Aunty Aileen and her My Pets Haven’s successor cat!
- The recent case of Kopi, the stray dog, has clenched the hearts of most of us. It is time for us to wake up and make a difference in their lives. Drop by My Pets Haven and adopt a rescue dog or cat now!
If you’re an animal lover like me, you might already recognise the face on this article cover. If not, let me introduce you to Aileen Lee Sor Geok, or as everyone fondly calls her, Aunty Aileen. She is a true icon in the local animal rescue world, known for her boundless compassion and fierce commitment to giving stray animals a second chance at life.
At Pokok.Asia, we had the privilege of sitting down with Aunty Aileen and hearing firsthand about her journey. Her story is not only inspiring but also deeply humbling. The way she speaks about each animal, every unique story, and the challenges she has faced truly touches the heart. For her, this is not just a job or a hobby; it is her purpose.
So, what is her story?
Aunty Aileen, now 67, founded My Pets Haven in 2011, driven by her mission to rescue stray animals and give them a second chance at a better life through rehoming and adoption. Yet, animal rescue was not always her career path. Before this, she was a pub owner and worked two jobs to make ends meet. By day, she was a junior secretary, and by night, she managed the pub. Still, her love for animals was always in her heart. She kept dog and cat food in her car, ready to feed any strays she encountered along the way.
How It Began
She is a fearless animal advocate, dedicating her life to their care and well-being.
After closing down her pub, Aunty Aileen began working at a pet shop, where she witnessed firsthand the mistreatment of animals. The animals were cramped in tiny cages, barely able to move, and were not even allowed the simple joy of going for walks.
It was heartbreaking to see that, despite being a pet store, there was no genuine care for these animals.
This experience inspired Aunty Aileen to open her own pet centre. However, at that time, her knowledge was limited to selling animals, as awareness about adoption and animal welfare was still scarce. Everything changed when a stray dog named Wong Choy wandered into her centre one day.
It was an unexpected yet heartwarming moment, and Aunty Aileen decided to take him in. After spending some time at the centre, Wong Choy eventually found a loving home. This experience opened Aunty Aileen’s eyes to a new possibility; she realised she could do so much more for the strays living on the streets. Instead of just selling animals, she could rehabilitate and rehome them!
Being at My Pets Haven
A charming mural was painted on the side of the My Pets Haven building. It’s so cute, right?
Since its founding, My Pets Haven has truly lived up to its name, becoming a safe haven for stray animals rescued from the streets. Each animal receives medical care and is showered with love while they wait for their forever home.
At My Pets Haven, every dog and cat is neutered to prevent reproduction, helping to keep the stray population in check. Aunty Aileen believes this is the most responsible choice. Allowing these animals to breed would only lead to more strays, which, unfortunately, often results in more cases of abuse and neglect.
By taking this proactive approach, they are not only reducing the number of homeless animals but also giving each one a better chance at a healthier, safer life. It’s a tough decision, but ultimately, it is what’s best for the animals and the community.
This commitment to responsible care is significant in light of recent tragic events, like the case of Kopi, the female stray dog who was brutally shot in Besut, Terengganu. Kopi’s death highlights the harsh reality that many stray animals face—violence, neglect, and suffering. Incidents like this underline the necessity for organisations like My Pets Haven, which provide immediate care and aim to reduce the root cause of such abuse by controlling the stray population.
Moreover, another tragedy in Semporna, Sabah, where a 2-year-old toddler lost his life in a stray dog attack, underscores the urgent need for effective measures to control the stray population. Incidents like this make it painfully clear that unregulated breeding and the lack of proper care for strays can lead to severe consequences. While it’s essential to protect the well-being of animals, we must also consider the safety of people, especially vulnerable individuals like children.
Volunteers’ Dedication
My Pets Haven operates almost entirely through the dedication of volunteers, as it doesn’t have any permanent staff. Some volunteers have been with Aunty Aileen for years, helping her keep everything running smoothly. One of them, Janice, plays a big role in managing the centre’s social media, raising awareness, attracting adopters, and bringing in much-needed donations.
We have nothing but admiration for these volunteers. They are here purely out of their own will, and their commitment to supporting Aunty Aileen is truly remarkable. After hearing what a typical day at My Pets Haven looks like, it’s clear this isn’t something just anyone could handle; it takes real heart and strength to do what they do.
What stands out is that many of the volunteers are young people, even those my age. In a world where most young people are focused on studies, careers, or personal pursuits, not many would be willing to give their time and energy to a cause that often doesn’t even offer a paycheck. But here they are, showing up day after day to help these animals and support Aunty Aileen.
It’s humbling and also reassuring to know that there are still young people out there making a difference. Though I know it’s something I’d struggle to commit to, seeing others do it renews my faith in the goodness of today’s youth. It’s a reminder that even when it feels like the world is moving in the wrong direction, there are still bright spots like this that remind us, “Yes, we still have hope.”
Daily Routine at My Pets Haven
The daily routine at My Pets Haven begins bright and early, long before the sun appears. Aunty Aileen starts her day by taking each of the more than 30 dogs for a short walk, sometimes all on her own. Imagine the number of laps she must do!
After their morning stroll, each dog is fed on a strict schedule to ensure they are neither overfed nor underfed. Any pups with injuries are promptly taken to the vet, and newly rescued dogs receive medical checkups, neutering, and vaccinations.
But that is not all. On most nights, the volunteers join Aunty Aileen for a night feeding session, where they prepare food (usually rice mixed with chicken liver) to take out and feed stray dogs in the area. They prepare enough to feed more than 20 dogs at once!
Their dedication is truly admirable. If you are a frequent visitor to My Pets Haven’s Instagram page, you might have seen clips showing Aunty Aileen falling asleep in her chair after a long, exhausting day. Her tiredness is palpable, and it is hard not to admire how she keeps going despite the physical and emotional toll.
It is a huge responsibility, caring for so many dogs, keeping up with vet visits, managing the centre, and still finding time to feed strays. This is no easy feat, but she does it with so much heart.
Look at the amount of food prepared! I hope those cute puppies are eating well!
Their work also includes rescuing stray animals found or reported to them. I have been following My Pets Haven’s Instagram and other independent rescue organisations for quite some time now, and from what I have observed, these rescue missions are far from easy.
Rescues require immense patience and time, especially since most strays tend to bolt at the first sight of humans. Building trust with these animals is crucial. Sometimes, rescues can even be risky if the strays are aggressive, which often means more people need to get involved.
Recently, My Pets Haven rescued six adorable puppies who were hiding under a TNB electric distribution box at night. I cannot wait to see who will be lucky enough to adopt these sweet pups!
Donations
My Pets Haven operates as an independent animal shelter, meaning it isn’t backed by any government or non-governmental organisations. It relies solely on donations to keep its doors open.
Aunty Aileen explains that the monthly expenses to run the centre amount to at least RM7,000. This figure does not even include the additional costs for emergency injuries or animal surgeries. The financial burden is overwhelming, yet it’s a reality she faces every day in her mission to care for and rehabilitate stray animals.
As an independent rescuer, Aunty Aileen often faces scepticism about her intentions and the shelter’s mission. Some people even accuse her of fraud, claiming she pockets the donation money.
It is heartbreaking to see people questioning the integrity of selfless rescuers like Aunty Aileen. Knowing that some individuals out there misuse animal rescue as front-to-pocket donations is enraging. Such actions are not only irresponsible, but they are deeply unethical. How could anyone exploit innocent animals for personal gain? It’s beyond comprehension.
This damage extends beyond just mistrust. These few bad actors have cast a shadow over genuine animal rescue efforts, making it harder for those who truly care to gather the support needed for their work. Public suspicion has made it increasingly difficult to secure the donations essential to care for the animals.
It’s frustrating to think that honest, hardworking rescuers are being held back due to the actions of a few who have tainted the image of animal rescue work.
Despite these challenges, Aunty Aileen remains undeterred. She is steadfast in her purpose and committed to helping these animals.
To build trust and encourage donations, Aunty Aileen is transparent about the shelter’s finances. She shares details of all donations received and posts the vet bills for each rescued animal on social media. This openness reassures donors that their contributions genuinely support the animals in need.
She goes above and beyond to prove that donations go directly to helping the animals and keeping the shelter running. However, the fact that she has to take these steps just to gain trust shows the extent of damage caused by those who have exploited the cause for personal gain.
Bitter (and Sweet) Reality of Adoption
Look at this cuteness; aren’t you tempted to adopt, too? Photo Source: Pokok.Asia
Aunty Aileen shared that most of the adoptions from her pet centre have been successful, with some animals even finding homes across the globe in places like Australia, Poland, and Qatar. It’s heartwarming to know that people are willing to adopt even disabled dogs, showing compassion and love for animals in need.
However, not all adoption stories have a happy ending. Aunty Aileen has encountered situations where people returned their adopted pets due to poor choices and a lack of understanding about how to care for them.
In some cases, adopters have returned their dogs, claiming the animals did not behave as expected. One particularly upsetting incident involved someone wanting to return a dog simply because it became pregnant. This highlights why Aunty Aileen strongly encourages adopters to neuter their pets soon after adoption.
To support this, Aunty Aileen introduced a policy requiring adopters to pay an RM300 deposit in advance. This deposit serves as a commitment to the pet and ensures the adopter follows through with the neutering process.
Once the pet is neutered, adopters must provide a vet receipt as proof, and Aunty Aileen returns the full RM300. She explained that this is the only way to ensure the pets are truly neutered, as many people are motivated to get the procedure done to reclaim their deposit.
This policy has proven effective, as the RM300 deposit serves as a clear incentive for many adopters to ensure their new pet is neutered. Aunty Aileen has found that, while some adopters may hesitate initially, the financial motivation encourages them to do the right thing for the animals. It is also a way to ensure that pets are in responsible hands and that adopters take their commitment seriously.
It is difficult to understand how someone could abandon an animal simply because it doesn’t fit their idea of the perfect “cute” pet. Unfortunately, many people today adopt or buy animals based on their appearance or because a child asked for one.
I’ll admit, I have had similar thoughts myself. I have considered adopting a kitten or puppy, not because I felt committed to rescue, but because I wanted a companion. As a young adult living far from family, I thought having a pet would fill the void and provide someone to come home to. It felt like a solution to my loneliness, keeping me company after a long day at work.
Thankfully, I realised that I was not ready for the responsibility. Taking care of a pet is more than just feeding them and giving attention when it suits me. It is a long-term commitment, one that my current lifestyle would not support. Pets need more than occasional time and affection; they need stability, consistency, and a proper routine. It would be unfair to bring a pet into my life if I couldn’t give them that.
I hope more people take the time to think carefully before adopting. It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of having a pet, but they are not accessories or decorations. They are living beings that depend on us. Just like a child, they need proper care, attention, and love. I am sure Aunty Aileen would agree; pets are not here simply to brighten our days when we are lonely, but to become cherished members of our lives, deserving of the same commitment we would give to any family member.
Time to Adopt! Don’t Shop!
Our interview with Aunty Aileen revealed the darker side of the pet industry. Hearing her stories of animals being mistreated was heartbreaking, especially since it’s something most of us aren’t even aware of. Sure, the pets in shops look adorable, but few know what really happens behind the scenes.
People like Aunty Aileen, the dedicated volunteers, and many other rescuers are doing everything they can to help these animals. They work tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and educate the public on issues ranging from unethical breeding practices to domestic animal abuse. It’s crucial for us, as a society, to start paying attention and educating ourselves about these issues.
This is a moment to reflect and ask ourselves: Are we okay with the idea of animals suffering in silence? Can we stand by while they endure mistreatment? What role do we want to play in addressing this?
It’s time to stand against animal abuse and reconsider pet buying. By raising our voices and spreading awareness, we can make a meaningful difference and give stray animals the second chance they deserve!
If you’re looking to bring home an adorable pup from My Pets Haven, considering donating, or want to lend a helping hand as a volunteer, reach out to Aunty Aileen and team at:
Instagram: @mypetshaven
Website: My Pets Haven
Contact: +6019-6632828 (Aileen)
HQ: A-2-G, Galleri Klang Sentral, Jalan Klang Sentral 15/KU5, 41050 Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Every little bit helps, whether you adopt a furry friend, donate, or lend a helping hand. Your support makes a big difference in the lives of these animals.
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