Shima with Ace Vader, a stray that she rescued in December 2020.
PETALING JAYA: A stint with breast cancer has not stopped Shima Aris from continuing to rescue dogs and cats, even from the backyards of cruel breeders.In fact, it was cancer that added more fuel to her passion, said the 43-year-old mother of two, who has 19 cats at home.
“I was diagnosed with cancer in mid-2021 and at the time, I wasn’t rescuing that much. When I was undergoing chemotherapy, one of my rescued dogs died because no one could take her to the vet,” said the fitness trainer and model.
“She had a tumour and it came back when I was sick. That was one of the turning points for me where I knew that I had to fight the cancer because I didn’t want to lose another dog,” she said.
Her cancer was declared to be in remission on May 9, but Shima is still battling the side effects of chemotherapy. “I’m still fighting. I will keep on rescuing as long as my body permits,” she said.
Among her rescues since 2019 are Cera, a dog that was left unconscious on the streets after being beaten with a metal rod multiple times; Frodo, a dog that was one day away from being euthanised by a local council; and Ace Vader, a cat that was rescued from a neglectful owner.
Shima’s story is also remarkable given that she was afraid of animals as a young child and the largest ones that her family kept were fish and hamsters.
It all started in 2019 when she saw a dog walking the streets with a huge hole in its head.
“He was the first pup that I rescued. I knew that if I didn’t rescue him, no one would,” said Shima, who named him ‘Bond’. She is also fortunate to have a strong support system and good friends when she needs help with difficult rescues.
“I’m lucky that I have a lot of support from two vets that I send my rescues to, who are Dr Mu from Kota Damansara Vet and Dr Teoh of Furkids Wellness,” she said.
Shima’s aim is to remove the stigma surrounding strays and get more Malaysians to adopt rather than buy their pets.
“I also want to open up the eyes and remove the fear of Muslims towards dogs,” said Shima, who dreams of having her own animal shelter one day, and that the government could build more animal shelters in every state in Malaysia.
While financial constraints and adopters are a constant challenge in her work, it is all worth it when she finds a home for her rescues.
“If I stop, there is one less person to help them,” she said.
Her biggest wish is for every single house in Malaysia to adopt at least one stray animal and for every person to rescue at least one animal in their life.
“If you live up to 100 years old but never save a life, what’s the point of living? Life is not just about you. It’s about the lives you help change,” said Shima.
