We refer to the report in The Sunday Star, ‘A lesson in courage from MDDB's special dogs’ (June 12, 2016).

Whilst the animal NGO may initially have had good intentions to feature disabled dogs in their fundraising activities, the ethics of doing such a thing raises several serious questions.

These include:

1. Handicapped dogs should never be used as a ‘trump sympathy card’ among the public to get donations. They should never be turned into a ‘freak show’ in a donation drive or in the media.

It is not only highly insensitive to human disabilities but also insults and carries a very wrong message about their handicaps.

Disabled people have long rejected using sympathy from the public to bring about publicity and help to them.

Feeling sorry for a dog also goes against all the principles entailed with ‘responsible pet education’, which focuses on a daily high quality of life that includes good health, proper food, happiness and exercise.

2. We were shocked that a disfigured stray, as the writer puts it, “with almost half of her face eaten by maggots” was put on ‘display’. By right, after saving these hapless animals, it should have been ‘retired’ for good from the public eye in order to live out its remaining years.

Children seeing such images of a dog with half a face in a shopping complex could suffer deep trauma for the rest of their lives. Instead of showing them that dogs are friendly, they would be terrified of dogs when they grow up.

We are also shocked by the NGO rep’s comments in the article which read, “Normally, it is the practice to euthanise dogs in such conditions but because we believe in no killing, we treated them and gave them a second chance in life.”

That decision we think should NOT be made by any layman but a professional veterinarian. If someone, is not happy with a particular vet’s decision, then the layman has the right to consult a second diagnosis from a second veterinarian - and not decide to ‘play God’, or ‘play vet’ and make up their own minds based on their emotions or ignorance.

3. Let’s not kid ourselves. Having a disability is no easy thing. The truth is, as you get older, your condition inevitably gets worse.

As your body deteriorates over time, you will need newer medications and surgeries to treat them, or slow down the process.

As a human being, you may not need to worry much about the medical support you need. The hospital and government - and other NGOs - will often help you to subsidise the costs so that you are not neglected of the care that you deserve.

But what if you were a dog or cat in this country? Many of the advanced surgeries done for human persons overseas are gradually becoming available here for humans - but sadly not for animals. And for those that are and have access to them, it is a very, very expensive affair.

Let’s please not use handicapped dogs (or cats) as any ‘NGOs’ Milking Cow’ or ‘Golden Goose’. When necessary, please give them the dignity they deserve and let them go peacefully.

It is the least that we all can do for suffering animals.