KOTA KINABALU: As a boy, Christiano Dee Aldrin would tear up and refuse to leave if he saw an injured dog that needed medical care.
Often times, his parents would return home with an injured stray, all because of his insistence.
Now 16, Christiano grew up seeing his parents in action as animal rescuers who also fostered strays.
It was the boy’s devotion to strays that drove his parents to set up the Animals Lovers Independent Rescuer (ALIR) non-profit organisation in 2016.
Love them to bits: Christiano with the strays he cares for at the shelter in Kota Kinabalu. He grew up seeing his parents in action as animal rescuers who also fostered strays.
“I have always been around dogs and that is why I can’t bear seeing them in pain,” he added.
Apart from attending school, the SMK Kolombong student’s daily routines include spending time looking after the cats and dogs at home, feeding them and cleaning up, with a helping hand from his parents and elder brother.
While he is doing all that, the second of four siblings is also focusing on his ultimate dream – becoming a vet so that he can do a better job.
“I am studying hard as I want to make sure that I get good grades and go on to further my education in veterinary medicine,” he declared.
He said he wanted to change how the community treated strays, and wanted to see the day when cats and dogs would no longer be harmed or abandoned.
Diana Romana Fransisca said Christiano and his brother’s “overwhelming” commitment to strays at times made her weary, with funds to worry about too.
“But whenever I see how Christiano loves the rescued animals, it just motivated me to carry on,” said the 38-year-old.
Diana recalled the first time she witnessed his deep empathy towards strays back in 2009.
“We saw a blind puppy on the roadside and he pleaded with me to bring it home. Since then, whenever he sees cats or dogs that are sick or injured he will not let up until we get them treated,” added the mother of four who has also two daughters.
Diana and husband Aldrin Ham, 39, run a pet taxi and pet supply business from home.
She said support from her group of volunteers, friends from the veterinary industry, donors and contributors made it worthwhile running the business.
Diana said ALIR handled dozens of cases and calls for help daily. “My home is now a sanctuary to hundreds of strays,” she concluded.
