Urgent Funds Needed to Build Animal Shelter

Originally published on Citizen’s Journal Published: March 12, 2024

The Butterworth Fur Kids' Home (BFKH) or Persatuan Kebajikan Haiwan Butterworth in Juru is home to 300 dogs and cats. The organisation urgently requires funds to build a proper and more spacious structure on a plot of land beside where the animals are now housed. "We need to start work for land clearing and earth filling to comply with the local council's requirements as soon as possible."

"We have submitted the building documents to construct a shelter for the past few years, and we have just obtained the notice of approval to commence earthworks on 19 January this year.

"Due to unforeseen delays, we have already extended our building application deadline three times—and that is the maximum number of times we can apply for an extension," explained Kenken Jong, the founder of BFKH, a no-kill shelter for animals.

"We need to clear the 1.6-acre land, fill the earth to a height of about 2 metres, and ensure that the hoardings are put up before our architect can apply for the Commencement of Work (CoW) from MPSP by 18 May 2024. The process will take 10 days for approval.

"The pre-requisites also include erecting signage and other requirements, such as preparing a shallow pool, two units of water jets, and a 30-metre concrete road at the entrance/exit point," she said.

Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai (MPSP) allows applicants to extend their building plan application three times before submitting it afresh.

"However, to do so, we need about RM400,000," she lamented.

The current shelter's site is behind the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Seberang Perai. It is part of SPCA's land leased from MPSP. "Since SPCA uses only the front portion, its past president, Madam Tan, has graciously agreed to let us utilise the back portion of the unused land.

"Once our new shelter is ready, we will move there," she said. The new site is next to the SPCA.

Elaborating on the features of the shelter, Kenken said that the construction of the new shelter at Juru will include an office and a workers' hostel, a shelter to house up to 500 animals, and a multi-purpose hall.

"The new shelter is designed according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) gold standards. There will also be free-running space for the animals and proper fences to keep them in.

"In addition to operating as a shelter for animals that are injured, sick, and physically challenged and providing healthcare and medical services like vaccinations and neutering services, we also conduct educational seminars and screen movies to create public awareness," she said.

Previously, BHKH operated in several places around Seberang Perai, including Kampung Bagan Belat in Teluk Air Tawar, Berapit, and another site adjacent to the new site in Juru. "Every time someone complained, we had to move out within two weeks. Once, our dogs were impounded by the council, and we had to fork out thousands of ringgit to reclaim them.

"I started taking in stray animals 12 years ago, caring for them from the compound of my home. After that, the number of strays just grew larger and larger. We also need more caring volunteers at the shelter to help walk and bathe the dogs," shared Kenken.

"Hanna Tan, our committee member, and Dr SY Thong and her daughter are committed volunteers who regularly help at the shelter.

"At the end of the day," she said, "what we do at BFKH is about inspiring the public to create a safe haven for our homeless furry friends."

If you would like to contribute to support the fur kids, you can donate to The Butterworth Fur Kids' Home via Sokong. Click here.

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