MAN RIKS LIFE TO SAVE MONGREL

July 16, 2004 THE MALAY MAIL

KUALA LUMPUR : A life is a life and it needs to be saved.

This is what spurred K. Balasupramaniam, an occupational safety and health trainer from Taman Bukit Anggerik in Cheras here, to save a drowning dog from flooded monsoon drain on Wednesday.

He said: “ I was driving home to Kuala Lumpur from Subang Jaya around 4.30pm. As I was passing the Jalan Sungai Besi TUDM Airport, i noticed a small. Brown and black dog struggling in the monsoon drain.”

Balasupramaniam and his friends who were in the car, Miachael Chong and Rohaszi Kanafih, decided to save te dog.

“I climbed into the monsoon drain, and waded in the muddy water while Michael and Rohazmi helped me pull the dog out.” He said.

“We wrapped the dog in some canvas cloth in my car and drove it to the nearest veterinay hospital.”

When the trio arrived at the Cheras Veterinary Hospital, they were told be staff that the doctor was not around.

Disappointed, Balasupramaniam telephoned one of his company assistances and told him to telephone the Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals (SPCA).

“Sadly, he SPCA told my assistant that the dog would have to put to sleep.” He said.

I was determined to save it.”

Balasupramaniam, Chong and Rohazmi were in luck. They took the dog to a veterinary clinic in Taman Segar, Cheras where doctors examined the dog, and fed it.

“We learnt that dog had fractured its right hind leg and hod not been eating for three days.” He said.

“It is now recuperating at clinic, and will undergo surgery.

He said the dog is a male about three years old.

Balasuprmaniam said saving animals was important to him. “ We have to love and care for all animals, because they too are God creatures,” he said, adding that it was not the first time he had rescued dogs.

He said he hoped more Malaysians would be caring and compassionate towards animals, and not ignore their suffering.

He said he would be taking care of the dog once it recovered from its injury. If the public has information on the god or its owner,, they can contact him at 016 222 3853.

A spokesman for the SPCA said they did not have sufficient medical equipment to perform surgery on the dog if Balasupramaniam sent it to their office.

Thus, It was likely to have been put too sleep if he send it to them.

The spokesman, however, commeded Balasupramaniam for this kindness in rescuing the dog and sengin it to the veterinary clinic.