30/11/2025

ON SUNDAY November 30, 2025 VI theSunday Special Y OUR feed is full of them – cats in boxes, dogs in costumes, even the occasional rescued duck in a hoodie. You pause at every pet video, smile at

You don’t need a paw in your lap to be part of their story.” Don’t underestimate the value of clean ing out your spare cupboard. What feels like clutter to you could become comfort to a shelter cat. M DQ\ VKHOWHUV DOVR QRZ R̆ HU ³YLUWXDO DGRSWLRQV´ ± ZKHUH \RX VSRQVRU D VSHFL¿F pet, get updates and still feel connected. It’s perfect for those who travel often, live with allergies or simply want to involve their children in giving back. In a country where animal welfare laws exist but enforcement is patchy, awareness matters more than ever. One of the easiest and most overlooked ways to help? Use your voice. Share adoption posts. Educate friends on spaying and neutering. Correct pet P\WKV ZKHQ \RX KHDU WKHP ± OLNH ³IHPDOH cats should have one litter before being VSD\HG´ RU ³VWUD\V DUH DJJUHVVLYH´ When people hesitate about adopting, help them see that it’s not about being perfect — it’s about being ready. D RQ¶W IRUJHW WKH VWUD\V Every Malaysian town has them – lean dogs under parked cars, cautious cats eyeing nasi lemak stalls. While full-on rescue may be outside your scope, small acts still matter. Leave water bowls out during hot days. Slow down when driving through stray zones. If a stray keeps returning to your neigh bourhood, connect with organisations like TNR (Trap–Neuter–Return) group. These groups trap animals humanely, spay or neuter them, then return them to the community. It’s a long-term solution WKDW ZRUNV ± TXLHWO\ EXW H̆ HFWLYHO\ So if you’re one of those people who light up at every tail wag but know now isn’t the time to bring one home – take heart. You’re not on the sidelines. You’re already helping. W KHWKHU \RX¶UH R̆ HULQJ WLPH VNLOOV donations, transport or simply your voice, you’re part of the network that keeps animal welfare alive in Malaysia. And one day, when life slows down – when the lease changes, when the job stabilises, when your heart and hands feel UHDG\ ± \RX PLJKW ¿QG D VFUX̆ \ VRPHRQH waiting, not for a stranger, but for the ally who’s been there all along.

adoption stories and light up a little when \RX VHH D VHQLRU GRJ ¿QDOO\ ¿QG D KRPH But when it comes to actually bringing one home, you hesitate. Maybe your condo doesn’t allow pets. Maybe your hours are unpredictable. Maybe your wallet isn’t on speaking terms with the cost of living. Or maybe you’re caring for elderly parents or already stretched thin with young children. Whatever the reason, you’ve realised now isn’t the right time and that’s okay. In fact, it’s responsible. Despite what social media might sug gest, you don’t need to own a pet to prove your love for animals. There’s no badge of honour for most leashes bought and love doesn’t always look like fur on your sofa. Sometimes, it seems like quiet support from behind the scenes. Because the truth is, Malaysia’s animal welfare ecosystem runs on more than adopters. It runs on people like you.

You don’t need to adopt to belong. You just need to care – consistently.”

F RVWHU ¿UVW IRUHYHU ODWHU Shelters are full. Budgets are tight. Volunteers are stretched. And many rescued animals aren’t adoption-ready yet – they’re stressed, scared or recovering from illness. This is where foster homes step in. Even a couple of weeks in a calm home can help an anxious dog begin to trust, or give a sick kitten space to recover. It teaches them that humans can be safe. Think of fostering as pet-sitting with purpose. Many shelters and rescue groups cover food and medical needs and even offer guidance throughout. You’re not signing up for forever. You’re just helping them get ready for it.

When you love animals but can’t own one

BY SIMON VELLA

The skills shelters need You don’t need to walk dogs or scoop litter boxes to help. Rescue groups also need graphic designers, photographers, copywriters, drivers, event volunteers, admin support and people who are simply reliable. One poster, one well-written caption or one shared video can help an animal get noticed and adopted. If you can man DJH VRFLDO PHGLD GHVLJQ À\HUV RU ZULWH newsletters, you’re more valuable than you think. Even if you only show up for one weekend adoption drive a month, that hour you spend walking dogs or speaking with visitors might be the one that seals a forever home. A RM20 monthly pledge can fund deworming. A one-off transfer might cover a neuter. Even what’s already sitting in your storeroom could be a lifeline: old towels, used pet carriers, unopened kibble, pee pads.

One weekend. One foster. One saved life.

Helping doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.