Speaking to FMT, PAWS manager Edward Lim explained that the plot on which their facility is presently located has been gazetted by the government as “road reserve land”.
With this land soon to be developed, the government has graciously given the shelter an alternative plot in Ara Damansara where the new facility is to be built.
Lim explained that the new site consists of two plots of land that will house two different facilities for the animals.
“The main shelter will be built on the bigger plot while the smaller plot will be used as a quarantine station as well as a pound to serve the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
He said their present shelter was too small to accommodate all the animals that were either picked up as strays by the city councils or surrendered by members of the public.
“We currently have a total of 500 animals, both cats and dogs and the new plot will definitely be able to cater to more because, with the current numbers and space we have, we seem to be full all the time,” Lim said, adding that many a time, they have had no choice but to reject taking in more animals.
“Hopefully, when we are able to finish building the new shelter, we can serve the public better,” he said.
According to Edward, the new shelter is an ambitious three-storey project while the quarantine centre is to be a two-storey building.
“I believe this will be the first shelter in Malaysia that will be a multi-storey building and equipped with solar panels as well as rainwater harvesting facilities to ensure a sustainable and environmentally-friendly refuge for Malaysia’s animals.”
Lim explained that the shelter hopes to hold a ground-breaking ceremony at the new site by the end of 2021 and if everything goes as planned, the new shelter will be completed within two and a half years.
“We will be shifting to our new site in the next four to six weeks, but it will be a temporary shelter,” he explained.
As part of their fundraising efforts, the public can sponsor one square foot of land for a minimum donation of RM100.
Every donation of RM100 and above will come with a certificate that includes GPS coordinates unique to the individual donor, enabling them to visit the sponsored land via Google Earth.
Lim thanked Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han, former Petaling Jaya Mayor Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain, Petaling Jaya Mayor Mohd Sayuthi Bakar, Selangor Veterinary Services Department and Selangor Land and Mines Department for their help in obtaining the new site for PAWS.
Bank in your donations to:
PAWS Animal Welfare Society
UOB Bank Account No: 232-300-219-5
SWIFT Code: UOVBMYKLXXX
You can screenshot your donation to [email protected].