WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT ANIMALS TO SLEEP?

SPCA安乐死的政策 / SPCA’S POLICY ON EUTHANASIA

SPCA的员工每天都对被遗弃和忽略的动物情况很重视。他们最注重的事，当SPCA为安乐死的政策做足一切的准备而进行的时候， 公众却把安乐死当作另一番的理解。 再次，SPCA要告诉您，什么是安乐死及为什么安乐死是非施行不可。

At the SPCA, the staffs who work daily with animals that have been abandoned, neglected or abused are often stressed out by their conditions or manner in which they are brought in. At times, they are even more stressed especially when members of the public are not able to understand SPCA’s policies and expect a lot to be done apart from having given the understanding that any animal brought in/collected/picked may be put to sleep. In this, we provide information as often asked by the public as to why, when and how euthanasia is practiced.

槟城的SPCA只为已经对安乐死有所认识的公众和成员的宠物进行安乐死。虽然SPCA痛恨把动物带到死亡边缘，可是在某些情况之下， SPCA还是被逼向动物施行安乐死。

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 practice of euthanasia, but under certain circumstances and conditions, we are forced to perform it.

如果公众是无法接受宠物安乐死，那就不好将宠物弃养。若再无可避免的情况下弃养宠物， 那最好是为宠物寻找最理想的家， 这可减少SPCA的负担。如果真得找不到最佳的居所给宠物，才将其交给SPCA处理。

The public should not surrender an animal if they are unable to accept that the animal may be euthanized. 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.

收容所有动物的SPCA差不多收留600只动物， 却只有10只动物被人收养。

The SPCA is the only shelter that accepts all animals be it (strays, abandoned or unwanted by owners). This means an average of nearly 600 animals are received each month. An average of only 10 animals is found homes each month.

为什么SPCA得施行安乐死？

Why do we practise euthanasia?

1． 对SPCA而言，每一只遭弃养的动物给SPCA就会成为SPCA的物产。 可是由于空间有限， 所以只有少数的动物可以被收留。 SPCA只能收养大约50 – 70 只动物（须根据动物的年龄与身形）。这也意味着并不是全部被遗弃的动物都可以逃过安乐死的命运。当您想遗弃宠物之时，请务必考虑清楚，免得当您遗弃宠物几天后想带回宠物的时候，已经没有那个机会了。

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 each 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． 当SPCA要把一只健康的动物进行安乐死的时候，将会考虑以下因素：

• 年龄：小过2个月以下（8个星期）

• 有皮肤病或受伤的。因为SPCA没有能力和多余的钱来照顾患病的动物，因为还有很多健康的动物等待人收养。

• 动物的行为：-乱咬人及凶猛令人讨厌

• 母狗来潮发情导致性情大变

• 成长的狗 – 会根据其年龄与潜能来等待人领养

• 庇护所的拥挤度-依据动物逗留在庇护所的时间

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. Skin diseased dogs 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 comes on heat.

• Adult animals - depending on age and potentiality of rehoming.

• Overcrowding at shelter i.e. length of time the animal stays in the Shelter