These atrocities make you wonder how some Malaysians can have such a sadistic streak when innocent and helpless animals are at their mercy.
There is still hope for these poor creatures, however, as even more Malaysians are willing to go all out when it comes to helping animals.
Dr Jawahir Abdullah, 30, also called Dr Wawa by friends and clients, is among this number as she uses her veterinary skills to rescue and aid strays in need of help.
Together with her husband, Mohd Khamsani Ahmad, they run a clinic in Seri Kembangan where they treat not only pets but also strays that are rescued off the streets.
Animal lovers from a young age, the proud parents of three pet cats were recently featured in a social media post that went viral showing Dr Jawahir and Khamsani treating a family of stray dogs in Bandar Puteri Bangi.
Speaking to FMT, Dr Jawahir explained that she learnt about the plight of the stray dogs from a concerned member of the public who didn’t know how to care for them.
Realising that they had to do something, she and her husband decided to act so they went to Bangi to tend to the dogs, evaluating their health and giving them their required jabs.
This is not the first time they have rescued strays. Two of their furry kitties are indeed adopted strays, with one roaming in front of their clinic and the other behind.
The couple collaborate with a large number of shelters, giving stray animals health checks and treating them if required before sending them off to animal rescue organisations which will help find forever homes for them.
They have no issues dealing with dogs, despite what some people might think.
“If not us, who then?” she asks.
“There is a sense of confusion among Malaysians that dogs are ‘haram’,” says Khamsani. “There are many different opinions on this. But if you are there to help these animals, it becomes ‘harus’. You are not forbidden from touching them.”
Dr Jawahir explains that it is not always possible to wear gloves when treating dogs, as there are some medical procedures that require the use of bare hands.
She relates that during her studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia, she and her course mates would not hesitate in helping injured dogs as it simply is the right thing to do.
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed and they have received much support and thanks from Malaysians from all walks of life.
“When people ask me about my work, I will explain it to them. The key word is education,” she says regarding misconceptions about what she does.
“In Islam, all living creatures exist for a reason. You have no right to hurt them.”
Dr Jawahir made up her mind to become a veterinarian when she was 14, after being helpless to treat her grandmother’s ailing cat which eventually passed away.
“This is something I want to do with my life, to treat animals and also to take care of them.”
Her life has since revolved around animals, and even her relationship with Khamsani came about thanks to their mutual love of cats.
Asked what the best part of her job is, she responds, “When my patient shows improvement.”
There is a joy to be had, she says, at seeing a pet that was deathly ill up and about eating and playing.
While cats are subtle in how they show their appreciation, dogs on the other hand tend to be unabashedly thankful.
Inversely, the most difficult part of her job is when she is unable to save a patient due to complications and other factors.
“There are times, I try to be optimistic; but because of many factors, I lose my patients…I really feel bad for them.”
She has had interesting experiences as well, at one time having to treat an animal no veterinarian would expect to see brought into their clinic.
While working in Pahang, a Felda settler brought in a porcupine he had found that had a maggot-infested wound.
“I didn’t know what to do!” laughs Dr Jawahir. “I hadn’t even approached it when it started bristling its quills.”
Despite the danger and the difficulty, she ultimately had the satisfaction of letting her prickly patient wander back into the jungle, free of pain and wounds.
She was also part of a team of veterinarians that treated a rescued stray cat with horrendous injuries. The blind cat had lost much of its face to the point its skull was exposed.
“It was hard to look at,” she says. “The cat couldn’t eat and couldn’t breathe without bleeding.”
That cat now lives a happy life after undergoing successful and extensive treatment.
For young people considering a veterinarian career, Dr Jawahir has this to say, “You need to have patience. This job is laborious. At the end of the day, you will be exhausted.”
It is not a “clean” job to say the least, but she does what she does out of love and care for animals.
“My patients cannot tell me what is wrong, or where it hurts. I will have to feel for them.”
Ohana Veterinary Clinic
B-2-G Putra Walk
Jalan PP 25
Seri Kembangan, Selangor
Contact: 016-522 5123
Business hours: 11am – 8pm on weekdays, 10am – 5pm on weekends,
closed on Thursdays