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Ashley, a Mass Communication graduate in Advertising, spends her own money, time and energy feeding and rescuing stray dogs around her neighbourhood.
What started as a simple act of kindness has grown into a mission to inspire more Malaysians to treat stray animals with compassion.
Started with puppies outside her home
There were puppies lingering outside Ashley’s home at the time, and what began as simple feeding slowly turned into a consistent routine.
Along with the feeding also came an increased number of dogs turning up at her door to be fed.
Soon, it expanded beyond Ashley’s house and into her neighbourhood. But the real turning point came when she noticed something heartbreaking.
“The dogs that I fed, they came back to me every time. I then realised they weren’t just wandering around randomly. They were coming back because I had become their only source of food and hope.
“It almost feels like if I don’t feed them, who else would?” From that moment on, I felt like I couldn’t let them go hungry even for a day,” she said.
Was fearful of dogs
Ironically, Ashley admitted that she didn’t grow up as an animal lover and was rather afraid of cats and dogs.
“I used to avoid places that had stray animals and would even check my surroundings before stepping out.
“But after a breakup, I made a bold decision to overcome my fear, and stray dogs were the first thing I challenged herself with.
“Once I got over that mental hurdle, I began feeding and rescuing stray dogs,” she recounted.
Ashley also brought up an incident that occurred two years ago, where a terribly sick dog lying by the roadside further reinforced her commitment to helping stray dogs.
“I followed it for two days and asked nearby residents if they knew the dog. While they admitted that they did, no one stepped in to help.
“Unable to ignore its suffering, I reached out to experienced rescuers via social media and sought assistance. Thanks to our collective efforts, the dog survived and recovered.”
Using social media for good
As an Advertising graduate, Ashley understood one powerful thing: the far-reaching influence of social media.
Instead of just posting aesthetic content, she began documenting the stray dogs she feeds.
“My goal is simple: I hope to inspire more Malaysians to be kinder to stray animals and to use their platforms for a good cause.
“Stray dogs is a common sight here and many can’t imagine a Malaysia that doesn’t have stray dogs.
“That is why I emphasise a lot on spaying and neutering as the most important step to truly reduce the stray population,” she explained.
‘They depend on us’
When asked why she cares so much about stray dogs when others ignore them, Ashley’s answer was simple.
“Stray animals depend on us humans. If they are sick, they cannot bring themselves to the vet. If they act aggressively, they cannot explain that they were abused in the past.
“And that is exactly why I refuse to close my eyes and walk away,” she said.
For those who want to do the same but do not know how, Ashley suggests them taking “baby steps” such as volunteering at animal shelters, joining rescue missions, donating for food or medical funds, or simply liking and sharing adoption posts on social media.
In Ashley’s eyes, every stray dog deserves a second chance.
“They are not on the street because they choose to be. And sometimes, all it takes is one person to decide not to ignore them.”
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