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Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Azmin Ali steps in to stop eviction of PAWS

Selangor menteri besar saves shelter animals from a bleak future after the PJ District Land Office demanded PAWS vacate the site in six days.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: In a classic case of good triumphing over evil, Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali has graciously agreed to suspend an eviction notice issued by the Petaling Jaya District Land Office instructing the PAWS Animal Welfare Society to move out in six days.

In a jubilant Facebook posting after a hastily arranged meeting between shelter manager Edward Lim and Azmin Ali, the management of PAWS thanked their menteri besar for being “very responsive” and helping solve the matter of eviction amicably.

Saying, “The eviction notice has been suspended”, PAWS also thanked Wani Muthiar for paving the way to meet up with Azmin Ali yesterday afternoon.

An earlier posting thanked all those who supported PAWS for their love and care, and read, “Words can’t begin to describe our heartfelt appreciation to all who support us.”

The message also thanked Selangor state excos Ean Yong Hian Wah and Elizabeth Wong as well as MBPJ Councillors Sean Oon and Peter Chong who banded together to help resolve the matter of the eviction.

Speaking to shelter manager Edward Lim yesterday just before his meeting with the menteri besar, FMT was told that PAWS received an eviction notice from the PJ District Land Office dated November 10, ordering them to vacate the premises in two weeks. No reason was given for the notice.

“It would take at least six months to a year to properly set up a new shelter, and that still depends on the money and resources we have,” said Lim who added that the sudden eviction came as a nasty shock since the shelter had been occupying the site from 1987.

Lim, who has worked there for 11 years, said he was not around when the notice arrived. He explained, “They (PJ District Land officers) just came and left the notice at the office. The three officers did not even leave their details or say anything.”

The 400 dogs and 200 cats at the PAWS Animal Welfare Society faced an uncertain future and possibly even death by euthanasia if they were forced to shut down operations.

However thanks to the intervention of Azmin Ali, this will not be the case.

Lim explained that PAWS was founded in 1987 by a group of local and expatriate volunteers and was maintained by donations from various corporations, generosity from the public as well as proceeds from merchandise sold at occasional animal-related or community events, organised by and for animal lovers.

Upon hearing about the eviction notice, several animal lovers flocked to the shelter to do their bit for the animals.

“I found out on Facebook yesterday. I know adopting one cat does not justify leaving the rest here but at least I’m doing something good,” said Norashiqueen Bte Ashraff Hassan.

Eric Lim, an insurance agent felt it was most unfortunate that the animal shelter was forced to shut down since they had been doing a great job for the welfare of unwanted animals for years.

Besides giving abused and abandoned cats and dogs a second chance, PAWS has maintained good relations with the Petaling Jaya City Council as well as the Shah Alam Municipality, who both send strays they round-up to PAWS for medical attention and re-homing.

The animal shelter sits on a one acre plot of land originally donated by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad in the 80s, but is now owned by the government, a revelation the management recently discovered when the notice was served.

PAWS currently has three veterinary surgeons and several full time staff on top of the volunteers that come and help with its daily operations.

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