Article: Puppy rescue

Sunday October 4, 2009

A group of concerned dog lovers has set up a half-way home for abandoned puppies.

IN conjunction with World Animal Day today, canine welfare project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) is launching its shelter for destitute and abandoned puppies. The MDDB project was initiated by non-governmental organisation Commu­nity Development and Inte­gration Initiative (CDII) last year.

CDII director Firoza Buranudeen said a shelter in Klang was urgently needed due to the large number of puppies rescued almost daily.

"We had nowhere to put them and we felt that veterinary clinics were not safe enough for unvaccinated puppies," she said.

Since the project depends solely on donations, Firoza is appealing to the public to help out so that the shelter can continue to operate.

"Our expenses are high as we have to pay RM35 for the first vaccination for each puppy as well as veterinary care. Some of the puppies have many health problems," she explained.

MDDB, said Firoza, also has to raise money to pay monthly rental of RM600 for the house as well as an additional RM500 monthly for the caretaker who cleans up after the pups, bathes and feeds them.

"We are currently running on our reserves which will be depleted in a week or so and we are hoping that members of the public will come to our aid," she said.

Firoza also hopes there will be offers of sponsorship for their overhead costs. MDDB welcomes donations in kind such as rice, dog shampoo, old towels, puppy food and chew toys. She said the puppies are fed dry food in the morning and rice cooked with chicken and vegetables in the evening.

"We also need to supplement their food with vitamins – being born to stray mothers, the puppy's immune systems are usually very weak," said Firoza.

For details, visit www.malaysiandogsdeservebetter.blogspot.comor e-mail: malaysiandogsdeservebetter@gmail.com or call 019-3576477or 012-3739007.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Sunday Metro 4 October 2009