Lessons in helping pets

ANIHELP is an anti-animal cruelty awareness campaign by HELP Matriculation Centre (HMC) public relations students.

Popular deejay Patricia K and former Miss World Malaysia winner Thanuja Ananthan attended AniHELP 2015 at Kompleks Pusat Damansara (KPD).

Thanuja who was appointed inaugural ambassador for AniHELP urged people to adopt.

“There are so many pets out there in need of help,” she said.

AniHELP advisor and senior lecturer Murali Rajaratenam said the movement began as a PR initiative to urge youths to stand up for animal rights and champion the voiceless.

“I am proud to say that AniHELP has been going for six years.

“It has served as a platform for youth to be educated on the importance of animal welfare and the need to be compassionate towards animals.”

Volunteer Farahia Jaszlin Jasni said AniHELP has changed her perspective.

“I had to take care of cats and many of them had been abused

“It gave me a sense of satisfaction to know that I had played a role in helping them recover from the ordeal,” said Farahia.

Sheralyn Tan was amazed at animals’ resilience after being abused,

“I have learned that animals depend greatly on people to speak up for them,” she shared.

The HMC students teamed up with Fur Kids Farm founder and lead rescuer Manju Appathurai for AniHELP.

Manju said it all started with the rescue of her first dog, Ruff, who was almost beaten to death.

“It was a life-changing experience for me and I have never looked back.

I’m mum to all my rescued animals and we have about 200 to 300 animals under our care,” said Manju.

University Foundation Studies Faculty dean Dhanesh Balakrishnan said it was important to create a sense of understanding and awareness in students on their role in society towards living things.

AniHELP 2015 also featured a fashion catwalk by dogs from Groomers Academy.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Metro/Community/2015/04/18/Lessons-in-helping-pets-Students-find-antianimal-cruelty-programme-a-lifechanging-experience/