Write an article about Don’t villainise stray feeders for their kindness .Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), Retain any existing tags from The majority of those who feed strays don’t do it for praise or popularity – they do it simply because they care.
We often hear complaints about stray animals – dogs barking at night, cats lingering around food courts, animals defecating near homes. And almost just as often, the anger turns to those who feed them. The feeders. The rescuers. The caretakers.
They are labelled as irresponsible or troublemakers, or accused of making the stray problem worse. But what if we paused for a moment to look beyond the surface and ask, “Why do they do this?”
Most of these individuals are not rich. Many are retirees, working-class citizens, or people with quiet lives who spend what little they have – not just money, but energy and time – on animals that most others would ignore or complain about.
They don’t have grants or teams behind them. They don’t do this for praise or popularity; they do it because they care. Because where others see inconvenience, they see suffering. Where others walk away, they stay.
Do they always do things the “right” way? No. Feeding without sterilising or managing the animals can unintentionally cause community friction.
But should we punish kindness just because it lacks resources or structure? Or should we, as a society, step up and support those who are trying – often alone – to be part of the solution?
Feeders help the community by stabilising stray populations and keeping animals from scavenging and being a nuisance. (Nick Choo pics)
What many don’t realise is that these everyday animal caretakers are actually helping the community. They’re trying to stabilise stray populations, keep animals from scavenging and being a nuisance, and even act as an early warning system for animal-borne diseases.
But instead of being recognised, they are often harassed, threatened, or blamed for the very issues they are trying to solve.
In Malaysia, we talk a lot about environmental protection and sustainability. But caring for animals – especially stray and abandoned ones – remains a neglected part of the conversation. We barely speak of animal welfare as part of civic responsibility.
In the absence of policy enforcement, education, and sufficient government resources, these “small” people – the feeders, the grassroots NGOs, the kind souls with a packet of kibble in their bags, are filling that gap. They are doing what they can, even if imperfectly – and they need support, not scorn.
So before we complain or call enforcement, let’s take a moment to ask: are we doing anything to help? And if we aren’t, could we at least not stand in the way of those who are?
Let’s choose to see them not as a nuisance, but as fellow citizens trying to make the world a little kinder – for the voiceless, and ultimately for us all.
This article was written by Asther Lau, president of the Animal Kindness Coalition.
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