Helping the helpless: Muhd Sufi has been going out on a boat daily to rescue and feed animals trapped in the floodwaters.
BATU PAHAT: Armed with two boats, Muhd Sufi Sharifudin and his family have been braving floodwaters around the district in search of animals to feed and rescue.
The 29-year-old trader said he had been assisting flood victims with relocation since last week, but had since decided to focus on animal rescue.
“Since I have two boats at home, I decided to put them to good use by helping people who were stranded in their homes due to the floods.
“I later realised that there were also many animals, especially cats, trapped in the floods and left with no food for days.
“As flood victims have now reached the temporary relief centres safely, I will dedicate my time to saving the animals instead,” he said in an interview.
Muhd Sufi said that every day he and his family, including his wife and five children, would go out on a boat looking for animals to feed.
“Most are cats, but I have also come across dogs and cows along the way and I will feed them as well. For me, all animals deserve to be treated well and should not starve.
“Unfortunately, I am unable to bring all of the animals home as there are just too many of them. Instead, I go around to feed them and relocate some of them to higher ground where it is dry and warm,” he said.
He said some of the cats were found trapped in cages after their owners were forced out of their inundated homes.
“Some were found just inches away from the floodwaters,” he said, adding that he had loaned his other boat to his 50-year-old father, who was also going around feeding animals.
Muhd Sufi said he had bought at least 50kg of cat food since he started the routine last Monday.
“Humans are at least able to find their way out and get food but animals can’t do that, especially when they are stranded in waterlogged areas.
“Many of the animals are in a dire situation, as I believe they have been trapped with no food for days.
“If people could see the situation these animals were in when we first found them, they would surely shed tears,” he said.
Muhd Sufi said the most heartbreaking thing was finding cats that had drowned after being submerged for days.
“Sadly, some of the cats died before I could reach them. I have buried the carcasses of at least five cats found in floodwaters,” he said.
He added that some cat and even dog owners had been contacting him to ask him to help them feed their pets or bring them to a safer place.
“I am not sure how people found my contact number. Maybe my other family members or friends have passed it around since I started rescuing the animals.
“My phone has been buzzing non-stop over the last few days with pet owners asking me to check on their cats and dogs.
“Most of them had not expected the water level to rise that high and thought they could return home later to get their pets,” he said.
