PETALING JAYA: For nearly two decades, Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) has rescued and cared for strays that had nowhere else to go. Now, the organisation itself is struggling to survive.
With nearly 400 dogs under its care and high monthly expenses, dwindling donations and rising veterinary costs have left its future uncertain.
Among those most vulnerable are its elderly, disabled and terminally ill dogs, many of which depend on regular medication and frequent veterinary treatment.
“We need RM60,000 a month, including veterinary bills, because we provide palliative care,” said founding member Irene Low, 61.
“We have many elderly and disabled dogs, as well as those with kidney and liver problems. Two of our dogs also have mental health issues. They require long-term medication and daily vet visits.”
While veterinary bills account for the largest share of MDDB’s expenses, the organisation must also cover workers’ wages, utilities and rent for a bungalow housing dogs that need more specialised care.
Its main shelter in Rawang, where its able-bodied dogs live, is rent-free.
Yet regular donations are no longer enough to meet those costs. Members have been making up the shortfall from their own pockets, but they can no longer afford to do so indefinitely.
Low said some long-time donors have died or retired, while others had to stop contributing after closing their businesses, particularly in the years following 2020.
“When we started out 18 years ago, more people could seemingly afford to sponsor our dogs. Some would sponsor 15 or 20 dogs and pay for the entire year,” she recalled.
At the same time, many of the dogs MDDB rescued in its early years are themselves growing old, bringing greater medical needs and higher veterinary bills.
The organisation’s ageing founders, meanwhile, have had to navigate a changing landscape of animal welfare and fundraising.
Financial pressures have also forced MDDB to scale back one of the most expensive parts of its rescue work: helping dogs injured in accidents.
“We can no longer rescue as many accident victims as we used to because taking an injured dog to the vet and paying for its treatment can be very expensive,” Low said.
MDDB is now seeking businesses and individuals willing to provide regular financial assistance for at least a year.
“If we receive support for a whole year, we can plan our next move instead of constantly worrying about how to raise enough money to pay our bills each month,” she explained.
Additionally, the public can help through MDDB’s sponsorship programme, which costs RM100 a month for an able-bodied dog and RM150 for a disabled animal. The organisation also welcomes donations in kind and assistance with fundraising events.
“We need support urgently,” Low stressed.
For the hundreds of dogs that have come to know MDDB as home, that support could mean the difference between uncertainty and the chance to remain somewhere they are safe, cared for and loved.
Those who wish to contribute can donate to MDDB Canine Welfare Society, Public Bank account 3237 688 227.
Find out more about Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better here. Follow Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better on Instagram and Facebook.