Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB), a non-profit organisation for canines, which has been operating since 2008, continues to take in dogs with nowhere else to go.
MDDB currently operates two facilities. One shelter in Rawang houses hundreds of healthy dogs, requiring basic care.
The second shelter, located in the Klang Valley, serves as a halfway house for around 70 disabled and senior rescue dogs, many of whom are blind and three-legged as a result of road accidents.
“We also have two dogs with mental health conditions. One was born with half a brain, and the other self-mutilates, so that dog is on mood-management medications,” said MDDB Veterinary Care Coordinator Kavitah Ganasan.
“All of our ill dogs were picked up from the streets, where many were bullied by other dogs,” she added.
These dogs receive love, proper care, and necessary veterinary treatment until the end of their lives.
When suffering becomes severe, a visiting veterinarian assists with humane euthanasia within the safe and compassionate environment of the half-way home.
“We believe every dog should be given a chance. You’ll know when they’re really ready to go. We only put them to sleep if they’ve completely given up and are beyond pain relief.”
The NGO also shelters a group of dogs that serve as blood donors. In the past, Kavitah noted, certain clinics kept donor dogs in miserable conditions, caged all day solely for blood collection. MDDB has since adopted some of these donor dogs and now offers free canine blood to pet owners.
However, their greatest challenge lies in securing enough funds to cover the high medical expenses associated with providing palliative care for these dogs.
“So far, we’ve accumulated nearly RM150,000 in veterinary bills at our regular clinic in Jalan Gasing,” she shared.
As the organisation also assists independent rescuers and employs 12 workers, managing finances is increasingly difficult. “We’ll settle some of the funds, and then they’ll accumulate again,” she added.
To sustain these ongoing expenses, MDDB is expanding its efforts beyond public donations by launching a monthly product-themed sale featuring both new and pre-loved items including clothes, crockery, shoes, handbags, decorative pieces and more.
Their first sale will take place this Saturday and Sunday (Nov 15 & 16), focusing on women’s clothing.
The selection includes gowns, dresses, pants, blouses, skirts, sarees, kurtis, lenghas, cheongsams, and winter and autumn coats. Prices range from RM20 to RM120.
“We came up with this idea because we thought it could be something sustainable. We’ve noticed that people are now more open to wearing preloved clothes, and there’s a big market for it,” Kavitah stated.
“The items we received were very good-quality clothes in great condition. We even have brand-new pieces donated by people who sell clothes.”
Kavitah hopes this long-term entrepreneurial initiative will help cover the organisation’s veterinary bills, as all proceeds will be channelled specifically towards that purpose.
Event: MDDB Preloved Clothes Sale
Date & Time: Nov 15-16 (11am-7pm)
Venue:
17, SS3/46, SS3,
47300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor
For more information, contact MDDB via WhatsApp at 012-284 6039 or email them at [email protected]