ADOPTION DRIVE

Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better will have its monthly adoption drive this Sunday. We hope that all our puppies will be successfully rehomed as we need the space to care for the Klang pound puppies. The puppies are currently with fosterers as well as in several veterinary clinics. Many are very anti-social and snappy and we need to bring them to our half-way-home to familiarise them with people as well as to give them good nourishment to build-up their immunity. MDDb is also appealing for hep to settle its never ending veterinary bills. Dry and canned dog food, dog shampoo and towels are also welcome. MDDB needs the extra dog food to be sent to the Klang pound.Details about the adoption drive:

Date: Jan 10

Venue: The Summit, Subang Jaya

Time: 11.00am to 7.00pm

Details: 019-3576477, 012-3739007

TNR

One of our TNR dogs - note the snipped off left ear.

One of our TNR cats - note the snipped off left ear.

We have been trying the Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) method and are mighty glad that it has worked out well. Thanks to the Hulu Selangor District Council which cooperated with us.

About 30 dogs and 60 cats were neutered since we embarked on the project several months ago. If you go to Kuala Kubu Baru and see stray cats and dogs with their left ears snipped - you'll know that they are our TNR strays. The people in the little town have also agreed to practice tolerance towards these animals as they understand that they will not multiply due to the TNR exercise.

The animals are also being fed by various people - including restaurant owners. Since, our experimental TNR programme had gone on successfully - MDDB has decided to court other local councils to do the same.

We have also acquired space in Kerling which will be turned into a TNR center and half-way-farm. Will arrange for pics of the place soon. Wish us luck.

8 More

This is one of the dogs rescued by Ivo.

Eight more dogs have been rescued by a German expat, who only wants to be known as Ivo, recently. This dog was among the eight he rescued. Six of the eight will probably go to Furry Friends Farm whilst we would be looking for another place for the other two. Ivo has also paid for the neutering and vaccination for all eight. We need more people like Ivo.

Rest in peace little pup

At the pound

Sharing a cage with two puppies that had tested positive for distemper.

This little Klang Pound pup died of distemper recently at the clinic where we had admitted it. The puppy had tested negative on the day it was brought to us but tested positive several days later. We believe that it had been infected by other puppies on the day it was rescued. This is an example of how deadly the distemper virus can be. Given this - we have to be careful when rescuing the pound puppies by separating those taken from within the enclosures with those from outside the enclosures. We have received three more puppies and they are all infected with parvo and corona virus. We hope they pull through.

TRIBUTE

ANGELS ON EARTH

WE would like to usher in 2010 by paying tribute to all the independent rescuers who have over the years saved the lives of many dogs and cats that had crossed their paths. They have been doing what they do best, without seeking publicity nor glory, simply because it is their calling to save the strays. To these angels on earth - MDDB salutes you. MDDB is inspired by all of you special people who would not leave any stone unturned in your quest to help the strays.

So, Joanne, Leigh, Christine, Rina, Ah Kiew, Aunty Mary, Eileen, Irene, Kay, Sam, Jovi, Ganesh Nicole, Vani, Mano, Erica, Chong, Kanna, Fatimah, Pat, Sabrina, Raymond, Mohan, Karin and many others who have been there for the poor strays -

THANK YOU

And this tribute would not be a tribute proper if due credit is not given to Sherrina Krishnan who made public the noble work being carried out by the independent rescuers.


This is dedicated to all of you.


THE RESCUERS' RAINBOW BRIDGE


Unlike most days on Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and had started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. the other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this dog had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked towards, The Bridge he watched all the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel, who apologised but told the broken-spirited old dog that he would not be able to pass. Only animals who were with their humans could pass over Rainbow Bridge.

With nobody and no place else to turn to, the elderly dog turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm as well as sad and discouraged. They weren't playing but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge, a dog, did not understand what he had just witnessed and asked another dog that had been there for a while to explain the situation to him.

"You see, that old dog was a rescue. He was rescued looking like how you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never found a family after being rescued and passed on with only the love shown by his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family that had given him love, he has no one to escort him over The Bridge.''

The dog thought about this for a moment and then asked - "So what will happen now?''
As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom disappeared.

A single person was seen approaching The Bridge and the whole group of destitute animals waiting outside the pathway to The Bridge were suddenly bathed in a golden light. They all became young and healthy and in the prime of their lives again.

"Watch and see,'' said the second animal. Another group of animals who were waiting within the pathway to The Bridge also approached the person and bowed low as she appeared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat or a scratch behind the ears. The destitute animals, who had been waiting outside the pathway to The Bridge, followed the person to The Bridge. Once there they all crossed The Rainbow Bridge together.

"What happened?''

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of her efforts. They will cross when their humans arrive. Those you saw waiting outside the pathway to The Bridge were those who never found homes. When a rescuers arrives here, they are allowed to carry out one final rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals , that they couldn't rehome on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge.

"I think I like rescuers,'' said the first dog.

" So does Heaven, my friend. So does Heaven,'' was the reply.

LATEST KLANG POUND PICS

This poor dog's eye infection appears to be getting worse.

Donated food which was sent to the pound by MDDB through a friend. A pail filled with water was also placed in each holding cell. Hopefully the workers do not 'spoil' the food when they are spraying water into the cages to clean them-up.

A sad looking dog begging to be taken out of the pound.

Some of the dogs here - whose ribs can be clearly seen - were too weak to even eat.

Eating and drinking finally.

Thirsty dogs

We were told by a source that the Klang pound people only started getting leftovers from restaurants and the bread factory after starving dogs had started to eat dogs that had died in their enclosures. We suspect the stronger ones had also killed the sick ones in their desperation for food. Our friend who went there to feed the dogs, the food we had received, told us that the dogs had finished half a pail of water as soon as it was put into their enclosures.

Please people - please take a dog home each. It won't solve the problem but would send across the message that people care enough to do this. It will in turn push the local council people to embark on a more humane approach.

MIXED FEELINGS

Yesterday we were both proud and ashamed of being Malaysian. Proud because a PAS branch chairman called asking to contribute food to the dogs at the pound. He said his heart bled to see the faces of the dogs in the pictures posted here.
He said he was a very religious man and given this, it was both his moral and religious obligation to do whatever little he can to elevate the suffering of these dogs at the pound. Since he didn't know much about dog food - he asked us if we could meet him at a designated pet shop and help him buy the food.
At the same time we also received a call from an Irish expat who wanted to buy food for the pound dogs as well. He said he was shocked with what he had heard and seen and said that had this happened in Ireland, the pound managers and workers would have all been sent to jail. According to him some pound workers in his hometown were sentenced to six months jail each for abusing the dogs in the care by not giving them enough food and water.
He also said cruelty against animals by individuals existed in all parts of the world including his country but cruelty against animals by a government body was inexcusable. He said he loved living in Malaysia but the many instances of dog abuse by local councils left a bad taste in his mouth.
Anyway, since both wanted to do the same thing - we got them together and they combined their resources to buy dog food as well as some chew toys. This, they said would relieve the dogs of the stress at the pound.
Since there were almost a hundred dogs at the pound - MDDB bought more chew toys to be sent there. MDDB also bought six large containers and pails to be filled with water and food and placed at the pound. We were told these were insufficient and therefore will be sending six more basins and pails to the pound. Stay tuned.