KUALA LUMPUR: No effort is too small when it comes to helping strays, as animal lovers Yasmine Baiduri, 28, and Hud Othman, 33, can attest to.
"I once saw a post on Facebook about an independently-run shelter with many cats that was asking for help from the public for money to buy food, cat litter and medication.
"That post touched me, and as a cat lover, I felt I needed to do something.
"I choose to donate to animal shelters because most stray animals, unlike humans, have no one.
"They rely on the kindness of people to give them leftovers. They have nowhere to go.
"I also donate to keep these shelters running, ensuring stray dogs and cats have someone taking care of them," said Yasmine, who also adopted a cat from an animal shelter in Kota Damansara.
Apart from donating money, she said she also volunteered at an independently-run cat shelter in Shah Alam, Selangor, where she helped clean up the place and played with the cats.
Her friend, Hud, said those who chose to adopt pets must ensure that they were cared for.
"It doesn't end at providing food and a safe environment for our pets.
"It is equally important to care for their health by taking them to the veterinary clinic for vaccinations and spaying or neutering to curb the overpopulation problem.
"We all have a role to play in providing a better life for stray animals and can help in our own way.
"Some people contribute by being volunteers at animal shelters, some donate food and money, while others adopt strays.
"These responsibilities, if shared among us, would make a world of difference to these animals.
"If we are not able to do any of these things, the least we can do is to leave them alone and not hurt them."
He said he had friends who always kept kibble in their car so that they could feed strays in streets.