Like the vessel which saved animals from the flood, Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Shelter’s (NANAS) mission is to give abused, abandoned, or abandoned animals a second chance by providing food, shelter, and medical attention for them to live with dignity.
NANAS set up the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Clinic to encourage pet owners, who otherwise cannot afford it, to sterilise their pets at subsidised rate. Pet owners who are dependent on government financial assistance will have their pet’s medical fees waived to prevent abandonment of pets should they become a financial burden. NANAS also has a team of volunteer groups who conduct Trap, Neuter, Return and Manage (TNRM) programmes for stray dogs and cats in various locations. Fees are reduced or waived for special projects to help volunteers and caregivers continue their work.
The team at NANAS believes that while it is commendable of volunteers and NGOs for playing a part in controlling the population of animals, local town councils must play their part as well. NGOs can play a role in animal welfare, education, and mediation, while the town council could be responsible for legislation, licensing, implementation of policies, and managing expectations of the public. Problems with overpopulation can be curbed when all pet owners understand their responsibilities and consequences if they do not neuter their pets. NANAS hopes for more involvement from the local authorities in helping animals.
The organisation began in 2000 and has grown to a team of 50 volunteers. Since 2016, NANAS has conducted a total of 11 sterilisation programmes with Majlis Bandaraya Iskandar Puteri and other NGOs. The programmes have sterilised a total of 1184 cats and 26 dogs. In addition to this, 500 animals are sterilised at their ABC clinics monthly.
Dr. Raymund Wee, founder and caretaker of NANAS, finds satisfaction in what he does when he looks at the animals he helps and knows that he has made a difference in its life. Seeing many abandoned or mistreated animals walk through their doors can cause anger, but he chooses to let go of things he cannot control by finding solutions instead.
Observe how a person treats animals: that is how we look at his heart.
