First and foremost, thank you all for the kind words, support and encouragement. When I first wrote my previous blog on Malaysian Tripawds looking for homes, never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d manage to rehome not one but 2 of of our rescues. I will not lie, I was skeptical and scared, at the same time excited. I spoke to the potential adopter almost everyday and asked all sorts of questions as though they are rescue dogs, we treat them as our own furkids and love them to bits. She passed my tests of a million question with flying colours and we sealed the deal.
Here in Malaysia, I volunteer for a rescue group known as Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better.
Just like any other country, there is a fair amount of dog lovers, dog haters, animal abusers…. MDDB does not run a shelter as we believe that TNRM (trap, neuter, release/rehome, manage) is the way to go. Run mainly via our Facebook page, cases are highlighted by the public and we normally take over when its a bad case mainly focusing on pups and injured dogs. Where street dogs are concerned, if they are not injured, we encourage independent rescuers and community feeders to neuter them and we help out with the finances.
Despite having adoption drives every Sunday rain or shine, we find that the people here are not very open to the idea of adopting a disabled dog. Being a Tripawd mum myself, I often tell them Tripawds are not disabled, well at least I haven;t come across one that behaves so. Yes they are quirky, my first boy Scrappy Doo is 4 and everyday I still watch him go up and down the stairs amused, he is faster than me and so damn cute the way he hops down sideways. Time and time again I try to explain that yes, because they hop, especially front limb amputees they tire out faster than a 4 legged dog, but by maintaining a good diet and healthy weight, they can live a normal life and do almost anything a 4 legged dog can except lift their leg to pee – which is a good thing ! 🙂 Still, they nod but walk on to the next dog. We have managed to rehome a few disabled dogs but its 1 out of 20.
Eventhough MDDB does not run an open to public shelter and take in dogs, we have about 50 of our own, which are dogs that despite trying were never adopted. These are mainly old dogs, the mama dogs that we take in with their pups who have been adopted and disabled dogs. In order to see this furkids through and provide them a comfy live and health care necessary we started a sponsorship programme. It is a programme where people contribute a small sum monthly for a specific dog of choice for a minimum of one year. Here’s more information.
Brad and Leah are also in this programme, they are young 2 year olds and gorgeous but nevertheless left behind when it comes to having a forever home of their own which is what led me to “try luck” with my first blog. Both us and their adopter in UK are super excited that these two are going to have a home and a family who understands that Tripawds are super special. If we had our way, they would have left the very next day but then reality steps in, its going to be a very expensive transfer but we will get there….somehow and soon.
This is picture of Brad and Leah taken just last week at the Pet Fiesta 2016 here in Malaysia, extra cute with their Tripawds bandanas 🙂
Brad and Leah are two out of other tripawds we have. Just today I sent Kasey in for amputation of her front left leg. Kasey was found on a busy highway unable to move. She was rushed to the vet where the told us that her pelvic bone was dislocated and fractured and her from leg was “dead” due to nerves all the way up to the shoulder. They were unable to do both surgeries at the same time as the rehabilitation process of both would contraindicate the other so we proceed with the pelvic surgery first, Kasey was up and running within a week. We have waited just over a month as advised by doctors for her to rebuild the muscles around her pelvis, today 6 weeks later she was admitted for her second surgery. Her surgery is tomorrow and we will then have another young beautiful Tripawd.
Gorgeous Kasey will also soon be looking for her forever home. We have our fingers and paws crossed that her surgery tomorrow will go smoothly and that she will like all the others bounce back soon after.