Back from the brink: A report on Nov 15 last year highlighting WOOFF’s predicament. Thanks to public support, the animals now have a new home.
LANGKAWI: A local animal sanctuary that once stood on the brink of closure has made a remarkable comeback.
Thanks to a groundswell of public support, World Of Our Furry Friends (WOOFF) has secured a new home for its 160 rescued dogs and cats.
The sanctuary’s founder, Jeffrey Tan, recalled how dire things looked late last year when The Star reported on WOOFF facing eviction and its urgent need to raise RM380,000 to avoid shutting down.
“We identified a potential new site, but without securing the necessary funds, we couldn’t proceed. Although initial public support grew following the media exposure, local protests temporarily stalled assistance from the authorities, who had initially offered to help us,” he said.
Despite the setback, donations continued to pour in, driven by growing awareness of WOOFF’s mission to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome stray animals across Langkawi.
In a critical turning point, the sanctuary received a lifeline in the form of a three-month eviction extension, shifting the deadline from Dec 31 to March 31.
This brought them precious time to raise more funds and finalise relocation plans.
“By the end of January, we successfully identified a 1.04ha site that offered enough space for our growing operations and even included housing for me and my volunteer team,” Tan said when contacted.
Crucially, the new land also met local community requirements and allowed for the construction of improved animal enclosures.
With legal work underway and donations continuing to flow in, WOOFF completed the land purchase and has since relocated to its new home.
“Construction is now in full swing, with work focused on fortifying the perimeter and assembling enclosures using recycled materials from the former site. However, due to the larger size of the new facility, WOOFF continues to appeal for donations to cover the cost of additional building materials and equipment.
“Volunteers are also urgently needed as we push forward with the development of the new sanctuary. We are calling on animal lovers and supporters to lend a hand with construction, animal care and other day-to-day operations,” he said.
Those interested in volunteering can contact Tan at 013-500 1522 or e-mail hello@woofflangkawi.org.
Donations can be made through https://www.gofundme.com/f/wooff-langkawi-dog-rescue or directly at https://woofflangkawi.org/donate/.
The sanctuary, located just outside of Cenang, has also been reopened to visitors.
Anyone wishing to visit may contact Tan directly.
WOOFF also runs a trap-neuter-release programme aimed at managing Langkawi’s stray population.
The team actively rescues animals in distress, those injured, abused or left vulnerable, and provides urgent medical care and a safe environment for recovery.
“We focus on rehabilitation and prepare our rescues for adoption,” said Tan. “Over the years, we’ve successfully rehomed animals both locally and internationally, including in the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and across Malaysia.”
While the successful relocation is a huge milestone, Tan emphasised that WOOFF’s work is far from over, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported them.
