Known by her peers as Madam Hoo, her shelter Furry Tails Land – located on a large piece of land on the outskirts of Broga in Negeri Sembilan – is now home to over 400 dogs.
“It breaks my heart to see stray or injured dogs on the streets, scavenging for food or struggling to survive after an accident,” Hoo, 53, told FMT.
“As a dog lover, I want to rescue as many as possible. Many dog owners have also dumped their pets in my shelter.”
When she sees an injured stray, she doesn’t hesitate to bring it to the vet for treatment before providing it with a safe space in which to recuperate.
The journey, however, isn’t always easy, as having more dogs means more expenses – not to mention having to pay for vaccinations, neutering, and food supplies.
One could consider her commitment an ordeal, but Hoo maintains a positive outlook and wants only the best for the animals in her care.
By day, she runs a laundry business from home, and has been doing so for the past decade. Although she once rented premises in Kajang Prima, working from home allows her to save on costs, as well as take breaks between cleaning and ironing to prepare cooked chicken entrails for the furkids.
Her husband, meanwhile, works as a painter. At night, the couple make the journey to Broga, an hour away from home, to clean and feed the dogs.
“Usually by 5.30pm, I’m already on the road. My husband and I drive our own cars as we have buckets of cooked food.
“Sometimes, we only finish our tasks by 12am or later as a lot of work is needed – cleaning their kennels and feeding all 400 of them. We don’t have any workers as we can’t afford them.”
She added that she and her husband “lead frugal lives; most times we eat simple food so the money can be allocated for the dogs”.
Lately, with the rising cost of living, Hoo has been finding it hard to manage the shelter, especially since chicken prices have risen in line with a shortage in the markets.
As such, she is appealing to kind Malaysians for donations in whatever shape or form, be it in cash, dog food, or payment of medical bills.
Despite the challenges, the dogs’ barks and wagging tails warm her heart. “It’s an indescribable feeling to see how happy they are and watch them come to you,” she concluded.
“That has always stirred me to help them.”
If you wish to contribute towards the shelter, please make your donation directly to Hoo Yuh Ru, Public Bank account 6496 999 730. You may contact Madam Hoo at 012-277 2768.
Click here to find out more about Furry Tails Land.