ISPCA 38th Annual Charity Dinner 2023: Utopia of Strays
Although more than three decades have passed, the road is still as bumpy, and the days are as challenging as the ones before, faced by the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA). At an average rate of one case per hour within its area of service, the responsibility for animal welfare shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of a single party but instead on the entire community.
Therefore, at ISPCA’s 38th-anniversary annual charity dinner over the weekend, with the theme Utopia of Strays, generous donors and warm-hearted supporters came together to raise over RM70,000 for the society to upkeep the shelter, and to continue with its many animal welfare programmes. The guest of honour, Member of Parliament for Gopeng YB Tan Kar Hing, although unable to attend at the last minute, donated RM5,000 to the cause.
Additionally, these funds have enabled ISPCA to sponsor one thousand units of TNR kits, each comprising an identifiable ISPCA red dog collar plus microchip, to volunteers to continue spaying female dogs in an effort to reduce the population of strays. TNRM stands for Trap, Neuter, Release/Relocate/Rehome, and Manage. It is ISPCA’s largest ongoing programme for the past 6 years since 2017. TNRM is recognised and approved by the local government, namely the Ipoh City Council, as the only humane and sensible method to control, if not reduce, the stray dog population in Ipoh.
In the beginning, only four local veterinarian clinics supported the TNRM programme initiated by ISPCA. Today, the number has grown to 14. In the first year of collaboration with the Ipoh City Council, approximately 800 dogs were neutered.
Through shared responsibility and cooperation with similar animal welfare advocates, rescuers, and volunteers, more than 8,000 dogs have been neutered to date. ISPCA targets to achieve 10,000 dogs by the end of 2023. Modelling after the Ipoh City Council, the Batu Gajah District Council has started to work closely with ISPCA to establish a TNRM programme within its area. ISPCA is also currently in discussion with a couple of district officers in Selangor to implement similar TNRM programmes there. For general information, a female dog can produce generations of puppies up to 12,000 in five of her most fertile years.
This annual charity dinner was a momentous occasion that marked a longstanding commitment of ISPCA to the welfare of animals in Ipoh and beyond, as it celebrated the unwavering support and dedication of generous corporations, including selfless individuals. Each has contributed to offering a second chance at life for countless abandoned, abused, and neglected dogs and cats. Together, they have rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed many of these furry friends.
Besides a scrumptious seafood dinner at Exquisite Seafood Restaurant in Ipoh, guests were also entertained by a magic show, singing and dancing, including a rendition of an improvised “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by ISPCA Chairman Ricky Soong Wei Chiew, who also played the guitar. He was accompanied by popular local guitarist, Kenny Ham.
For more information about ISPCA or to support its cause, visit the society’s official Facebook page HERE.
Video above: ISPCA 38th Annual Charity Dinner 2023: Utopia of Strays
Event: ISPCA 38th Annual Charity Dinner 2023: Utopia of Strays
Venue: Exquisite Seafood Restaurant, Ipoh
Date: 29th July, 2023
Time: 7pm
Wow, what an incredible recap of the event! It makes me wish I could have been there to witness all the love and support for ISPCA in person. It’s amazing to see the community come together for such a worthy cause, raising RM70,000 is no small feat!
It’s heartwarming to know that ISPCA has expanded its TNRM programme so significantly – from four veterinary clinics to fourteen! That’s a testament to their unwavering dedication to animal welfare.
I can only imagine how touching it must have been when Ricky Soong took the stage to sing “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. And those dog-shaped pendants by Roberto Coin – how adorable and meaningful! I hope they sold like hotcakes.
It’s events like these that remind us of the importance of compassion and kindness towards all creatures. Here’s to reaching the 10,000 dogs mark by end of 2023!
Keep up the fantastic work ISPCA, you are making a tangible difference in the lives of so many animals. And kudos to you, my friend, for capturing the essence of this special event so beautifully in your write-up. Keep them coming!