PETALING JAYA: When Swedish tourist Tobbe Dahl was walking around Kuala Lumpur about a week ago, he spotted five motherless puppies at a construction site.
"I first saw two puppies running around the area and when I whistled, the remaining three puppies came running out," said Dahl, 36, who lives in Thailand.
Dahl said he then noticed that one of the puppies, the runt of the litter, was weak and so he took it to a veterinary clinic for treatment.
Dahl, who is a padel tennis coach and businessman in Thailand, also sent a video of the puppy he named Leo to a veterinarian friend back home in Sweden.
"My friend said Leo was too weak and may not live another night, but he survived and has been with me in my accommodation since," said Dahl.
Four out of the five puppies will be up for adoption at canine welfare project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) adoption at The Square, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya on Sunday (July 3).
The adoption drive will be held from 11.00am to 6.00pm.
Dahl has decided to bring Leo back with him to Thailand on his next trip to Malaysia after getting the necessary documents processed.
According to Dahl, he was surprised to see the motherless puppies in the middle of a busy Kuala Lumpur area.
"First, I thought the puppies belonged to people living inside the construction site.
"But I met a lady who was feeding street dogs in the area and she told me the puppies did not belong to anyone," said Dahl.
It was then that he decided that the onus was on him to rescue the puppies before leaving Malaysia.
He explained how he searched on social media for shelters, veterinary clinics and pet shops to ask how he could find homes for the puppies.
Dahl said he had also walked all over Kuala Lumpur and walked into veterinary clinics and pet shops asking for advice, but none could point him in the right direction.
"I contacted 10 to 15 organisations but none could help me.
"Finally, I found someone on Instagram who put me in touch with MDDB," he added.
Dahl also said he had formed a very strong bond with Leo and cannot wait to bring him home to Thailand.
"We have been out to the park and enjoyed each other's company and I am feeling sad that I have to leave him behind when I go back home on Monday," he added.
Meanwhile, MDDB adoption coordinator Christine Lai said she hoped all the four puppies rescued by Dahl will find homes.
"We also have several other puppies in need of homes.
"Please come and take them home," she added.
Details: 0122414749.
