Cost or Cause?

22nd January, 2011, Plentong, Johor Bahru. An ex-multi national company executive, Ms Josephin Mary Paul, the president of the Humane Touch Animal Welfare Society is a good samaritan who established a home for abandoned dogs 5 years ago in Plentong.

Before that, she was at another shelter which she had built at a cost of RM 70,000. The owner of the land, Mr. Chong, wanted to sell the land and wanted her to vacate the place. Her dogs were eventually evicted, her shelter was bulldozed to the ground and in the process, 5 dogs were killed. She had a lawyer to represent her but could not afford to continue to pursue this case.

Together with her uncle Rufus Eabenazar and her sister, they started the present shelter for abandoned dogs on a piece of land which she gets to use on an annual basis. Her shelter takes care of 60 dogs and in her own house in Taman Daya, she also takes care of 20 cats.

When interviewed, the canine lover with a big heart, said that she needs a lot of financial support from the public. She needs RM 2,000 per month for food and RM 1,000 for petrol and utilities. In addition, she needs RM 3,000 for medicine for the dogs.

When asked if members of the public assist her, she replied that the members of her society help her. Currently, there are 3 restaurants in Taman Daya which donate left-over food to her. The Sathya Sai Council, Johor Bahru arranges for the dogs to be vaccinated every three months and it plans to build an open shelter in the one acre land next to her present premises.

Generous readers may contact her at 016-7450 618 if they wish to donate to her society.

Video & Story by Lee-Jean, MK Ong & Teresa Yeo

Citizen Journalist Malaysia