Still Taking Baby Steps Forward�

Baby steps are better than no steps, and the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.

We have taken baby steps in the last six years in doing what we can to help street animals and their caregivers. Although numbers do not really matter, but it is gratifying to know that 6472 street animals have directly benefited over the years (in neutering, medical treatment and e-rehoming) plus more through our Food Fund (closed last year) and the ongoing education on kindness to animals.

As we step into our 7th year today, I would like to personally thank everyone, especially our volunteers, well-wishers and supporters who have given so much in the last six years to enable AnimalCare to do what it does.

Here are some photographs that show our early years right up to the present. We apologise if you are not featured in the album below (especially those who have helped anonymously in the background), but please know that all of you are deeply appreciated in our hearts.

31st May 2009 – holding only a cardboard box at the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association.
That’s how we began.

In the first two years, we did rescue work too, but soon realised that the hardest part is in the rehoming. We simply have no more resources to carry on in this area as we do not have a shelter.

With limited resources, we decided that the best way is to raise funds to help other caregivers and rescuers. From the Klang Valley, we soon extended our subsidies to the whole of Malaysia.

Participating in events is a great way to fundraise, create the awareness and let people know what we can offer.

But I need committed volunteers for events. That’s something I cannot do by myself.

Thank you very much to everyone who has made time to help out.

We started as a neutering fund and very quickly moved on to include medical treatment in the first month itself. Then, the Food Fund came about when needy caregivers asked for help. But as of this year, we can no longer do so much, so we have decided to focus solely on providing neutering subsidies. And it is gratifying to note that even without giving out medical treatment subsidies, we are still giving out an equal amount of money every month (RM8000 to RM12000) and all this is being channeled 100% to neutering. Every street animal neutered is hundreds of animals saved.

And to make it easier for all caregivers and rescuers, we moved from our initial 6 panel vets in the Klang Valley to include all registered vets in Malaysia so that a caregiver may choose the vet of her/his choice and get the neutering done at the clinic of her/his choice. In this way, we are able to extend our help to street animals throughout Malaysia and at the same time, support vets in helping street animals. Our claims now come from Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Selangor, KL, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Sarawak (we are waiting for Kelantan and Sabah!). There have been the occasional enquiries from overseas, but we cannot help those!

We also have zero operational and administrative costs; all volunteers donate their time and energy. The costs of our brochures, buntings, banners, design fee (by designers who charge), etc. are all sponsored either by our friends or I pick up the bill myself. The publication costs of our free books are also sponsored largely by the Buddhist community and our friends. So rest assured that your entire donation goes directly to the animals.

Every single sen spent through our Fund has been documented in this blog, for accountability to our donors and supporters so that you know exactly how your donations are being used and which animal and his/her caregiver has received it. (Please click on the various Categories on the right sidebar.)

In the course of doing our work, inevitably we may have stepped on your toes or you may be unhappy with our policies, but we hope you understand that a society cannot run without adhering to its policies and rules are meant to be kept for a good reason. So let me still take this opportunity to offer our apologies should we have offended anyone in the last six years. Let’s agree to disagree and move on respectively doing what we can for the animals. Different paths, same goal.

To everyone who has helped, whether you are a volunteer at events, you help promote our tshirts, or you have decided to purchase our soap and toothpaste, or get your petfood and supplies from us, you have participated in our auctions(!), you help me decide and debate on difficult decisions or you are a regular donor to our Fund, or you support us in heart and spirit, we thank you so very much. All of you have given your time, energy, love and kindness in ways that speak volumes. As we say on the last day of every month when we acknowledge and thank you for your help, there is no AnimalCare without you.

We hope you will continue supporting us as we continue to take (still) baby steps forward…into our 7th year!

Little by little, is the water jug filled.

P.S. That’s Heidi!

An update: Ah, the power of hyper-connectivity through the internet! Within less than an hour after publishing this, I receive the following from someone in Lahad Datu:

Dear Dr. Chan

I almost fainted with excitement when i read about the good work Animal Care is doing. Its the exact help that i need to continue carrying out my stray animal work here in Lahad Datu, Sabah. I have for the last year been neutering and medicating strays at my own expense and your fund would help a lot to enable me to carry out this work. Just last week i neutered 4 dogs and for 15th of this month planning on 3 more.

Also kindly send me your free book as i would like to start an animal education programme at primary schools.

God Bless

Anyone from Kelantan?

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2015/06/01/still-taking-baby-steps-..

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AnimalCare is a registered society that promotes caregiving to street animals and helps in their neutering and medical needs. AnimalCare has a Medical Fund, Food Fund and Education Fund.

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