The shelter, run by Persatuan Penyelamat Haiwan Terbiar Furrykids Safehaven, reported that many more were missing.

Sathiavany Madhavan, the association’s secretary, said water began rising at the shelter at 3.30am following a downpour since midnight.

The downpour caused flash floods in 11 areas in Seremban early today, affecting 450 residents whose houses were inundated.

“Earlier today, our worker who stays at the shelter informed us that it was getting flooded and the water level had risen well above 4ft within 30 minutes.

“We ordered him and our six other staff to release the dogs from cages as we did not have enough staff to carry the cages to safety,” she told Bernama.

Sathiavany said many of the dogs managed to climb the roof of the shelter and waited there but many others panicked and were swept away by the swift-flowing waters.

“Many dogs are believed to have been swept away into a nearby river,” she said, adding that dog feed and the workers quarters at the shelter were badly damaged.

Sathiavany hoped to keep the remaining dogs at the shelter for at least two weeks before moving them to another location.

“We hope to raise RM350,000 to build a better shelter at another rented location in Kuala Sawah, Seremban, already under construction.

“However, because of this incident, we have requested for the contractor to expedite work so that at least the dogs can be moved there first. Now, we fear that the cost has shot up by another RM100,000,” she said, adding that only RM240,000 had been raised so far.

She appealed for donations for the building fund and also for immediate relief operations.

Donations can be sent to Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Furrykids Safehaven via CIMB Bank account number 8603905676/8009081090. Sathiavany can be contacted at +60126012030.