And, on top of the fact that these dogs and cats have a hard time trying to survive, many still treat them unkindly, with this often amounting to abuse.

Laila Jacquiline Balakrishnan and her team of volunteers are among those who devote their time, energy and financial resources to feed and rescue strays.

Having grown up with various pets, including chickens, geese, and a goat, Laila has always had a soft spot for animals. In 2015, she joined forces with her brother and some cousins to cook for and feed the strays in Puchong.

“The dogs turned up again the following week – in fact, more appeared,” she recalled. “It was almost as if they were waiting for us, so we started feeding them every Sunday.”

Laila founded The Zero Stray Project the following year when people began contributing money. Apart from feeding up to 300 dogs every weekend, she and her volunteers provide them with first aid.

For more serious medical treatments, the animals are sent to the vet; and, when funds permit, they neuter and spay as many as possible.

“We also try to rehome them but it isn’t easy as most of these dogs are quite old. Most people want a cute-looking golden retriever or Shih Tzu. No one looks beyond physical beauty and says: ‘Okay, I can love this dog’,” she said soberingly.

Given the name of the organisation, it should be evident what Laila’s ultimate goal is.

“I don’t want to see any dogs ill, limping, or in distress,” she said, adding that her job as a software-automation engineer has taken her to cities around the world where there aren’t any strays.

Naysayers and challenges

Despite her good intentions, there are those who laugh at and ridicule her mission. “They say it is impossible and that I’m wasting my time. But if it can be done in other places, why not here?”

Then there are those who say feeding the strays would only cause them to breed and produce more strays. “But you can’t let them starve to death just because you don’t want them to breed,” she asserted.

In spite of all their hard work over the years, there is still a lot more that needs to be done. Among the challenges faced by the team is a lack of funds.

“Animal-rescue NGOs are constantly overwhelmed and in distress,” Laila shared. “I have sleepless nights thinking of vet bills. The cost of treating just one dog’s broken leg can be between RM1,000 and RM2,000.”

Rising food prices also affect their operations. “We used to pay RM200 for chicken but, since February, we’ve been paying RM300 for the same amount.”

Then there’s the lack of manpower to contend with. “We get distress calls all the time but we can’t rescue them because we’re at work,” she said, adding that, with more funds, they could set up a dedicated rescue team.

To create more awareness, Laila suggested that topics on animal welfare be taught from preschool-age onwards.

“Having a pet is no joke. They’re family. They feel pain and hunger, and need medical attention. It’s a big responsibility,” she said.

She also stressed the importance of pets being neutered and spayed, and believes this should be mandatory to avoid unwanted pregnancies among the stray population.

Having more government vets that offer affordable treatment would also be a huge help.

“When I was younger, we took our chickens and dogs to the government vet and never had to pay anything. Today, you have to be rich to have pets. If they fall sick, you will be in distress,” she said, adding that the prices of government vets these days tend to match those in private practice.

Laila further recommends that government subsidies be allocated to animal-rescue organisations so more “trap-neuter-release” programmes can be carried out.

And given that buying from pet shops contributes towards puppy mills and backyard breeders – where dogs are forced to breed frequently under cruel conditions – having an “adopt, don’t shop” mindset would be the right way forward.

“In the United Kingdom, animals are banned from being sold in pet shops,” she pointed out, adding that dog breeding should be regulated as well.

“With the collaboration of government bodies, local councils, developers, and resident associations, we can tackle this issue. If we start now, maybe in 30 years’ time, Malaysia will be a stray-free country.

“Until then, each of us has a responsibility to spread this message: neuter your pets, and be kind to animals.”

Those who wish to support The Zero Stray Project can contribute directly to Maybank account number 512884087097. To volunteer or donate food, send a WhatsApp message to 012-2953510.

Don’t forget to also check out The Zero Stray Project’s website, as well as its Facebook and Instagram accounts.