Helping others feels fantastic, and can help you to reduce stress, get new friends or even acquire new skills! So why not spend a day helping people and animals who are in desperate need for an extra pair of hands.
There have been a rise of animal shelters and also independent rescue workers all over Malaysia. A few weeks ago, we gathered some insights while volunteering at an animal shelter, and in this post, we will be sharing a few things that we learnt from our short time there:
1. Animals have SO much love
Many of the dogs and cats from the shelter we visited were rescued from the streets. A handful of these might have been mistreated, or even abused by humans in their past.
We realised that many of these animals still show a lot of love towards humans, for instance, through simple actions such as sticking their head to your hands or sit nearby you.
2. Patience is virtue
As volunteers, we are strangers to all of these animals – they are seeing us for the very first time.
Therefore, it’s only natural that their initial response towards us is fear. This especially applies to the animals that have had bad experiences with humans in their past. Many times, this turns into aggression, and it’s a way for them to defend themselves.
During our time at the animal shelter, many of the dogs barked at us endlessly – but remember that’s okay! It can take some time before they are fully comfortable with the presence of new people.
3. Remember the purpose of your trip
As much as it’s tempting to spend your time playing with the very adorable animals, please do keep in mind that you are there to assist the rescue workers.
Typically, the rescue workers need support with washing tools/equipment and cleaning the space where the animals sleep and/or excrete – but it may vary from shelter to shelter.
All in all, you are contributing to creating the best environment for the workers and animals.
Not all heroes wear capes
We are thankful for each and every one of these kind-hearted souls who are dedicating their time solely for these animals. They are caring for them like family.
If you’re looking for an animal shelter to volunteer or adopt, please check out our article “List of Animal Adoption Centres in KL & Selangor Area 2019”.