Food aid for the Papan Landfill Dogs (June 2025)

Donors: In memory of Bobby Batros from Manimegaa Velayuthan, in memory of Kimi from Lee Hwa Seng, in memory of her ancestors from Isabella Sya, an anoymous donor, anonymous donors from TnG, Ahmad Amir Kamil, Alven Loh, Avant Pet Sdn Bhd, Bunny’s Place & Ginger’s Catio, Ellie & Sons from Chow Yi Lin, Emiko Mulyanie Nor, Gan Lay Yong, ICAP, Jeannie Teo Chiang Wei, Joy Elia Saga, Karen Ng Siew Ching, Khoo Ming-Yi, Kwan Pei Kuan, Mong Looi, Moy Hong Chiang, Mr Kok, NandaLeonie Hong Siew Lan, Sharonlin Ooi, Suzanne Ngiow Siet Sun, Tabs & Juno, Tan Lai Fun, Tan Tay Thye, Tong Yut Fun, Tong Yut Gen, Wan Tai Seng, We (nycc), Yim Soi Chee, AnimalCare reserve fund.

The pet food (PapanSouls requested only kibble):

Vitalplus dog kibble 18kg
– Lamb – 20 bags

We thank Avant Pet for the free delivery to Ipoh.

A message from Ms Keshturi: Thank you, AnimalCare, for the generous donation of 20 bags of 18kg VitalPlus kibbles. These will be mixed with freshly cooked food to feed the strays at the landfill. With full bellies, they will be able to stay warm through the cold nights. Lots of love from the forgotten souls of Papan Landfill.

We were very moved after reading this article published by FMT last month: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/05/22/the-dogs-of-papansouls-need-your-help-urgently

So I wrote to PapanSouls to ask if there was any way that we could help out a little bit through our Food Aid. I got in touch with the founder and president, Ms Keshturi Sivam, a schoolteacher, and she explained what they do.

We have long known that the local council releases captured dogs at this Papan dumpsite without neutering them. The area is a landfill, full of rubbish and there isn’t even any water supply. Ask any animal-lover in Ipoh and they would know about this. There had been numerous protests and appeals for a more humane way of dealing with captured dogs, but for years, the appeals have not been heard by those in power. It is extremely sad, but as we all know, councils operate by the by-laws and as long as these laws are not changed, there is nothing anyone can do about it. Even sadder, other people also began dumping their unwanted dogs at this site.

According to Ms Keshturi, before 2022, a few independent rescuers and an NGO used to visit Papan to feed the strays. At that time, there were only around 50–70 dogs. PapanSouls, the NGO founded by Ms Keshturi, began their efforts in 2020, after seeing a video of a feeder appealing for more people to come help feed the hungry dogs at the landfill.

Since then, PapanSouls has been tirelessly feeding, neutering and taking care of these dogs as best as they can.

Their current operation involves feeding all the dogs daily, regardless of the weather. They work with caterers who prepare the food and their volunteers collect the meals from the caterers. Kibble is also picked up from the pet store to ensure consistent daily feeding. They currently have three feeding teams, taking turns to feed on different days of the week. On average, they use about four bags of kibble per day, besides the catered cooked meals which consists of cooked rice, meat dust, chicken parts and liver.

There are approximately 350 dogs at the landfill area and another 200 at their safe house. Dogs that are disabled, pregnant, nursing, puppies and seniors are moved to the safe house when space allows. All dogs under their care receive freshly cooked meals daily, mixed with kibble.

Kiko Food Bank, another NGO in Perak, supports PapanSouls by providing clean water for the landfill dogs. They help fill the water bowls and deliver bottled water in their truck, twice a week.

Ms Keshturi explains further:

As the site is a landfill, new dogs are released there weekly. Currently, not all of them are neutered yet, although many females have already been spayed (mostly done by us; in 2022 and 2023 assisted by another NGO, Noah’s Ark) and some came already neutered (with the ear snipped). It takes time to catch the newly arrived or timid dogs due to the terrain and the fact that many of them no longer trust humans. Yes, ear-notching is done.

As for our neutering efforts:

In 2024, we neutered 133 dogs.
In 2023, we neutered 117 dogs.
(Unfortunately, we don’t have records for the years prior.)

Yes, sick and injured dogs are either treated on-site (if the condition is not severe) or taken to the clinic for proper care.

Most of the help we receive from organizations tends to be one-time contributions and most of the donations we receive from individuals are in response to specific fundraising posts on social media.

Ms Keshturi’s PapanSouls team and their volunteers are doing an amazing job helping and caring for these unfortunate dogs who would otherwise have no food, no shelter and not even clean water to drink, let alone any medical treatment for those who are sick.

We salute PapanSouls and their volunteers for their compassion and great efforts.

For those who live Ipoh and wish to volunteer, this is their form.

This is an account written by one of their volunteers: https://www.facebook.com/100071259422597/posts/714218490963459/?rdid=jlOfsIu3KQRhgOpc#

Yet, words alone cannot fully describe the magnitude of tenacity and mental strength needed to carry on doing their work, helping these dogs and puppies, day after day, without ever giving up. The work is endless and almost insurmountable; it really is, and yet, these dedicated volunteers never give up.

The 20 bags of 18kg kibble that we have given, will probably only last for 5 days of feeding, according to Ms Keshturi. It is just a tiny bit of help, compared with how much they have to do every single day, as weeks, months and years pass, and more and more dogs and puppies are being abandoned at this site.

Below are some photos shared by Ms Keshturi, taken last month. She will also be sending us photos of this week’s feeding (please scroll all the way down for the link), if the weather is good.