THE STAR - August 9th, 2008 : Calling All Angels
Weekend volunteers are welcome at the Furry Friends Farm in Sungai Buloh
Despite all the publicity it has received in the past, Furry Friends Farm still receives little in terms of monetary support.
Sabrina Yeap says the farm’s main contributors are people who can barely get by themselves, like fishmongers, tailors, cobblers, retirees and sweepers. They give about RM30 each month.
As for the affluent, Yeap reveals, “Most of the rich people I’ve approached are very reluctant about parting with their money. I’ve always wanted to open a cattery but can’t because there’s just not enough funds.”
She’s also looking for volunteers for the farm. Sincerity is a must, for the going will get tough most of the time.
“The ‘commanders’ are the hardest ones to deal with,” she says. “I use that term very liberally because these are volunteers who do nothing but give orders and complain 24/7. They don’t really understand the inner workings of the farm, and how difficult it is to maintain it, so I’d roll out the red carpet and invite them out. We’ve lost volunteers that way before.”
A crucial point to note is how most animal lovers don’t realise is that helping all these strays is an act that begins from home.
“One very dangerous public misconception is thinking that you don’t need to neuter your pet. Some say their pets are home-bound, and could therefore not escape, while the others claim that their pets have their rights to recreate.
“But any visitor to my farm will know that many of the strays have pedigree blood in them. These people are causing the proliferation of strays with their irresponsible behaviour. They don’t realise just how many animals are suffering because of them.”
Yeap’s long-time friend Jeanette Low, a full-time mother, couldn’t agree more with her.
“We were both colleagues at the SPCA, and we got about 1,000 strays every month. Roughly 80%, or 800 animals, had to be put down each month, because they weren’t able to find permanent homes.
“It was so sad to see all these healthy animals being killed, and every one of us shared the same sentiment of wanting to build the first no-kill shelter in Selangor. But no one was as resolute or as brave as Sabrina.”
Yeap, meanwhile, claims that her determination to instigate change stems from a deeper understanding of humanity’s best friend. In her eyes, dogs are noble creatures, whose aggression is triggered by the cruelty of human beings themselves.
“People always defend themselves against the care of their pets. For instance, they don’t understand that a Rottweiler that’s been caged up for 20 hours a day will turn crazy. Or that hitting their dog will cause it to be rebellious and vicious. They might not look like they’re in pain, but it’s psychologically damaging.”
What was worse for Yeap is the fact that she’s right here in Malaysia, where animal rights hover near zero, and mongrels are beaten, tortured and massacred from day to day without a single flicker of guilt.
As for her future plans, Yeap is in the midst of looking for a successor. It’s a tall order, considering what the person would have to go through every day.
“I’m wondering if any parents are willing to let me adopt their children as a godson or goddaughter. Then I can start grooming them for the cause. I want to do this as soon as possible because life is short.
“I’ve realised this during a recent visit to the old folks homes. Many of them tell me, I wish that I were 20 or 30 years younger, so that I could be involved in the farm. Their voices remind me to do all I can because time which has passed will never return.”
Source taken from THE STAR - August 9th, 2008 : Calling All Angels