THE MALAYSIAN DOG SAVIOUR

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The dogged rescuer

 

*BY REVATHI MURUGAPPAN

Pictures by DARRAN TAN*

 

*Independent dog rescuer Jacqueline Tsang is on a crusade to save the strays

and she has made her home a sanctuary for animals.*

 

RING the doorbell and a cacophonous round of barking fills the air.

Independent dog rescuer Jacqueline Tsang, or Dog Jacky as she's called,

greets me warmly and her dogs fall into a hush.

 

Jacqueline Tsang with a dog she rescued.

I show no aggression and immediately become friends with the animals.

 

" This is Serena from Selayang, " says Tsang pointing to a brownish-black dog

as it comes yelping happily to her master.

 

" A drug addict tried to cut off her leg with a chainsaw and I managed to

rescue her in time. We got her leg stitched but she still walks with a

slight limp. "

 

A few steps later, Tsang points to another animal, " This dog had a huge open

wound on her chest which was filled with maggots but we succeeded in saving

her. "

 

The huge compound of Tsang's house is surprisingly clean, without the smell

or sight of pee and poo. Kennels are lined along the garage and, all around,

bright-eyed puppies observe us anxiously.

 

" As you can see, everything has been taken over by the dogs, " Tsang says, a

little abashed, as she leads us into her bungalow.

 

Her furniture are covered with cloth, carpets have been removed, and room

doors are kept shut. Welcome to Tsang's home, sanctuary for animals.

 

Tsang was an agriculturist, helping out in her husband's business when she

ventured into real estate. This was when she saw many stray animals on the

streets. Her heart skipped a beat every time she saw them prowling about

aimlessly. She credits her dad for instilling the love of animals in her.

 

" I actually did my first rescue at 14. I picked up five white mice but I was

so naïve then and forgot we had cats in the house. Of course, the cat ate up

all the mice the next day and I was heartbroken! " chuckles Tsang.

 

When the real estate business took a tumble during the Asian financial

crisis, Tsang shifted her focus to saving animals.

 

Since she had to make a donation to send rescued stray animals to PAWS or

SPCA, Tsang figured she could try fostering and re-homing the animals

herself. She couldn't stand the thought of stray dogs being put down if they

had no homes to go to within seven days of rescue.

 

So, what started out as a compassionate act turned into a passion, and now,

animals have become a calling for Tsang.

 

She began with six dogs, but the number has grown to more than 30, including

those that are on transit to their new homes. Along the way, she been nipped

and bitten but Tsang has acquired what she calls " animal aura " .

 

She says, " Strays can feel when you're sympathetic and they come to you

without resistance. If you rescue them, they'll be eternally grateful to

you. If you spend time with them, they acquire mannerism that is required of

them. Each dog has its rightful owner, provided time allows the two to meet.

And a dog often reflects the owner's personality. "

 

Tsang doesn't take in all stray animals that people bring to her. She has

her priorities! She only rescues moms and babies, female puppies (have them

sterilised to control the population) and injured dogs.

 

It's a draining job, especially financially. Although Tsang occasionally

gets donations and sponsors, these only cover 5% of her monthly expenditure.

In terms of workload, she has a maid to help out with some of the chores.

 

" My son has moved out because he couldn't stand it anymore! My daughter is

abroad and my husband is always travelling so he's hardly home. That leaves

me and my dogs, " Tsang says.

 

Tsang bears all vaccination and sterilisation costs besides spending an

average of RM150 monthly feeding ONE adult dog. She nourishes them with the

best food — Royal Canine.

 

Some of the animals in Jacqueline's house.

For animals that are socially inept, Tsang places them in her kitchen, which

doubles as the " therapy room " . Here, they are given titbits and showered

with extra attention.

 

Usually after two weeks, the animals display better social skills and are

ready to mingle with other four-legged animals.

 

All her dogs are semi-trained and they need homes but Tsang is particular

about their future owners.

 

" I don't believe animals should be given away free. When something has no

value, it will be treated likewise. So I screen people before giving away

the animals and I ask for a refund on the vaccination and sterilisation

costs. If they're not prepared to pay, then they're definitely not going to

take care of the animal, " says Tsang.

 

This clause has caused her to be labelled a " hard " woman but Tsang is

unperturbed.

 

After all, she argues, 85% of the dogs caught are not strays but have

irresponsible owners. So, she has to be firm and sensible.

 

Her crusade has not been in vain, as some of the people who have accepted

Tsang's dogs have also become rescuers.

 

" SPCA and PAWS are already bursting at the seams. Communities or even groups

of people should get together and chip in money for food, sterilisation,

rehabilitation and then release them back to where they found them, " she

suggests.

 

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall has teamed up with SPCA to set up Klinik Kembiri

in Setapak. The first of its kind in Asia, the clinic heavily subsidises

sterilisation costs to reduce the number of unwanted strays. Another similar

clinic is being planned in Subang Jaya and deliberations are underway to set

up a mobile sterilisation clinic. Tsang and her fellow rescuers are ecstatic

at the proposal.

 

" We really need the support of the community. When you see strays, be

creative. Call up any animal rescuer or SPCA or PAWS for advice. They can

give you important numbers, " Tsang urges.

 

" There are many ways to save animals but don't push the responsibility to

the rescuers alone. We have to pool our efforts to save more animals. "