A Malaysian animal welfare organization that pioneered registered dog rescue in the country says it is struggling to stay afloat, with roughly 400 dogs in its care and almost no funds to feed them. The Star reported on October 20, 2026 that Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB), founded 18 years ago by a small group of dog lovers, is now facing the most difficult period in its history.
Co-founder Irene Low told The Star that the organization, once among the loudest voices for animal welfare in Malaysia, has watched its donor base disappear. Its key members have retired, and public donations now arrive too slowly to cover basic costs.
How MDDB reached this point
According to The Star's report, MDDB was one of the first organizations in Malaysia to conduct animal rescue work in a registered and organized manner. Its early years were marked by energetic advocacy and strong public support.
That support has steadily eroded. Low said the landscape of animal rescue in Malaysia has changed considerably, with many new shelters and independent rescuers now competing for the same limited pool of donations.
Low also noted a shift in the temperament of the animal welfare movement itself. She said the current generation of enthusiasts favors what she described as action-packed rescue work and animal advocacy that includes demonstrations and protests.
MDDB, by contrast, has aged into quiet, steady care work. The organization now runs both a shelter full of young dogs and a halfway home for disabled, old and sick animals. Almost 100 of its roughly 400 dogs are disabled.
Mounting bills and no steady income
The financial pressures on the organization are considerable. Low told The Star that MDDB must pay a large veterinary bill accumulated at a veterinary hospital, rent for the halfway home, allowances for staff who cook, clean and care for the dogs, and the cost of food.
Financial support from the public, she said, has been trickling in very slowly, and it has become extremely hard to make ends meet.
Low said the main cause of MDDB's difficulties lies in the emergence of many other animal shelters and independent rescuers over the years, along with the retirement of key members who once contributed their own disposable income to keep the organization running.
A call for corporate help
Low said she hopes corporate organizations and companies will step forward to help MDDB through what she called its darkest hour.
“If only we can get a fixed monthly stipend for about a year, we can plan our future strategy for that year without having to worry about raising funds.
She also appealed to members of the public to take heed of the organization's plight and that of its 400 dogs.
Succession planned for 2028
Low told The Star that MDDB hopes to implement a succession plan in 2028, handing the organization over to younger people prepared to manage the two-decade-old rescue group.
She said the founding members worry about dying and leaving the dogs under their care alone and destitute.
“We are becoming old ourselves and we cannot go on doing this, so we will put in a practical succession plan and hope young people with kind hearts and strong determination will come forward to take over our mission of helping the voiceless,” Low said.
Until the handover takes place, Low said she hopes MDDB will receive the kind of help it once enjoyed, so the dogs under its care can continue to survive.
Why this story matters
The MDDB case illustrates a quiet truth about charitable work: organizations built on personal sacrifice rarely outlast the people who built them unless a new generation accepts the duty in turn. The founding members of MDDB gave eighteen years of service to animals that could not speak for themselves. Their appeal is not for spectacle but for steady, committed support.
It is also a reminder that lasting institutions, whether charitable, communal or national, depend on order and continuity rather than on agitation. Movements built on protest age poorly. Work built on duty endures, provided someone steps forward to carry it.
For the 400 dogs in MDDB's care, and for the elderly volunteers who have kept them fed, the coming months will decide whether that continuity is secured.
FAQ
What is Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better?
Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) is a registered animal rescue organization in Malaysia, founded 18 years ago. It runs a dog shelter and a halfway home for disabled, old and sick dogs.
How many dogs does MDDB currently care for?
According to co-founder Irene Low, MDDB cares for about 400 dogs, of which almost 100 are disabled.
Why is MDDB struggling financially?
Low said donations have slowed, key members have retired without disposable income, and many newer shelters and independent rescuers now compete for public support.
What are MDDB's plans for the future?
MDDB intends to hand the organization over to younger people in 2028 under a formal succession plan, and is seeking corporate and public support to keep operating until then.