Consequently, animal shelters in Malaysia are struggling with overpopulation and lack of funds, as well as restrictions on the movement of its two-legged members. The Homeless and Orphan Pets Exist (HOPE) animal shelter is just one of several seeking donations during this difficult time.
The organisation is the largest no-kill shelter in Malaysia and continues to operate daily, taking care of over 3,000 animals with a monthly expenditure of about RM170,000. But donations have fallen by 40% compared with the two years prior to the pandemic, which has naturally put a strain on the organisation’s operations.
“Many of our activities such as charity events and outdoor adoption drives have been forced to stop. Our fundraising and adoption rates have been hit hard by the pandemic,” said HOPE management team leader Kimmy Kok.
And the rising number of abandonment cases has not helped. “Pets who are used to living at home find it very difficult to adapt to the life of a stray. Many will encounter car accidents or other incidents, so our rescue cases have continued to increase,” she said.
To help the Pekan Nenas, Johor-based shelter, online retail platform Shopee has embarked on a fundraising campaign called the H.O.P.E. Project. Malaysians can make direct donations or contribute to HOPE by purchasing from Shopee’s campaign partners, which include digital pet healthcare provider Oyen Pet Insurance.
Oyen will forward 10% of proceeds from its official online store, where pet owners can purchase discounted medical kits for minor first-aid at home, and identification microchips.
“Being a part of the pet ecosystem means we need to play a part in helping our community, which includes shelter homes and adoption centres like HOPE,” says Oyen founder Kevin Hoong, who foresees more Malaysians getting their pets insured to help them manage their future vet expenses.
Shopee’s other partners in the H.O.P.E. campaign are the cat food brands ProBalance and ProDiet.
The H.O.P.E. Project runs until Aug 8, which is International Cat Day. To find out more about the campaign, click here.
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