HELP THIS NUN, PLEASE!
Dear students and friends,
The Star recently published an article about a wonderful nun in Sungai Siput, Perak, who uses her temple grounds as a mini animal shelter for 35 rescued dogs.
Chow Khoon Siew or Venerable Chow, is a nun and animal lover. She has been rescuing dogs for the past 15 years, and has never faced any problems until recently when people started buying up the land around her and moving in. Her neighbors began complaining about the noise, forcing the local council to ask her to relocate them.
She started seeking for a place when a kind businessman stepped forward allowing her to use a part of his estate as a temporary shelter. How wonderful! Glad to know that there are still kind people out there that aids those in need.
Besides seeking for land to house her rescued animals, Venerable Chow also actively participates in adoption drives. The most recent one was held by ISPCA in Ipoh, where she managed to re-home 9 of her rescued dogs. This may seem like a great success, but at the same drive she also took back 4 injured puppies that were abandoned by an unknown person! This compassionate nun is currently nursing them back to health.
The Blog Team gave her a call today to find out more about her current set-up and immediate needs. Do take a look at them below!
She is still searching for a permanent animal shelter for her dogs. I hope that she will receive all the help that she can get, please help spread the news. Please help her even after she finds a new shelter.
Tsem Rinpoche
Information about the temporary shelter
The land offered to her by the kind businessman is located 15 – 20 minutes drive from her temple in Sg Siput. She needs to build fences and a proper shelter as it is an empty piece of land.
Donations-in-kind that will help her very much are:
- Dog food (The dogs consume as much as 66 kg dried dog food per week)
- Rice
- Dog shampoo
- Towels
- Donation in cash would also be greatly appreciated as there are many things that Chow Khoon Siew would need to construct on this empty land.
- Bring in water and electricity. As of now there is no water or electricity, so Chow Khoon Siew has to hand carry water into the land!
- Build fencing around the land
- Build shelters around the land
- Contacts for reliable and honest contractors to help her build the shelter
- Volunteers
Nun in Sg Siput applies for land to relocate stray dogs
by Chan Li Leen
Some of the dogs that Chow rescued showing their affection for her at the shelter
A BUDDHIST nun who was told to get rid of the 35 stray dogs in her temple in Sungai Siput has applied for land from the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council to relocate the animals.
Chow Khoon Siew, 61, said she had submitted the application via the Sungai Siput district council last week after receiving a notice from the council to move the dogs away from her temple and shelter in Heawood Garden.
“I hope the municipal council will allow me to use a piece of land next to the double-tracking railway project.
“I have no choice. I am willing to relocate the dogs if that is the only way to ensure they get to live,” she said last Friday.
It was reported last Tuesday that the municipal council had threatened to seize and put down the dogs following complaints by neighbours irked by their barking.
According to Chow, she had not faced any problems until five years ago when people bought up the surrounding plots of land near the temple and built their houses there.
“Prior to applying for the piece of land to relocate my dogs, I had also written to the municipal council to seek a month’s grace period.
“I need more time to find them an alternative home,” she added.
[Extracted from: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/08/27/Nun-in-Sg-Siput-applies-for-land-to-relocate-stray-dogs.aspx]
Buddhist nun receives notice from council to relocate stray dogs from temple
By Chan Li Leen
Best friends: Some of the dogs Chow rescued showing their affection for her at the shelter
BUDDHIST nun Chow Khoon Siew is racing against time to save the 35 stray dogs under her care.
The 61-year-old nun, who in July received a notice from the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council to remove the strays from her temple-cum-shelter in Sungai Siput, said enforcement officers had visited the temple again last week following another complain by her neighbours.
“I have been given until Oct 6 to relocate the dogs or risk having them seized by the council.
“This is already the third extension given to me and I think this will be the last.
“I understand that they have to carry out their duties and so, I am trying my best to find the dogs a new home,” Chow told The Star on Thursday.
It was reported on Aug 19 that the council had threatened to seize and put down the dogs following complaints by neighbours irked by their barking.
According to Chow, she had not faced any problems until five years ago when people bought up the surrounding plots of land near the temple in Taman Heawood and built their houses there.
Chow said she had been eyeing a piece of land next to the double-tracking railway project to place the dogs.
“Although the land belongs to KTM Bhd, it was occupied by a squatter family until recently.
“I was trying to negotiate the price for the piece of land with the family but things did not work out.
“Right now, my only option is to find a place to rent until I can find a permanent home for the dogs,” she said.
Those who wish to help Chow can call her at 012-454 6210.
[Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/09/14/Relocation-headache-for-Buddhist-nun.aspx]
Buddhist nun thankful for temporary shelter for stray dogs
By Elween Loke
Animal lover: Chow will continue to look for a suitable place to set up a permanent home for the dogs
BUDDHIST nun Chow Khoon Siew can now heave a sigh of relief after a Good Samaritan offered her a secluded site to house her dogs temporarily.
The nun, who runs a temple-cum-shelter in Sungai Siput, said a businessman had allowed the 35 dogs to stay in his oil palm estate, about 2km away from town.
Chow, 61, said the man had cleared a portion of his estate in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh so that she could build a temporary shelter for the stray dogs under her care.
“I am really grateful to him for coming to my aid,” she told The Star on Sunday.
It was reported that she had been given until Oct 6 to relocate the strays following another complaint filed by her neighbours.
The neighbours, who started to move into the new housing area some five years ago, were irked by the dogs’ barking.
The nun was also reported as saying that she had received notices from the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council, which had threatened to seize and put down the dogs three months ago.
Chow said she had submitted a letter and pictures of the temporary shelter to the council on Sept 30, hoping that they would extend the grace period.
“After learning what I have done in the last one month, the council was kind enough to give me another month to prepare for the relocation,” she said.
Once the contractor installed fences around the cleared land, she said she would relocate the dogs immediately.
“In the meantime, I will continue to look for a suitable place to set up a permanent home for the dogs, even though the Good Samaritan did not set a time frame on how long he would allow them to stay in his estate,” she said.
Those who wish to help Chow can call her at 012-454 6210.
[Extracted from: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/10/10/Buddhist-nun-thankful-for-temporary-shelter-for-stray-dogs.aspx?]
ISPCA pet adoption carnival in De Garden, Ipoh a success
By Cheryl Hew
An interested adopter looking at the puppies brought by Chow (left)
CHOW Khoon Siew smiled and patted a brown dog on the head as she handed him over to a waiting group of people.
“Take care and be happy with your new life,” she told Hong Zhou (red dates), a one-year-old stray mongrel that she had been housing at her temple-cum-shelter in Heawood Garden, Sungai Siput for three months.
The 61-year-old Buddhist nun, who had over 35 stray dogs at the temple, managed to give nine up for adoption during a three-day adoption programme and flea market at De Garden, Ipoh from Sept 14 to Sept 16.
She had to do so after receiving a notice from the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council to relocate her dogs before an Oct 6 deadline.
The adoption programme, which saw the participation of other animal lovers and non-governmental organisations, was organised by the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA).
Over 130 dogs and cats were given up for adoption during the event.
“There are about 30 more dogs at my temple, but I decided to bring only these nine as the others are either old, sick or disabled.
“I am happy the ones I brought were adopted so quickly, but now that the event is over, I will have to go back to the drawing board to think of a solution for the others,” said Chow, who had been taking in stray dogs for over 15 years.
Despite her problem, she was clearly happy as she watched happy couples and families adopt dogs and cats from other fosterers and NGOs during the event.
Those who wish to help Chow can contact her at 012-454 6210.
One fosterer was Low Guo Nan, 30, who was all smiles as he played with Simba, a three-year-old mongrel he fell in love with during the programme.
“I came to the adoption programme after learning about it from an acquaintance as I wanted a dog to keep my current pet company.
“I decided to pick Simba after listening to the volunteers telling how friendly and well behaved Simba is,” he said.
Low said he chose to adopt a dog instead of buying one because he believed stray dogs were in no way inferior to pedigrees.
“They can be as loving, faithful and even beautiful if given the right care and training,” he said.
ISPCA vice-president Ricky Soong said the society’s aim of holding the adoption programme and flea market was to find good homes for its strays and spread awareness regarding animal welfare.
“If the public finds it wrong for children to abandon parents who are sick and old, the same applies for animals.
“They should also spay or neuter their pets as to not contribute further to the problem of stray animals roaming our streets.
“To aid in this cause, the ISPCA has a trap, neuter and release (TNR) programme, while also providing an RM50 subsidy for every stray animal spayed or neutered by members of the public,” he said.
On the third and last day of the programme, an official handover ceremony was conducted to mark a Good Samaritan’s donation of a van to the society for its rescue needs.
The van and one year’s worth of driver’s wages, which amount to about RM30,000, was courtesy of manager Alicia Tan and her family.
Tan said the love and affection shown by her family dog Kiko was the inspiration behind their journey to help, contribute and assist in animal welfare efforts as much as possible.
Soong said the van and driver’s services would help greatly in the society’s TNR programme.
“Before the van was given to us in August, we had to rely on volunteers ferrying stray animals using their own vehicles and free time.
“With the convenience of the van and a full-time driver, we hope to step up our TNR programme and further tackle the stray animal problem in Ipoh,” he said.
[Extracted from: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/09/18/Homes-for-furry-ones-ISPCA-pet-adoption-carnival-in-De-Garden-Ipoh-a-success.aspx]
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Such great compassion and kindness. Ven. Chow portrays what actual Buddhist practitioners should behave.
I hope she gotten the necessary help she needed. The dogs are lucky to have met her.
Last Sunday, I visited Venerable Chow in Sungai Siput. Her dog shelter is now in an estate. The kind and generous estate owner has allowed her to build her dog shelter in his estate.
Venerable Chow has about 40 dogs under her care. Only the adult dogs are in the estate, as for puppy she will keep it at the pet shop till they are older. Venerable Chow is also getting dog food supply from this pet shop.
Venerable Chow do get sponsor of dog food on monthly basis but the supply is only enough for a few days. There are also generous doner that will from time to time donate dog food or money to her. But she does not have a consistent donation that come to her. I asked her how and what we can do for her or what she need most, she said will be dog food.
Venerable Chow is taking care of the dog shelter on her own. Everyday she will cleaned and feed the dog. It will take her about 3 hours daily. She also has other stray dogs which she feed. The reasons she can’t bring them back to the shelter are, she is not able to catch them and the shelter can’t take in more dogs.
Venerable Chow drive a very old 4 wheel drive. Sometimes it is quite dangerous too for her to go to the shelter, cos during rainy day, the slope in the estate will be very slippery.
The water Venerable Chow use to clean the shelter and the dogs are from the fish pond in the estate. There is no electricity at the shelter. Anyway Ven. Chow will only go to the shelter in the day time. Venerable Chow will bring food and clean water from her temple.
Even though Venerable Chow has about 34 dogs in the shelter, she can remember all their names and how much food needed for each dog. She said if she is free, she will have tea in the estate and stay longer time to accompany the dogs. Venerable Chow is very compassion. She said the reasons she have the shelter are, she don’t want to see the stray dog suffer hunger, being beaten or tortured by people.
I have shared some photo of the shelter in Kechara Ipoh Study Group in Facebook. Please click on the link to view the photo.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.762275383791193.1073741836.190681050950632&type=3&uploaded=10
Hope more people can help her.
Reverend Chow is a rare person for loving her dogs so much. Out of equal love, she decides to give up the younger and healthier dogs for adoption , knowing they would find a ready home with most dog lovers. She retains the older, more sickly ones who need care, which she is ready to give in abundance.
Everyone should love animals and not take the defensive and selfish attitude of reporting neighbours for keeping dogs that are noisy. This shows lack of appreciation for Reverend Chow’s genuine love of these furry beings from the heart.
Fortunately, there was a kind offer of an alternate place to shelter the dogs in Reverend Chow’s care. Nonetheless, she still needs help for fencing up the new land and building shelters for her dogs there.
May there be offers of help and donations to support Reverend Chow.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article with us. Ven. Chow is a compassionate nun.I believe, many dogs might already been killed if without her Kindness and dedication in saving those unfortunate animals. I hope she can able to find a permanent place for those unfortunate dogs.
In order to cultivate compassion to animals, and have the wish to be a caregiver to stray animals and the aspiration to help foster and rehome rescued animals, HELP THIS NUN, PLEASE!!! The strayed animals need humans help – they desperately needed our help. Plesae give all the help you can to this compassionate nun. They need our help. Let us all work together to create a more harmonious and peaceful community for humans and animals, as said in those golden words of John Galsworthy,(Noble Prize Winner) in his prayer of Gentleness to all creatures, “To all the humble beasts there be, To all the birds on land and sea, Great spirit, sweet protection give, That free and happy they may live! And to our hearts the rapture bring of love for every living thing, Make us all one kin, and bless our ways with nature’s gentleness.”
I wish that Venerable Chow can get more sponsors and resources to help her make the Dog shelter to be more complete hence more peoples may come to adopt the dogs and treat them with full of love and compassion as soon possible.
Venerable Chow is truly a Hero in Malaysia, salute to her…
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche. She’s such a kind and caring human being, it’s sad that she was forced to leave her home, but it showed that nothing can stop her from continuing saving the poor dogs. I will discuss with the rest of the ABC members and see how can help her, she needs and deserves our help, she’s truly a S-hero.
I love it when i read things like this, it puts a smile on my face. Its always nice to help animals. But its sad that not so many people do it. Thats why when you get wonderful people like this nun, you must give her all the support she can get to achieve her goals on saving animals. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this information and i hope that she gets all the help she needs.
Thank you for shairng this. This nun needs all the help she can get. Her cause is extremely noble and more people should be doing this thing. She shows pure compassion as she cares for these animals without any hidden agenda. Very kind.
To help take care of stray dogs is not easy . Need put more effort and love to ensure all this stray dogs are healthy and enough for foods. To those who want to adopt a dog , can pay a visit or giving her support by sponsor doggies necessary like dog shampoo or dog foods. Thank you for Rinpoche sharing .
Ven. Chow shows us by example to care for other beings; and in this case, our furry friends receive her care and love. Thank you Ven. Chow for your love.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you very much for sharing this article with us. I hope it bring people to be more aware that animals have the same equal rights like human and not be treated as animals and deprived them of their rights.
Having been in the US for the last couple of months and seeing how society here is generally accepting of dogs as part of their daily life, it saddens me to see how people continue to mistreat animals because it impedes on their comfort. Such selfishness really is incredibly shortsighted – instead of helping the venerable nun to rehome the dogs, they choose to complain and put the dogs at risk of being killed so that THEIR immediate problems are resolved.
How about educating people instead, to reduce the population of abandoned dogs so that the problem is resolved once and for all?
It therefore comes as no surprise that my favourite line in the newspaper article was this: “Tan said the love and affection shown by her family dog Kiko was the inspiration behind their journey to help, contribute and assist in animal welfare efforts as much as possible.” – it’s wonderful to know that instead of just relaxing over the fact they receive love and affection from their dog, this family have decided to extend the opportunity Kiko has for a nice life to other abused animals. If everyone had the same mindset as this family and the venerable nun, the world would be a much nicer place.
She is doing a great job and people around her should respect and help her rather than creating problems. I wish to be there to support her however as I am in a different country I would like to help her in some cash donation. Please mail me complete details for money transfer.
Rinpoche thank you very much for sharing this information.
From the pictures really can felt that the dogs like Venerable Chow’s children, she look at them so gentle and care. We really hope that more people will give in hand to help Venerable Chow to find the new locations and the constructions of new shelter.
She is very cute. I hope that she can get more help and the doggies can find homes
Venerable Chow rescued and took care of the injured and helpless dogs in her temple compound is truly an act of loving kindness and compassion and it is so inspiring. I hope she will be able to find a permanent shelter soon to house her 35 dogs. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this heartwarming article.