It’s been a week now, ever since I first publicised the plight of Phaik Imm, a 64 year-old lady who is managing a shelter which houses 29 cats and 30 dogs. Imm was in extremely poor health when her plight was brought to my attention.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped in various ways, from chipping in with funds, physically helping Imm at the shelter, forwarding emails to alert their friends in Ipoh, or simply sending positive and loving thoughts to Imm so that she may regain her health and strength to soldier on for the sake of her animals.
We have managed to raise enough funds to sustain the shelter and its maintenance for the next 2-3 weeks. The outstanding utility bills have been paid and food has been purchased for the animals. It’s still not time to rest yet. I’m still sourcing donations for her and I hope all of you would help too.
Below is an email update from Judy to PC. Judy herself is in her sixties, but together with her sister, Yeng, they have been helping Imm as much as they can. We must also not forget the laksa lady (her name is Ah Mei) who has been helping once a week whenever she does not open her stall.
PC paid a surprise visit to Imm the very next day after I posted the appeal, and Judy wrote this email a few days later:
Imm and I were absolutely delighted to see all of you on Sat. esp’ly when you told us you were all from Kajang. I’m finding this whole experience truly uplifting. All so spontaneous from the heart – Kah Yein’s immediate response to my enquiry, the donations that came in almost immediately from people we don’t even know, your surprise visit, and people who have called in simply to ask “how can I help?”
Kah Yein’s school mate Yvonne contacted Imm after reading her blog and met up with her on Sunday. On Monday she came in with us to help clean the kennels. She’s an excellent worker, rolled up her sleeves and got straight into the task. When she left, she noticed that Imm’s slippers were truly worn out. Imm just did not have the extra time nor energy to attend to such personal matters. I told Yvonne I had noticed it too and had wanted to get her a couple of new pairs but was just too tired each day. Yvonne im’ly said, don’t worry. I’ll go buy for her and Viola! Curtis, Yvonne’s teenage son, turned up at Imm’s home early yesterday morning with a new pair of slippers and breakfast as well. She also made a cash donation of RM300 for food for the animals at the shelter.
I’m so glad you shared the photos you took at the shelter with Kah Yein. Tony said he has to rely on his son to download the photos he took to send to Kah Yein, but his son is usually very busy as he runs his own business. I was getting anxious about getting Kah Yein the photos.
I saw the photos you took last night. I was telling Kah Yein, Phaik Imm looks good in the photos and isn’t it amazing how glimmers of hope can transform a person’s well being. She was really excited and enthusaistic when you called to arrange the visit. I needed to see her feeling good and hopeful. Thank you so much.
The two students came in on Monday morning and we assigned them to clear the grass outside the shelter. Imm wanted that to be done first. However as there was no proper eqmt to do the task, only a pair of garden hedge cutter and a changkol, the boys were only able to clear the front portion. I did a quick calculation yesterday and figured it’s not cost effective for them to continue the clearing job at RM40 per day. It will be cheaper to hire a professional grass cutter. Only one student turned up yesterday and I assigned him to clean the kennels to help Imm and Yeng, my god-sis.
Bro Kiang also sent his son and two members of his staff to visit the shelter yesterday morning. His son took photos and hopefully Kah Yein will have more photos to add to her blog.
We also had our mutual friend, Su Ming, turned up with her son, Gee with packets of hot coffee. It was timely, a good excuse to have a coffee break.
Yesterday was certainly a good day . Myong An Sunim, my ex-boss’s son, read my mailing list appeal, and replied that his neighbour who is good and kind to his dogs, may adopt one from Imm’s shelter as one of his dogs had died. It was timely that I decided to do a mail list appeal the day before, as Sunim will be returning to Korea tomorrow. He was in Ipoh to visit his mom.
Charmaine, a new friend from HK, living in Ipoh, also called and asked “how can I help?” She will be joining us this Friday morning to go to the shelter.
It is such a joy to know that there is indeed goodness in this world.
It’s almost 7.30 am, must go and attend to my own cats and dogs now, pick up the liver that Imm had ordered from the butchers for the animals at her shelter, before I drive over to her place.
By the way, Imm took Bobbie, the sick elderly brown dog, to the vet yesterday. We will keep you posted on his condition.
Note: The two student helpers have stopped coming in as transport from Gopeng to Ipoh was a problem for them. Their parents were not too happy with the arrangement. Myong An’s neighbour decided he would not adopt another dog.
But never mind, all is not lost yet. We shall continue to source for help for Imm and her 59 animals.