Mama dog, 6 pups dumped at bus stop

Published on: Saturday, June 05, 2021

By: Dr Roslee bin Haji Abbas

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HElping Animals Rescue Team (Heart)

HERE is the story of a mama dog and her newborn puppies abandoned by her owners. Mama dog was abandoned in the moment she needed someone most. After just giving birth to a litter of healthy puppies, her cruel owners no longer found use for her.

They made the despicable decision to abandon her and her babies out of town in an effort to make them disappear forever. But she survived on scraps that a good Samaritan left behind, rummaging through garbage and sometimes the feeding efforts of those who noticed her presence.

We just want to inspire people that if they have a vision and a passion and a dream to follow it. Anybody can be a hero, just dedicate and follow your heart. We wanted to inspire people because we did this with nothing... rescuers like us who make very little money for a living but working with homeless dogs you get paid in doggy love.

The callousness of some people is just astonishing. Being in the rescue business means having to face some pretty heartbreaking moments. And no matter how many times animal rescues have to deal with sad cases, it doesn’t get any easier knowing that there are some pretty cold-hearted people in this world.

When HEART got a call from a Good Samaritan who spotted an abandoned mama dog and her puppies, we were immediately on the case before the situation could get worse. According to the concerned Samaritan there were many passing cars and trucks just bombing through along the Ranau - Sandakan road. The situation could be detrimental to the mama dog and her newborn puppies.

Apparently, the little canine family had just been discarded at the Ranau-Sandakan bus stop like garbage only days earlier. Generally the mama dog and her litters were just left to die in appalling conditions. In fact, the six newborn puppies were so young they hadn’t even opened their eyes yet and were still suckling from their mum even as she was standing.

This is the heartbreaking moment the Heart team discovered a mama dog and her newborn puppies ‘left to die’ cowering at a bus stop – only to find another litter just five minutes down the road. Her puppies were only days old. Some people passing by ignored the mama dog and did not stop to try and help the canine family because she snarled at them. The young mom was abandoned with her babies at the Ranau-Sandakan road and she did not move for several days. Her pain broke our hearts. Some people are so cruel!

What if we hadn’t have rescued her? What if the Good Samaritan hadn’t have called us?

We can’t bear to think of how they would have survived in the middle of nowhere, so hot and hungry.

However, by the time we arrived, the exhausted mama dog, who was later named Safiyah, didn’t seem to be snarling anymore. Instead, she just seemed heartbroken. We found Safiyah huddled up next to her six puppies. The mama dog didn’t allow us to approach her. She even didn’t accept some food from us. Mama was terrified of humans due to her dark past, and would bolt the moment anyone attempted to come near her. It took us many hours to bring Mama dog to her foster home.

Even though Mama was finally accepting our friendship, she was not yet ready to let us touch her. Every attempt to put a leash around her neck caused her to bolt, potentially causing a huge step back in our progress. We knew it was time to come up with a new plan. We were able to install a large trap on the property and helped lure her into the cage and the frightened mama was finally captured.

The puppies were only a few days old and though Safiyah was doing her best to keep them safe and calm, it was clear that the poor mama needed help. She was so sad…

The heartbroken and frightened mama knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her beloved pups alive if someone didn’t come to her aid. Luckily, we did.

This abandoned family is really why we do this. So much heartache can be involved [in rescue], but seeing a loving mother dog like this to raise her puppies is just so sweet. We looked over at them, and couldn’t help but kind of tear up. This is the rewarding part.

We carefully picked up the defenceless babies, one by one. One was very weak, but the other five appeared healthy and were taken, along with their mother, to our foster home to receive the care she needed and were examined by a veterinarian.

The mama dog Safiyah and her six puppies had the time and space to heal and find hope for the future. After going through so much pain and sorrow together, the little family was finally safe and they could enjoy spending time together and focus on their love for each other without having to worry about whether they would survive the day.

Safiyah and her pups went into foster care where they’ll be cared for until they come of age and enjoying every second of their time together. We all just want Safiyah and her pups to get all the love and happiness they deserve.

We were also able to determine that the dog had either been used for breeding or had been abused before her abandonment. Abandoning a dog is one thing, but being cruel in the process is another. Abandoning a dog on the street is terrible enough, but throwing a mama dog and her puppies like garbage takes on a new level of cruelty. In the meantime, the Heart team hopes to track down whoever is responsible for dumping her and her newborn puppies at the Ranau-Sandakan bus stop.

Under the Sabah Animal Welfare Enactment 2015, abandon a puppy/dog or a kitten/cat or any animal causing suffering from starvation, illness, injury or endangerment is punishable by a maximum fine of RM100,000 or three years’ jail or both upon conviction.

Until people fully understand that pets cannot be discarded like broken toys or that the tragedy of unwanted animals can be simply prevented by a visit to the vet, the problem remains.

We receive no government funding and rely on the support and kindness from our community, private and individual donations to complete our mission. Heart does not euthanise animals to make space to house others. We are a no-kill animal welfare group and work to preserve life whenever possible.

If you would like to help to pay for Safiyah’s spaying, medical and food please send your money to:

CIMB BANK BERHAD

Account no: 70 3762569 4

Rosli @ Roslee Bin Abbas

Donate - Spay/Food/Medical For Safiyah

Every ringgit helps! Thank you in advance for your generous, big and small (and no donation is too small).

Have a heart. Donate.