Independent rescuers and feeders aided in the efforts and helped save cats too.
If there is one thing that unites Malaysians besides our love for food, it is our willingness to go the extra mile to help others – even our furry friends – during times of need.
It was with this knowledge that Jeskiran Kaur Bhatt and her team at Seremban-based animal shelter Furrykids Safehaven embarked on a courageous rescue mission to save animals in distress when floods hit Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam, Selangor, in December 2021.
Confident that their fellow Malaysians would rally behind them, the team led by shelter president Jeskiran and co-founder Liza Sharif headed to Taman Sri Muda to rescue the animals.
Within 24 hours of posting an SOS on social media, the NGO received an outpouring of support from generous Malaysians, without which their mission would have been impossible.
They were also granted access to the flood-hit area by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
“As soon as we posted the shoutout for help, people began reaching out to us to contribute in kind, cash and their time to help our cause.
“We received collars, leashes, kibble, and canned pet food, which we handed out to pet owners in Taman Sri Muda. We were even loaned a boat to help us get to the animals,” said Jeskiran.
Owing to their quick action, the team managed to get 70 dogs to safety. They were also joined by independent rescuers and feeders – some of them Muslim – who aided in their efforts and helped save cats too.The dogs, strays, and pets were transported to the shelter in Kuala Sawah near Seremban for treatment and rehabilitation.
The rescue was a poignant one for the shelter team. In November 2020, a year prior, Furrykids Safehaven lost 84 dogs in its care when flash floods struck its former premises in Mambau.
At the time, the country was in the midst of the recovery movement control order (MCO).
“The water rose so rapidly that morning that the caged dogs, mostly puppies, could not be rescued on time.
“We lost 54 dogs that morning, and sadly, another 30 succumbed to complications later,” said Jeskiran.
The tragedy prompted Jeskiran, who had started as an independent rescuer, to become more involved in the shelter’s activities.
Jeskiran with three cute puppies. The animal shelter houses more than 2,000 rescued strays.
While volunteering, she has witnessed the kindness of strangers and the Malaysian spirit of togetherness on countless occasions, particularly in times of trouble.
“No matter our differences in opinion, we are always ready to lend a helping hand. That is the beauty of Malaysians,” she said.
The devastating incident in Seremban also brought animal lovers of different races and faiths together in their common goal to help the shelter get back on its feet.Because the tragedy happened amid the pandemic when the world was still reeling from the effects of Covid-19, efforts to salvage the flood-affected shelter and its furkids proved an immense challenge.
But Jeskiran, Liza, and other volunteers – shelter members and non- members – dug in their heels and refused to give up on their four-legged friends.
“Like everybody else, we faced personal struggles during the pandemic.“But there was no way we could throw in the towel when we had a responsibility to the animals – we had to be the voice for the voiceless,” she said.
Today, Furrykids Safehaven is home to over 2,000 dogs. The shelter’s new 2.7-hectare plot includes boarding and quarantine kennels, a roaming area, an office, a kitchen, a shed, and workers’ quarters.
Jeskiran said many animal lovers, including Muslim volunteers, assisted with relocating the dogs to the new shelter on Jan 1, 2021.
Furrykids Safehaven also counts a Ustad among its members.
“We are very fortunate to have the Ustad as a member. He fights for animal rights and helps spread awareness about the mistreatment and abuse of dogs,” she said.
Three years post-pandemic, it might be business as usual for most people.
But Jeskiran said the Furrykids Safehaven team has had much more to contend with since the pandemic.
“The lockdown was challenging, but we have had to deal with more dogs being dumped post-pandemic.
“And because many people have been financially affected by the pandemic, we don’t receive as many donations as we did before,” she said.
While some people genuinely cannot afford to lend a helping hand to stray animals in distress, many of us are guilty of looking the other way.
Shelter volunteers do not have the same luxury.
Jeskiran, who has four dogs of her own – all rescues – continues to foster puppies in her own home, with plenty of help from her 12-year-old son Jaiveer Singh, fondly known as Captain Puppy.
Similarly, publicity-shy Liza looks after 20 dogs, three cats, and two chickens at her home.
Volunteers know full well that rescuing animals can be a never-ending cycle. It takes resilience and deep compassion for animals to keep pushing on, day after day.
Monthly expenses at Furrykids Safehaven range between RM90,000 and RM120,000, including salaries for 11 shelter workers and dog food.
“We welcome donations in cash or kind and encourage people to volunteer their time to play with our animals.
“The dogs deserve love and attention, just like us,” she said, adding that the joy of saving a life outweighed the heartbreaking moments.
Furrykids Safehaven was established in 2017 by a group of animal lovers who saved 70 dogs from being euthanised at a Kuala Lumpur pound.
The rescued animals were transferred to Seremban after an animal lover offered a plot of land to house them.
