Loo cradling a stray she rescued. The cat was left paralysed after being hit by a car. — Photos: KT GOH & AHMAD ZHAFARAN NASIB
SALLY Loo is moved to tears whenever she thinks of stray cats suffering in the streets.
And the 70-year-old is not one to sit around doing nothing. She takes action by giving a home to the felines that are sick or on the verge of death.
“I cannot bear to just walk by and do nothing. I have taken in countless such cats over the past 10 years, and managed to nurse them back to health. Presently I have 30 staying with me in my rented flat.
Dogs being taken to their new home in Balik Pulau by volunteers. — Courtesy pix
“They are my joy and they keep me company as I’m a divorcee living alone,” said the Jelutong, Penang, resident.
But caring for the cats is a costly endeavour, when you factor in food and medical needs. And Loo struggles especially when some need to undergo surgery.
“Most of the local veterinarians tend to waive their consultation fees when I come in with sick cats, but I still have to pay for the medicine,” she said in an interview with StarMetro.
As an independent rescuer not attached to any organisation, the former waitress raises her own funds by selling used items like clothes, electrical goods and shoes at the Lorong Kulit flea market in George Town on weekends.
She is able to get by more or less, but there are times that she falls short on funds and needs to ask for help.
“Cat food costs at least RM1,200. Coupled with my RM850 flat rental and other expenditures, my total operating cost is about RM3,000 a month.
“I don’t really like to solicit for donations unless I have substantial surgery costs, as I prefer to get my funds by selling used items at the flea market,” she said.
Most of her customers are foreign workers and her best sellers are usually T-shirts, she said.
As for cats available for adoption, there is a white kitten with heterochromia (different coloured eyes – blue and yellow), that is looking for a loving permanent home.
But what she really needs is a bigger place for her cats to play and roam.
She fervently hopes that someone would offer such a place for free or at nominal rental.
Loo said that anyone interested in adopting a cat or donating used items in good condition could contact her at 016-420 0963.
Another animal lover, David Yim, plans to organise a trip to Pulau Gazumbo, a small uninhabited island between Penang island and the mainland, to rescue seven stranded dogs.
Yim plans to rescue the remaining dogs stranded on Pulau Gazumbo.
“I am currently raising money to hire a boat and take a group to Gazumbo to bring the dogs back to the island.
“The dogs are being fed by two fishermen with food provided by well-wishers, but the island is not a good place for them as there is no proper shelter,” he said.
Pulau Gazumbo is not under anyone’s jurisdiction.
It is believed to be an island created in the early 1980s during the construction of the first Penang Bridge, either by the changing of currents or by excess building materials.
In 2021, a Selangor-based group of animal lovers mounted a rescue at the island and brought back two adult dogs and six puppies, which were handed to IAPWA Penang to be rehomed.
Yim said the group was supposed to go back for the remaining dogs, but the rescue mission was cancelled indefinitely when one of the group members died.
Determined to rescue the remaining dogs, he plans to make a trip to the island but requires funds.
“I suspect the dogs could have been abandoned after the fish farmers stopped operating their aquaculture projects,” he added.
Yim is appealing to those interested in helping in the mission to contact him at 012-480 2725.
In Balik Pulau, Penang Stray Rescue Society (PGSR) has successfully relocated its 150 dogs after being asked to vacate its premises in Teluk Bahang late last year.
Dogs being fed at their new home in Balik Pulau by a PGSR worker.
Society founder Ooi Yu Li, 41, said they moved to their new 0.6ha premises on April 15 after raising RM80,000 to build new kennels.
“We are a ‘no kill’ shelter registered with the state, and we operate entirely on public donations.
“Up to RM15,000 is needed to feed our dogs and to pay the salaries of three permanent staff.
“For dogs not lucky enough to find a permanent home, we will shelter, love and feed them.
“We have numerous old and middle-aged dogs that will live out their lives here,” he said, adding that PGSR would accept new arrivals if more space was created through adoption.
To adopt, send the society a private message via its social media page or email (pgstrayrescue@gmail.com) to make the necessary arrangements.
PGSR, a registered non-profit animal shelter, aims to rescue and rehome injured and abandoned dogs and cats.
It was founded in 2015 by Ooi and animal rescuers Lim Sel Lin and Tay Ching Szu.
For details, visit www.facebook.com/penangstrayrescue
