Animal center sees robust business<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Business is bustling at the Ragunan animal care center here,
\nas many Jakartans settle their pets before leaving the city for
\nIdul Fitri or Christmas holidays.<\/p>\n
The government-subsidized animal center, located in Ragunan,
\nSouth Jakarta near the Ragunan Zoo, is experiencing more than a
\n400 percent increase in revenue for December, according to Aneta
\nWidiyawati, an animal welfare staff member.<\/p>\n
On the day before Lebaran or Idul Fitri, there were 89 dogs
\nand 23 cats brought by their owner for temporary care, for about
\n10 to 15 days, while they would be off for the holidays.<\/p>\n
As for the Christmas holidays, an additional of 61 dogs and 37
\ncats of various pedigree were brought to the center, which is
\nunder the Foundation for the Protection and Care of Animals.<\/p>\n
The cost ranges from Rp 15,000 (US$1.5) to 40,000 ($4) per
\nanimal, per day.<\/p>\n
Until the end of December, the foundation's revenue is Rp 43
\nmillion, compared with the Rp 10 million per month on average,
\nAneta told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"This will be our savings to compensate for operational costs
\non the slower days,\" she said, adding that they received around
\nthe same figure last December.<\/p>\n
\"The holiday season has always been our hope to rev up our
\nfinancial condition.\"<\/p>\n
The largest expenditure for the foundation is the fumigation
\nfee, and the cost of antiparasite medication, which must be
\nimported from Australia or Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Flees, according to Aneta, are a constant problem for the
\nfoundation, especially during the rainy season. Worse, when the
\nweather frequently changes, fumigation becomes ineffective.<\/p>\n
\"The pesticides that were just sprayed would dissolve in the
\nrain water, so we must repeat the fumigation.\"<\/p>\n
There are now about 110 abandoned dogs, and dozens of stray
\ncats at the foundation, and most of them have to give up space or
\nshare their enclosure with the paying occupants.<\/p>\n
Most of them have little chance to be adopted, as most people
\nwould prefer to adopt puppies and not grown dogs.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the stray animals become a burden to the cash
\nstrapped foundation, whose foreign donors had left the country
\nfollowing September's terror attacks in the U.S.<\/p>\n
\"Just a week before Lebaran, six puppies were adopted; some of
\nthe strayed animals has been here even before I was employed by
\nthe foundation,\" Aneta remarked.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/animal-center-sees-robust-business-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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