KUALA LUMPUR - An Italian artist, prince and philosopher once said: “Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by what is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him.”

This profound statement by Pierre Troubetzkoy is no less valid today.

Take a look at the Pulau Ketam dogs being exiled to other islands by the cruel residents of that island to suffer a slow painful death on mangrove-fringed waterless, foodless so-called islands.

Not to mention the cannibalism that followed as bigger, stronger dogs attack, kill and eat the less tougher ones.

When news of the Pulau Ketam dogs being exiled to surrounding islands leaked out to the press and animal welfare groups, it caused a local and international uproar.

Image of Malaysia hit badly

The image of Malaysia as a civilised country dropped to the level of a third world dictatorship where barbaric cruel practices were just normal everyday thingie and where cats and dogs were barbecued as tasty tidbits. 

As is usual in Malaysia, the miscreants behind the whole affair scuttled like crabs to holes in the ground and other crevices hoping the whole embarrassing episode would just die away.

But it didn’t.

Over 300 stray and unwanted dogs were captured on Pulau Ketam and exiled to the surrounding islands. They didn’t die immediately, it was a slow torturous death.

Then along came the real heroes of the whole embarrassing episode, who helped show that not all Malaysians are that callous.

While officialdom was wringing its hands and wondering how to get the country out of the third world barbarian image, a motley bunch of dog lovers sprang into action.

From Furry Friends Farm, a private no-kill animal sanctuary to various independent pet rescuers, to the SPCA, and other various animal welfare groups, rescuing the remaining dogs still alive became the utmost priority. 

With funds raised from local and international supporters and also from their own pockets, these various groups of animal lovers rented boats, bought pet supplies, and descended on the various islands in an attempt to rescue most if not all the dogs stranded there.

It was tough work, the mangrove-fringed islands hindered easy access into the interior of the islands, coupled with pesky sand flies, poisonous snakes, sticky mud, strong currents and everything nature can do to hinder the rescuers.

It pained the hearts of the rescuers and brought tears to their eyes to see forlorn-looking dogs standing on the mangrove roots looking out to sea and to Pulau Ketam, wondering what they had done to mankind to deserve such a slow painful death.

Would it not have been kinder to just put them to sleep? 

Frantic rush to rescue the dogs

Over days and nights, and which is still ongoing, the various rescuers toil to rescue as many dogs as possible. At night, the eerie painful wail of the dogs still stranded on the various islands can be heard.

Rescued dogs were sent to various vets in the Klang Valley to be treated for wounds and diseases and thereafter sent to animal sanctuaries or homes of independent pet rescuers to recover from their traumatic experiences. 

The remaining dogs on the islands no longer trust humans, for we all belong to the same human race who captured them and threw them on the islands to die a slow painful death.

They avoid the rescuers, for the dogs cannot tell the difference between those who dump them there and those who are trying to rescue them. Traps had to be set to capture the dogs.

They are our best friends and we did this to them without a single thought or feeling for their welfare. Whether all surviving dogs can be rescued in time before they die in the stark environment is just one big question mark.

Has Malaysian society degenerated to such a low level that we are numb to all these? Do we just shrug off incidents of extreme cruelty to animals and just say: “Aw... they are just animals, who cares.”

It looks that way. After all, we also torture our Indonesian maids too, so why not dogs and other animals. It is “biasa-lah”.

Perhaps we should just put up a sign at the arrival lounge of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport which says: “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” And that certainly includes man’s best friend.

Image credit - tv smith