TAWAU: A stray animal rescue activist here felt deeply saddened and shocked after discovering the carcass of a dog tied up in the area of the Old Tawau Airport (LTLT) at around 6.30am on Wednesday.
Ringo Chung, who has been actively involved in animal rescue work for over 10 years, said the cruel discovery was made when he came to the terminal building area to check on six puppies he was trying to save after they were poisoned the previous day.
He said he usually visits the location every evening to feed stray dogs after work, but this morning he unexpectedly came across another case of animal cruelty.
“On Tuesday, I found six puppies that had been given food mixed with rat poison, but I managed to provide initial treatment by giving them raw eggs in hopes of saving them.
“This morning, I came to check on them, but instead I found a dog carcass that had been tied up,” he said, expressing concern over the rising number of cruelty cases against stray dogs, including around the LTLT area along Jalan Utara.
Ringo, who routinely feeds stray dogs in the area, also revealed that such incidents are not new, as several dogs had previously been found dead simultaneously, believed to have been poisoned.
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“I plan to install solar-powered CCTV to monitor the situation here and identify the perpetrator, since no one lives in this (building) area,” he said.
Meanwhile, he expressed disappointment over the lack of follow-up action despite previous reports made to authorities regarding animal cruelty cases.
He hopes the public will be more aware and compassionate toward stray animals, and refrain from violent actions that could endanger their lives.
“Dogs are actually sensitive. If we treat them well, such as by feeding them, they will not be aggressive. Harsh actions like kicking the ground will only provoke them,” he said.
He also called on more people to come forward and assist in animal rescue efforts, noting that only a few individuals are actively involved in such work in the district.
Meanwhile, the latest case shared by Ringo on his social media has drawn public attention, with many expressing sympathy and urging authorities to take stricter action against perpetrators of animal cruelty.
