AdminAnimal cruelty remains a pressing issue in Malaysia, with countless cases of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment of dogs and cats reported each year. In a bold and unprecedented move to combat this, animal welfare platform MyForeverDoggo has launched #CancelCruelty — the country’s first large-scale campaign against the abuse of companion animals.
The campaign brings together 15 well-known local key opinion leaders (KOLs), many of whom posed with rescued cats and dogs — several of which are survivors of abuse — in a powerful call to action. Each KOL shares a story of resilience, urging the public to choose compassion over cruelty.
“Kindness > cruelty, always,” the campaign declares, emphasising a simple yet powerful message: animal lives matter too.
Voice for the voiceless
Among the KOLs is model and influencer Kharina Kharuddin, popularly known as Kharina K. In an emotional Instagram post, she introduced her rescued companion, Rocky, a dog who spent years caged and neglected before being rescued and rehomed.
“As someone who has a deep love for animals, I’m PROUD to stand with @myforeverdoggo to speak up for the voiceless and #CancelCruelty because no creature deserves to suffer,” she wrote. “Thanks to some incredible people, [Rocky] is now safe, loved, and finally healing in the care of a beautiful adoptive family.”
Her post included before-and-after photos of Rocky’s journey, reminding followers of the grim reality many animals endure — and the joy they can find through rescue and care.
Kharina encouraged Malaysians to “see something, SAY SOMETHING!” and to “choose kindness” in their everyday encounters with animals.
Heartbreaking stories
Emcee and content creator Raj Mahal also lent his voice to the campaign, recounting the case of Carrot, a ginger cat — or oyen in local slang — found drenched in paint at a university campus.
“Upon being sent to the vet, they discovered that Carrot suffered severe chemical burns and had to undergo treatment for some time,” he shared. “Thankfully, Carrot has bloomed into a beautiful oyen… but remains fearful of humans.”
Raj stressed the need for stronger action: “We need to take a stand against the abuse, neglect, and mistreatment of animals. Let’s make Malaysia a more compassionate country for all animals.”
The repeated message of the campaign — “Don’t like them? Just let them be.” — aims to address one of the root issues of animal cruelty: intolerance and lack of empathy toward stray animals.
Pushing for enforcement
Beyond awareness, #CancelCruelty has a legislative aim. It seeks stronger enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which despite being in place for nearly a decade, often lacks rigorous implementation.
Under this law, animal cruelty is punishable by fines up to RM100,000 or imprisonment. Yet, many abuse cases go unnoticed, unreported, or unresolved — allowing cruelty to persist with little accountability.
To sustain the campaign’s momentum, MyForeverDoggo urges the public to participate by sharing a photo of themselves doing the “X” arm sign with the hashtag #CancelCruelty to show solidarity.
The movement’s end goal is simple yet profound: to build a Malaysia where compassion is not just an ideal, but a practice — and where every dog and cat, regardless of origin, is treated with dignity and love.
For more on how to get involved or report animal abuse, visit @myforeverdoggo.
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