“She was seen by the pet taxi driver who was transporting one of our puppies to the vet,” says Jeskiran Kaur Bhat, president of FurryKids Safehaven, a shelter located in Kuala Sawah, Negeri Sembilan.
A team from the shelter made their way to the location as soon as they could.
“Our shelter manager, Liza, got in touch with PLUSRonda, but unfortunately they could not help as it was out of their jurisdiction. They are only able to block traffic after midnight and they would need to get clearance from Bukit Aman,” Jeskiran, 38, tells FMT.
The team then contacted the police, who sent a patrol car to block traffic in both directions as the dog was stranded on the divider.
“If only one side of the road was blocked, the dog might run to the other side, and it would get hit by oncoming cars,” Jeskiran explains.
Even though the animal initially tried to run away, it was duly rescued. “Thankfully the shelter’s dogcatcher team was fast enough,” she says.
“It was a female senior dog and it had a collar. Most of her teeth were missing, but she seemed alright otherwise.”
Jeskiran also points out that a construction site was not far away. “It’s possible she was abandoned and had sought food and shelter at the site before wandering off onto the expressway.”
She reveals this was the team’s first rescue along the highway. “Just a couple of days ago, I spotted a dead dog along this route,” she sadly adds.
The mixed-breed was taken back to the shelter and was isolated from the rest of the 2,000-plus dogs before being brought to the vet the next day. Luckily, the pooch did not sustain any injuries.
Call for help
From time to time, FurryKids Safehaven receives reports of dogs stranded on highways, some as far as Ipoh. “We then contact other rescuers within the vicinity,” Jeskiran says.
She advises those who spot animals stranded on highways to get in touch with local rescuers and the authorities.
“We don’t recommend rescuing the animals yourselves as it can be very dangerous. We, ourselves, didn’t do that – it could have been fatal, considering the heavy traffic as well as poor visibility, as we weren’t dressed in reflective vests.”
She says although some people post on social media about dogs they spot along the highway, they often don’t include additional information or their contact number.
“Even if you can’t take a picture, you should take note of the kilometre marker,” Jeskiran states.
All in all, the assistance the team received from the authorities that day was overwhelming.
“They were extremely helpful. It just took one phone call for the patrol car to come. Even the PLUSRonda officers showed up later.
“It is truly heartwarming when people come together to rescue an animal in danger. All lives clearly matter, including doggos.”
Donations still welcome
FurryKids Safehaven is in the final stages of the construction of its new shelter. The organisation relocated to its present location last year, after their previous shelter in Mambau was badly damaged by flash floods in November 2020.
That tragic event resulted in the deaths of 54 dogs.
“We are about 90% there; all that’s pending is our office and treatment room. But we don’t have the funds for it – we need about RM50,000 more,” Jeskiran shares.
The team continues to appeal for donations from the public. “Any amount will help, and you can also opt to sponsor the wiring, tiling and plumbing.”
Those who would like to contribute towards FurryKids Safehaven’s new shelter can send them a WhatsApp message at 016-2307854.
For more updates, visit its website, as well as Facebook and Instagram accounts.