The brainchild of founder and freelance writer Zhang Su Li, the organisation was built around the philosophy that every stray deserves to live a life of dignity.
With the long-term goal of making the streets free of scavenging strays someday, TFPP feeds homeless cats and dogs every day with the leftover meat donated by partner restaurants.
TFPP volunteers who collect these restaurant leftovers, distribute it to animal shelters and independent feeders who go to the ground to feed the many strays in their respective vicinities.
Speaking about this initiative, Su Li told FMT it was rather distressing at first. “On my first round, all I got was two bones, but over time, more restaurant owners saw merit in the initiative as it posed no additional cost to them. They were also happy with the idea that scraps usually meant for the dumpster was now being repurposed.”
She explained that TFPP offered an alternative view on how to manage the stray problem as over-crowding at shelters and culling by local councils were not sustainable solutions.
She also said that rescuing was not always a viable option as it required resources, both financial and manpower. Rehoming meanwhile required a physical location to temporarily house strays and due to space constraints, not all could be saved.
Feeding stray cats and dogs on the other hand as TFPP did, prevented them from scavenging for food and becoming public nuisances, she explained, adding however that finding volunteers was a constant struggle.
“It (volunteering) must be easy for people to do, as people have a lot going on in their lives. If it is cumbersome, people will lose interest and the passion they have for it,” she said.
She also explained that apart from feeding strays, TFPP had long-term goals that included the all-important job of sterilising stray cats and dogs in order to prevent unwanted offspring.
“It (TFPP) is also integrative because it is a complex model but with each person doing their bit it adds up to the bigger picture,” Su Li said.
Some volunteers also donate cash directly to veterinary clinics so that spaying and neutering can be carried out on strays brought in by TFPP, she said.
So far some forty dogs have been successfully sterilised – a monumental success since current statistics show that one female dog and her puppies can result in 67,000 dogs in six years. One female cat and her kittens on the other hand can lead to 370,000 cats born in seven years.
With only five full-time volunteers, TFPP understandably has its hands full and are looking for dreamers and animal lovers willing to volunteer with them.
If that person is you, visit: www.facebook.com/Mongrel-Pride
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