The Mutts and Mittens’ shelter for rescued stray animals in Menglembu, Ipoh, is dilapidated and in need of repairs.
MUTTS and Mittens’ shelter for rescued stray animals in Menglembu, Ipoh, is dilapidated and in need of repairs.
The animal welfare non-governmental organisation’s president Chong Choon Kit said the premises was in bad shape and they were holding a charity dinner at a restaurant in Ipoh on Nov 5 to raise funds for renovation and repair works.
Chong said among the items that needed repairs were old kennels, cages, fences, balcony and drainage system.
“The place will be inundated when it rains heavily so we need a better drainage and flooring system.
“We also need a new isolation area for sick dogs that need intensive care,” he said during a press conference.
“Funds raised will also be used for our operational expenses, including animal healthcare expenses, spaying and neutering charges, workers’ salary, animal welfare education and the daily expenses for running our shelter.
“Our target is to reach RM150,000,” he added.
Chong said he hoped to get financial support and donations from the public.
“We rely solely on public donations to run our organisation and shelter.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely impacted us for more than two years,” he said, adding that there were about 300 rescued animals at the shelter.
“We look forward to the public’s generous support of our ticket sales or any forms of donations.
“I also hope the public can support our food bank programme, spaying and neutering initiative and adoption drives,” he added.
Also present at the press conference was Canning assemblyman Jenny Choy, who urged Ipoh City Council to collaborate with all animal welfare NGOs to find a solution to the stray animal issue in the city.
Choy said she believed that spaying and neutering of stray animals was an efficient and humane method to control the stray animal population.
Tickets to the charity dinner are priced at RM90 per guest, RM300 for a seat at the VIP table, or RM400 for two tickets, which includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony for one person.
For details, call 014-944 3806 (Joelle).
Meanwhile, a US-based not-for-profit animal rights group has been set up to raise awareness and help stray dogs in Malaysia.
Called Filbert’s Foundation for Furry Friends (F5), a non-governmental organisation, was founded and set up in April this year by Dr Namita Gill, a 43-year-old Malaysia-born nephrologist who has been practising in Seattle, Washington since 2008.
“I am a passionate animal advocate. Over the years, the inhumanity faced by Malaysian stray dogs has just exploded.
“We want to assist those already doing the work as well as identify other options to help the strays,” she told StarMetro.
“We will use our vast resources and offer a different perspective to raise awareness of the sad stray dog situation in Malaysia to Malaysians overseas.
“There also has been a lack of help from international animal welfare foundations and societies on the ground level in Malaysia as compared to the work they are doing in our neighboring countries,” she said.
“Having strong alliances both within Malaysia and globally to champion change can only benefit the dogs,” she added.
Dr Namita said F5 hoped to build a welfare programme to aid projects in Malaysia for the benefit of the strays.
“We are committed to helping in any way feasible, including fundraising efforts.
“We advocate trap, neuter, release and manage (TNRM) programmes, as it has been repeatedly shown to be the most effective and humane way to reduce stray dog population numbers in the developing world,” she said.
“We also want to educate and promote compassion, while seeking justice for strays,” she added.
For details, go to https://f5strays.org/
