Have yourself a furry little Xmas
Share spirit of charity and give a dog a home
KUALA LUMPUR: Home for Christmas? In this festive season, an animal shelter is working just as hard to give stray dogs a proper home.
Feeding and caring for 250 dogs is no easy feat, but the Lost Animal Souls Shelter (LASS) has made it a top priority.
“Most of them have been hit by cars, abused, or just abandoned by their owners,” LASS founder and president Vignes Chelliah said.
It has an “Adopt Don’t Shop” campaign, which focuses on encouraging the public to adopt shelter dogs instead of buying pedigree dogs from pet stores.
Those looking for pets will have a chance to adopt a canine companion as LASS will be showcasing some of their dogs through videos and photographs at a Christmas charity bazaar this Saturday in hopes of finding a home for them.
LASS started out as a group of rescuers working together to assist a man who rescued 100 dogs in Brickfields.
LASS eventually grew to become a shelter with all 100 dogs transferred to the new home once the paperwork was in order.
The shelter, manned by two full-time staff and a seven-man committee, serves as a safe haven for strays.
“We get a lot of college volunteers,” Vignes said. “They are always so impressed by how clean the compound is, and how quickly the dogs warm up to them.”
According to Vignes, the dogs could roam freely around the compound. They are fed twice daily.
LASS also rescues cats; the rehoming process for cats is quicker than dogs.
But as a non-profit, LASS has its share of financial burden.
Most of their funding goes towards keeping the dogs fed and healthy, as well as rescue incidents. Sponsorship is often scarce.
LASS is hosting a Christmas charity bazaar at the Waterfront in Desa ParkCity this Saturday from 4pm to 10pm.
The main aim is to raise funds for the general upkeep of the shelter and raise awareness of their “Adopt Don’t Shop” campaign.
There will be a variety of goods sold such as Christmas cakes and cookies, pet related equipment, and natural body products.
Visitors can bring their own furry friends along, as there will be a pet-friendly section for them.
Their Facebook page is at https://www.face-