RCE Greater Gombak - 2020

Greater Gombak Animal Shelter Project
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Greater Gombak Animal Shelter Project
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Gombak
Contributing organization(s) : 
Educational Institutions: International Islamic University Malaysia (Kulliyyah [Faculty] of Engineering, Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, Abu Hurairah Club (Cat based student society)
Government Agencies: The Turkish Embassy, Kuala Lumpur
NGOs: Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA Malaysia), Abu Hurairah Animal Society (AHAS)Local Community: Mr. Kenneth Lee (Cat Rescuer)
Private Sector: Maya Veterinary Clinic, Muezzah Veterinary Clinic, Maxim Motto Sdn Bhd (MISHA Cat Food Supplier), Mama Cat Pet Shop
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
Organizational Affiliation: 
International Islamic University Malaysia
Name: 
Zarinah Jan Binti Yusof Khan
Organizational Affiliation: 
International Islamic University Malaysia
Name: 
Muhaideen Addul Kader Bin Mohamad Ikbal
Organizational Affiliation: 
International Islamic University Malaysia
Format of project: 
People-animal interactions, building construction, painting, decorating, interior design using recycle items, webinar presentation, group activities, exhibition, competition, fund raising, cat feeding, cleaning and benchmarking visit.
Language of project: 
English and Malay
Date of submission:
Friday, October 30, 2020
Animal Welfare Act 2015
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Malaysia
Location(s): 
Gombak, Kangar-Perlis and Ukay Heights-Ampang
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity
Secretariat, RCE Greater Gombak
International Islamic University Malaysia
Jalan Gombak, 53100
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Ecosystem(s):
Target Audience:
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Ensuring the well-being of strays is everyone’s responsibility. Stray cats constitute an integral part of many urban ecosystems worldwide, their presence results from uninterrupted natural reproduction, abandonment by pet owners, and abundant food resources. If not managed well, these cats present controversial and emotional issues regarding management of their high densities, hygiene and epidemiologic risks to humans, and predation of wildlife. With high cost in neutering and vaccination fees, overly populated and lack of strict law enforcement for abuse cases, well-structured Rescue-Neuter-Rehome (RNR) management needs to be implemented for a sustainable living for both humans and animals. (97 words)
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
It is estimated that there are around 70 million stray cats around the globe. In Malaysia, the issue of animal welfare especially animal cruelty often gets highlighted and attracts media attention. Abandoned animals such as cats and dogs are contributing to the rise in population and spread of diseases. Lack of understanding of this crisis and compassion towards animals evidently disturbs the ecosystem. Without proper management and education, we are left with problems such as spread of disease, poo and urine. On Gombak campus alone, we have an estimation of 350-400 cats and kittens, mostly abandoned with several health problems. (100 words)
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
October, 2019
Rationale: 
In line with our Universities’s goal towards transformative learning and humanising the education, one of the key factors is embedding compassion through humane education within our education system, which encourages cognitive, affective, and behavioral growth through personal development of critical thinking, problem solving, perspective taking, and empathy as it relates to people, animals, the planet, and the intersections among them. Humane education transcends quality education that highlight topics such as animal care and management, animal therapy, animal intelligence and ecological interdependence help to combat the global environmental crisis at its source, producing a better informed populace equipped to enact responsible policies for a sustainable future. Quality humane education also fosters personal growth among the community and improved interpersonal relations. Notwithstanding, development will not be sustainable unless future citizens develop values and empathy and are willing to take action to make the world a better place. Humane education must be integrated into curriculums at every academic level, from young childhood up through university. This is how sustainability of the ecosystem can be maintained. (172 words)
Objectives: 
1.Facilitate the rehabilitation of abandoned animals through the animal shelter project.
2.Promote neutering through the Rescue-Neuter-Rehome (RNR) procedure to reduce the population and sustain a hygienic environment.
3.Create awareness on the importance of showing compassion and understanding the needs and care for animals in line with the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
4.Foster links with multiple stakeholders for educational support, advice, fundraising and adoption activities which provides a platform to become humane societies.
5.Assist in providing animal-assisted mental health therapy for campus and local community
6.Provide opportunities for community engagements and volunteerism. (91 words)
Activities and/or practices employed: 
1.Initial collaboration fostered with the Turkish Embassy. The Ambassador embraced our intention, attending meeting with University Management.
2.Collaboration meeting with stakeholders and funders for cat shelter.
3.Benchmarking visit to Cat Sanctuary in Perlis, run by IIUM alumni, to seek knowledge and expertise in the areas of establishing an animal shelter locally.
4.Benchmarking visit to SPCA Malaysia on animal management and training.
5.Catch- A-Cathon Adoption Programme.
6.Cat-Day Exhibition and Competition.
7.Construction of the Cat Shelter (1st phase of the Animal Shelter Project)
8.In response to COVID-19 pandemic, the Cat Feeding Project was started where almost 350-400 stray cats were given food and water daily, the sick and injured were taken to clinic.
9.The DIY Cat-Feeder Project was also launched with 159 pieces stationed all around the IIUM Gombak campus including 17 Mahallah (student residences).
10.Painting, cleaning and creating DIY cat houses for the cat shelter.
11.Cat Therapy for Mental Health Webinar.
(150 words)
Size of academic audience: 
5725
Results: 
1.Newspaper articles on our initiatives led to the funder who contributed RM20,000 to build of the Cat Shelter2.
2.The project brought together a collaboration with our Alumni.
3.A total number of 89 cats and kittens have been successfully adopted, 50 neutered and released back on campus.
4.Involvement of the local community in adopting and donating to our cat funds.
5.The cat Shelter is able to hold 60-70 cats at a time. A pilot study was conducted with four rescued cats.
6.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maxim-Moto Sdn Bhd donated 30 bags of cat food with 40 bags donated by campus and local community.
7.Students were empowered in community engagement programmes.
8.A total of RM25, 000 have been raised through awareness campaigns.
9.Medical expenses were borne by Maya Veterinary Clinic.
10.Reaching out to a larger audience (the cat therapy webinar had 2.2k views).
(143 words)
Lessons learned: 
Due to COVID-19 pandemic:
1. Club members and volunteers were to sustain the cat shelter to its maximum capacity but it is now operating at minimal strength.
2. Involvement of faculty members and students from Engineering and Architecture in assisting with solar roof panel for sustainable energy consumption and rainwater harvesting for sustainable cleanliness and maintenance and interior fixing of the animal shelter was put on hold.
However, the pandemic opened greater opportunities for capacity building through the Webinar, spirit of volunteerism and caring for stray cats. Also, we received more funds from the public and the local communities. (99 words)
Key messages: 
Construction of sustainable Greater Gombak Cat Shelter with support from multiple stakeholders, funding over RM 45 000 and reaching 2 725 audience, helped 89 stray cats so far and will be able to help more (70 at a time). Through humanising education, welfare of strays is now in good hands. (50 words)
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
REC Greater Gombak is leading the way paving ways for campus based animal well-being projects with the spirit of humanising education. Looking forward to collaborating with RCE Networks far or near. For a start we are at initial planning to work with RCE Semenanjung as neighbouring RCE in the coming phases of animal shelter project.
Funding: 
1.The construction of the transit animal shelter was funded by a local community member, Mr Kenneth Lee. He is an animal rescuer and has spent more than RM20,000 to help to build the shelter.
2.We have received over RM25,000 from public donations. Mostly have been used to purchase cat and dog food and for medical purposes and ward boarding.
5.3.Maxim-Moto Sdn Bhd donated over 40 bags of cat food during the initial pandemic period and sponsored prizes for the cat exhibition and competition.
4.Discounts voucher for vaccination and neutering were provided by Maya Veterinary Clinic
5.Discounts for medical expenses were provided by Maya Veterinary Clinic
6.Discounts on pet supplies were given by Mama Cat Pet Shop
7.Medical and Pet supplies such as antibiotic cream for wounds, eye ointment, flea medication, deworming pills, feeding bottles, kitten milk, food and water dispensers, bandages were sponsored by Abu Hurairah Animal Society.
8.The items to make the DIY cat feeders were donated by the funds collected by the volunteers
9.Advice on cat adoption procedures and awareness programmes by SPCA.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2019-12-16 at 11.16.05 PM (2).jpeg (99.25 KB) Handing over stray cat for adoption - CATCH-A-CATHON - CAT RELOCATION AND ADOPTION EVENT Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2019-12-16 at 11.16.05 PM (1).jpeg (88.96 KB) Meeting with Turkish Ambassador Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-30 at 11.11.43 (1).jpeg (106.87 KB) Saved stray cats playing at Greater Gombak Cat Shelter with newly DIY Cat toys made from recycle items Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-30 at 11.11.44 (2).jpeg (148.4 KB) Painting activities participated by faculty members, club members and student volunteers Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-30 at 11.11.44 (3).jpeg (150.4 KB) DIY Cat Toys from recycle items by faculty members, club members and student volunteers Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-06 at 12.02.05.jpeg (81.31 KB) Cleaning activities at the Greater Gombak Cat Shelter Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-06 at 12.02.06.jpeg (140.58 KB) DIY Cat Toys from recycle items by faculty members, club members and student volunteers Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2019-12-16 at 11.19.06 PM.jpeg (152.5 KB) Cat Day Exhibition and Competition Abu Hurairah Club
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2019-12-16 at 11.22.21 PM (1).jpeg (168.43 KB) Benchmarking Visit to Bustana Kucing at Kangar, Perlis Zarinah Jan
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-30 at 19.55.03.jpeg (95.34 KB) Greater Gombak Cat Shelter in making...almost there Brodeen
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Indirect
Theme
Plants & Animals 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Indirect
Update: 
No