Heartbroken, they began to feed the dogs near their housing estate. Then a new problem cropped up – they noticed the dogs were reproducing fast. So they forked out their own money to get the dogs neutered in a desperate bid to control their population.
However, this additional financial commitment soon took a toll on them. When they could no longer cope, Tang, who runs a technology company, decided to start StreetPaw, a social enterprise that would ensure the sustainability of their work.
“As a social enterprise, we are not asking you to donate money. But if you decide to support us [by buying our products], you will be supporting us as a company and our goal to help the strays,” explained the 29-year-old, an animal lover since young.
So, why a social enterprise instead of an NGO?
“Operating as an NGO may not be sustainable because you’re not sure when someone would donate. If the donations don’t come, what happens then?” he asked.
To that end, StreetPaw sells customised meals for dogs and cats, bone broths, and merchandise such as t-shirts and caps.
Currently, they have five types of customised pet meals that consist of meat and vegetables. “We are targeting balanced meals to ensure that your pet gets all the nutrients that they need,” Tang explained, adding that they plan to expand the number of meal types.
To order, customers can log-in to their website and key in details of their pets such as breed, age, weight, and activity level. Based on the information, the team at StreetPaw works with a nutritionist from the US to formulate the type of meal the dog should be fed.
They also currently sell three types of bone broths for dogs and plan to introduce a range for cats in June. According to Tang, 100% of the profit from the sale of merchandise goes towards helping strays and animal shelters.
Additionally, StreetPaw also contributes their meals and broths to independent rescuers so they can use them to feed the strays themselves. These rescuers primarily reach out to StreetPaw through social media.
However, he explained that they still do their own street feeding and donate raw food such as chicken heart and liver to shelters.
Apart from these initiatives, they also help strays in need. “If we see an animal that is getting bullied, or involved in an accident, or even a young one who is unable to fend for itself, we’ll find a way to first send it to the vet for tests, find a foster home, and subsequently someone to adopt them,” Tang explained.
He added with a smile that some of these animals even end up finding furever homes with their foster parents who fall in love with them.
However, understandably, they can’t help every animal. There are also cases where they can’t find adopters. “If they are well and have been neutered, then we’ll release them back to the place they came from.”
A call for help
Tang recalled their most recent rescue case where a dog was hit by a motorbike when he ran across the highway. Thankfully, an animal-loving couple who saw the accident, rushed the dog to a veterinary clinic.
As the couple was assisting the dog, another woman stopped to help. The woman, named Meena Kanniappan, contacted StreetPaw and together, they raised RM4,000 for the dog’s surgery.
The dog, who is approximately 18 months old, sustained injuries to his front leg during the accident. They named the dog Blackie, and he is currently recovering well at a foster home. StreetPaw also supplies food to him and hopes to find a furever home for him soon.
To that end, Tang also calls for those interested to be foster parents or even adopt a stray to reach out to them. “We need more people to come in and help,” he shared.
So, what continues to keep him going?
“For me, it’s a passion. I love animals because I believe they have good intentions. For example, they can sense it when you are sad, and will be there for you. I have experienced this for a long time,” he said.
“A lot of people think it’s nice to have a pet, but they also need to understand that when they get a pet, it’s a responsibility.”
Learn more about StreetPaw from their website, Facebook, and Instagram.