，你怎么知道我没有定期赞助国际救援小孩团体？；
第二，因为人类至少还有一张嘴能告诉他人，自己的痛苦和所需要的帮助；
第三，因为帮毛孩发声的管道和团体实在太少；
第四，因为地球不止是属于人类, 地球是万物共有的。
（注：本人不属于/不代表任何机构，以上仅为个人感想，不喜勿喷。文中流浪狗是指一般无传染病/疯狗症/无攻击性的狗狗）
# # # # # # # # # # # # # ENGLISH WRITE UP # # # # # # # # # # # # #
Stray dog issue in any countries isn’t just depends on government alone, but undeniable that it plays a crucial role in promoting the solutions. At least during critical time, government has legislative power and able to enforce punishment to make sure people abide the rules , even though it’s by forced.
Other
than government’s role, there are few main factors that could be the
answer of “why stray dogs in Malaysia are still suffering” ,
these are all co-relevant.
First,
misconception on animals that led to hatred. Many of us when younger,
were taught by adults that strays will bite, grab a stone and act
like going to throw on them if we see them, this is how the dog’s
self protection mode is “activated”, so it started the attack as
it thought you are going to harm.
Certain
people blame dogs for biting but in fact they are the ignorant one
who used the wrong ways to approach dogs. Whereas, there are much
more people raise their hatred to stray dogs just because “heard
of” the biting case which hardly happened, and then call for local
council to “clear” the dogs in neighbourhood.
In
a century of internet convenience, we can learn how to avoid dog
attack and the right steps to approach dogs. Most of the time, stray
dogs are afraid of human and won’t bother us, some excited dogs may
only go a few round by us and sniffing, to see if any food for them.
Just stay calm and quiet for a moment, until they lose interest in
you, that’s just their nature.
Second, seriously lack of a loving society that tolerate. The world is huge yet there are people who just couldn’t even “tolerate a grain of sand” in their eyes. Last month, some residents of my living area complaint the security guards shouldn’t adopt a stray which I named Littlewhite. The dog was then sent away just because of those persons don’t want to see strays in the area. In fact, Littlewhite never harrassed residents or biting anyone.
The
group of person who think no stray animals should exist in the world,
given the reason that dogs make a mess in rubbish and shits
everywhere. But these people forgot that, the Earth also belongs to
animals, they should get acceptance by human, not being marginalised.
Born
as human granted with wisdom and compassion, why do we blame these
creatures that don’t have the ability to judge what’s right and
wrong. Willing or not, we have to accept the fact that animals are
members of this planet since ancient time. Furthermore, how come it
became the dogs fault when human are the one don’t handling rubbish
properly, the contractor not providing sufficient facilities to cater
the needs?
Even if there’s no stray dogs, the improper rubbish management issue does exist long time ago. Umpteen times I pass by lots of places and backstreet of shops, rubbish bags are on the floor (instead of thrown in the rubbish bin with lid), also not surprising to see big items such as mattress, sofa and altar pile up like a hill next to road shoulder.
It’s
by nature to look for food when hungry, if the community have high
level of toleration and compassion, sharing food to strays (provided
to clean up afterwards), stray animals never need to looking for food
in the dump.
Third,
“keyboard heroes” overpopulated the actual mover. Plenty of
strays rescue public group were formed in social media. It’s good to
let as many people know, but sadly majority just remain to click
“up/comment/like”, where the person who’s waiting for support
hardly get help in a group that has thousands of members.
More upsetting is when there’s a kind of person prompt to questioning the post owner “why not rescued it/why not bring the dog to your home?”. I recently heard a government officer said: “you dog lovers should be willing to pay all your effort for dogs, no matter how much it cost”. Of course the dog lovers would like to rescue all strays if possible, but we have to face reality in life, rescuers are just trying their best to contribute in helping furkids.
What is the right of “keyboard heroes” to judge a rescuer without knowing a person’s family and financial ability, some more themselves are not on the scene? Rescuers’ kind effort shall not be taken for granted. If we just rely on the minority dog rescuers and NGOs to help, no doubt it’s still long way to finish neutered all strays.
Forth,
abandoned pets and and illegal pet breeding. Pet abandoned cases are
getting more, just because dogs are not human lives? Due to lack of
enforcement by the government, these owners just not afraid there
will be actions taken against their deeds. The rescuers not only have
to deal with originally strays, also seeing more abandoned pet dogs
that have no ability to survive the outside world.
We already have uncontrollable amount of stray dogs, on top of that, some owners lack of knowledge to keep a pet and lack of actions against illegal breeders, it just doesn’t make sense that Malaysia government is still not wanting to learn from some countries, to stop pet selling business or just apply high taxes on this business and the buyers.
Fifth,
animals shelters are not united. It’s not a secret that certain
shelters are dissatisfied with each others, this may be caused by
“black sheeps” of the NGO of how they behave. Every NGO shared
the same goal to help strays, the only difference might be the style
of management and ideology, but so what?
Some volunteers attached to a single NGO have the mindset that the NGO they belong to, is superior than others, thus being arrogant or hated the others shelters. Though it’s just that particular person behaviour, but when you’re out claiming yourself from an NGO, your action is directly affecting that NGO’s reputation. Volunteers should not be the black sheep, talk less and do more.
Meanwhile, another kind of persons just jealous of other shelters that’s more reputable, became biased without actually interact with the other shelter, this wrong attitude is doing bad on the effort of strays rescue.
All shelters should cherish and be grateful of each other as all are having the same mission of rescue lives, lessen each other burdens, and only they can empathised each other as they know the hardship of the rescue mission.
Sincerely
wishing all shelters can put behind their resentments, be united,
otherwise how are they able to ask for discussion with government?
This is also why some people prefer to be independent rescuer, rather
than joining the “scandal loop”.
As for members of public, please don’t boycott a NGO just because of an unpleasant encounter with a particular volunteer or just by hear-says, as this mostly is that person private issue. Just help in whichever shelters that has more urgency, as the dogs are the one to get the benefits.
Sixth,
NGOs mission is far exceeded their power. Financial sustainability is
the biggest challenge to all shelters, however they did not give up
and keep raising fund for the welfare of furkids. If you (who are
reading this now) has less financial troubles, still afford to go for
holiday and buying luxuries, could you please share some love to the
furkids?
It’s
totally normal when people may have doubts on the fund raised, but if
we all refused to contribute due to this concern, how are those
shelters continue operating and save more strays?
If you are not willing to sponsor money, then try to contribute your time as volunteer. If you could only contribute money but worried that money will be abused, then donate some materials/ ingredients they need, or join their activities regularly, or go further to become committee of the NGO. If you are not willing to contribute time and money, then just shut up and don’t complaint, instead you better be thankful to shelters and all rescuers that always contributing own money.
Personally, I am also afraid of getting dog bite (learning to cope with it), I can only contribute within my ability, such as feeding strays and gather funds from friends.
Often I was asked : “Why not donating to children or old folks, instead of helping strays?” I can only say,
First,
how do you know that I didn’t become regular sponsors to the
international NGOs?
Second,
because human can convey their agony and able to ask for help, and
animals doesn’t.
Third,
because the numbers of NGO that helping and voice out for animal
rights are way too less.
Forth, because the Earth is not only belong to human kind, it belongs to all.
（Note：I am not attached to/represent any NGOs, this is just personal views based on own experience/observation/information gathering/meeting etc. Stray dogs mentioned in the article refers to normal dogs without contagious diseases/rabies, and not ferocious.)
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