AnimalCare's efforts to neuter strays need a boost

Originally published on Malaysiakini by Indra Sathiabalan. Published: Jan 22, 2024

AnimalCare is not a well-known animal shelter or a rescue team but the organisation does play a crucial role in supporting individuals who care for strays and rescued animals.

Founded by Chan Kah Yein on May 31, 2009, it advocates animal protection in as many ways as possible, aided by education and example.

Its primary mission is to promote the practice of One-Street CNRM (Care-Neuter-Return-Manage) for street animals and also cultivate kindness to animals.

This is a philosophy through which the group offers financial aid for the neutering, vaccination, and medical treatment of street animals in Malaysia.

AnimalCare is currently working with Malaysiakini’s Sokong to help raise money for their Support Neutering of Street Animals campaign.

“Our maximum aid is RM200 per dog and RM150 per cat. Whatever we can raise from Sokong will be used according to these rates. Our aid has been ongoing for 14 years now and I see a need to continue giving for as long as we can,” Chan told Malaysiakini.

She said the aid given to them is for anyone taking care of street animals in the country. To date, AnimalCare has been involved in neutering 11,222 strays.

“Animal lovers are generally agreeable and supportive of CNRM. But some disagree and are not supportive at all, while others are indifferent,” explained Chan.

Sharing knowledge

The group is made up entirely of volunteers who bear all operating costs by themselves. This ensures that all donations are channelled to the animals.

Besides helping with aid, AnimalCare is also an educational platform which shares knowledge on caring for animals.

“The duration for castration (males) and spaying (females) are different, it also depends on the condition of the animal and any complications that may arise.

“I do want to share, and this is very important, that the post-op care is very, very important. This would be a minimum of two days of indoor monitoring for males and a minimum of seven days of indoor monitoring for females. This post-op care cannot be compromised.

“Neutered animals cannot and must not be released back to the streets immediately. If any post-op complications arise, they will suffer or even die on the streets,” Chan explained.

She holds a PhD in mathematics education and used to teach mathematics in a private college.

When asked where the surgeries are normally carried out, she said AnimalCare’s policy is to help the caregivers, who in turn choose their vets.

“The surgeries must be all done at registered clinics. Then, the caregivers apply for our aid with ‘before and after’ photo evidence and documents like receipts. Once approved, we bank in our aid to them,” she said.

She suggested that those interested visit the neutering aid segment of AnimalCare’s website for more information.

Aid for all animals

So far, AnimalCare has only received requests and claims for dogs and cats, but Chan said their aid is open to all street animals.

“Please do give One-Street CNRM a chance and consider practising it. It is the most compassionate method to control the street animal population so that their suffering and hardship on the street can be reduced.

“Please teach young children to love and care for animals from a young age. They have a natural love for animals, as my two grandsons do!

“We need to nurture and encourage this love to grow. Our children will inherit this earth from us,” she added.

Chan has also written books on caring for animals and her e-books are available on https://myanimalcare.org/books/.