By : Yasmin Yusoff
Photo by: Marina Ismail
SERDANG, Feb 28 – Some 1,000 dogs were gathered at Dogathon 2015/2016 which is aimed at raising fund for PLRO-KASIH, a project to neuter abandoned and stray animals.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Dr. Mohd Hair Bejo said the programme which started in 1997, served as a platform to instil awareness among the public on stray dogs.
“This programme indirectly helps to inculcate awareness among members of the public on several aspects such as how to take good care of your pets and street or stray animals,” he said when launching the Dogathon programme at Bukit Ekspo UPM. It was organized by faculty students.
The programme also allowed discussions on effective steps to be taken to overcome related problems.
“Dogathon could help spread information about animals kept as pets to the community from aspects such as responsibility in caring for them, their health, methods used in taking care of the animals as well as other information on the career of a veterinarian or vet.
“If we are not careful in taking of their health and welfare, this could pose problems to the public as zoonotic diseases such as rabies could be infectious and affect humans, too,” he said.
Programme director, Bryan Andrew Lazarus, meanwhile, said the programme could help expose and prepare UPM students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to the profession and the field of veterinary medicine.
“This programme gives students the opportunity to manage and handle this community programme besides helping to promote the services of UPM Veterinary Hospital,” he added.
Dogathon 2015/16, themed Medieval Times (Knight: Guardian of our Castle, Crown of our Hearts’) also appointed Vlogger YouTube JinnyboyTV, Jinny Boy, as its programme ambassador.
Among the breeds gathered at the event were German Shepherds, Poodle, Golden Retriever, Siberian Husky, Malamute, Rottweiler, Great Dane, Corgi, Pitbull, Chow Chow, Shih Zhu, Labrador, Boxer, Pomeranian, Afghan Hound, Terriers and Schnauzer. - UPM
