NST - April 13th, 2009 : Four-Legged Bundles of Love
ABOVE : Sabrina Yeap (left), the founder of the Furry Friends Animal Farm, and Jamie Khoo playing with one of the newborn puppies
KUNDANG: You pull up at your gate after a hard day's work. From the porch comes an explosion of pure joy.
Bright happy eyes and tail wagging a mile a minute, your dog jumps on you and licks you.
When you have a dog you know he's happy to see you. And what does he ask for in return? Food, a warm bed and some care and affection.
During a recent visit to the Furry Friends Animal Farm in Kundang with 12 volunteers from the Kechara Home Buddhist Association in Petaling Jaya, it was the dogs who bid us welcome.
A committee of five greeted us cheerfully at the gate and conducted us to the main building. We could almost hear them saying: "Welcome, welcome. Come in, we'll take you to our mistress."
The group from the Kechara Home Buddhist Association playing with some of the dogs.
Sabrina Yeap set up the shelter about 12km outside Rawang almost single-handedly. She is the driving force behind the organisation which rescues strays and gives them a home.
There are 80 street dogs living a life of comfort and love at the shelter. They are looked after by Yeap and her volunteers. Each dog knows its name and is always ready for a cuddle or to play.
The sanctuary opened on Oct 4, 2006, in conjunction with World Animal Day. It's motto then and now is "Love and care for every stray".
"The sanctuary is supported through monthly contributions of RM30 from volunteers. We also receive donations of food from social organisations which visit the farm from time to time.
"But it's hard to make ends meet at times. Most of the money goes to the rent and veterinary bills.
"Dog food is another major expense even though we feed them rice because they are Malaysian," she laughs.
Mostly the dogs are allowed to roam freely in the compound. But at times they are put into enclosures which helps to socialise them and teach them to get along.
All of the dogs are up for adoption.
Some of the dogs waiting eagerly to be adopted
One of the enclosures for rescued strays.
Yeap said there were plans to build a sanctuary for stray cats which will cost about RM4,000.
Another important aspect of their work is educating people about animal rights.
"The authorities should play a bigger role caring for strays," said Yeap.
She said dogs should be checked for heartworm, cats for leukaemia and all should be neutered before they were sent to a home or pound.
At the end of our visit another group of dogs bid us farewell at the gate, tails wagging and tongues lolling as if to say, "Come again soon!"
Sources taken from NST, 13th April 2009 : Four-Legged Bundles of Love