He wants to ensure that his dogs will not be swept away by the angry currents as they were the last time.
FMT had previously reported the harrowing experience of Salehin and his dogs after the incessant rains of Dec 18 and 19, 2021 totally ruined his home and put his life and that of his dogs in danger.
Clean-up work has since begun and is progressing gradually, but more needs to be done before K-9 Cottage, an animal assisted therapy centre, can be restored fully.
Apart from the ongoing effort to clear debris from the near-total devastation, Salehin is prioritising the construction of a fence around his 1.2-acre compound to ensure his dogs do not run off in fear when strangers approach.
“Fencing is important because my dogs will run out whenever they see people. One of my dogs got slashed with a parang by a stranger, which is very dangerous.”
He added that he needs contractors with the right expertise to survey his land and propose the right type of construction for the fencing.
“The best I can do myself is to put up a temporary fence with plastic pallets but it’s only four feet high, and the dogs can easily jump over it,” he said, sounding despondent.
He said that he had appealed for help from the village head and local authorities but had been turned away.
“The local people aren’t cooperating because of who I am, because I have dogs. They are not assisting and pushing things away,” he said, adding that they wanted to have nothing whatsoever to do with him or his dogs.
“The volunteers who come are people from outside, from Batu 9 and NGO groups. It’s not the locals helping me.”
As a stroke survivor who no longer has the strength to lift heavy weights, Salehin is deeply grateful for the tireless work the volunteers have so far been doing to clear the area of debris.
He is now appealing to members of the public who can volunteer their time and money for this cause, as the safety of his dogs is weighing heavily on his mind.
“For volunteers who visit, safety comes first. Please wear safety boots and gloves,” he said.
Salehin has poured his life’s savings into opening K-9 Cottage as a therapeutic sanctuary for dogs and people. He hopes for nothing more than to rebuild the centre-cum-home so his furry companions can live in safety once again.
Those who wish to help Salehin and his dogs may do so by making a donation into his CIMB account No. 8001330075 (reference “K-9 Cottage Rebuild”), recipient name Muhammad Salehin bin Ibrahim, or contact him at 011-14828717.