Soon, they spot a pack of dogs, tails wagging. The man pulls his car to a stop, and as per routine, he, his 26-year-old girlfriend, and her mother step out to feed them.
This is Chin Tin Wei, 29, who has been feeding stray dogs around Kajang for the last four years.
“I feel so happy when I see them eat. It just warms my heart,” Chin, who has his own cage-building business, shared with FMT Lifestyle. “And they are so cute! I love playing with them.”
On feeding days – two to three nights a week – Chin and his girlfriend stop by a local supermarket after work to buy chicken, rice, carrots, and kibble. They spend nearly two hours cooking before packing 25 individual meal boxes.
“My girlfriend’s mother also helps out in the kitchen. Her whole family loves animals and feeding strays,” said Chin.
In fact, it was his girlfriend who lit the fire in him to feed the stray dogs of Kajang.
“I’m not sure if it’s my destiny to help the strays but what I know is that after meeting my girlfriend, I started to do more and more of this!” he enthused.
Chin began rescuing strays and feeding them almost accidentally. When he dropped out of school after Form Four, he started working with his father making fish balls.
His days often started at four in the morning, and then, the busyness of the work consumed much of his time. One fateful day, however, Chin came across two puppies near his father’s shop.
“I decided to feed them because they looked so adorable, and helpless. I did that for some time. Then, I took them home and they became new additions to our family,” Chin recalled.
Chin’s generosity extends beyond preparing meals for stray dogs. In 2022, he stopped working with his father and joined his mother at her hardware store.
At the time, he was caring for three rescued dogs at home. When neighbours began to complain, he used materials from the shop to build them a cage.
“When I posted about it, several people started enquiring about the cage. That’s when I knew there was a market for it,” said Chin, who now sells these cages for RM1,100 each. Soon, he realised some of his customers were dog rescuers who ran shelters.
“I knew they needed more cages but weren’t able to afford them. I pitied the dogs at the shelter and my heart was moved to help these kind people. So, whenever there’s a need, I donate one or two cages to them,” Chin shared.
Whenever he comes across social media posts from rescuers or shelters in need of cages, he gets his workers at “The Cage Design” to build extra ones, personally designing them before donating them. “I don’t care about the cost. I don’t want those poor dogs to suffer,” he said.
And he doesn’t stop there. Together with his girlfriend, he goes a step further – buying kibble and other supplies to support rescuers and shelters struggling to cope. The costs add up, and the time … even more so. But when asked if he ever felt financially strained by his efforts, Chin gave a firm no.
“I have never felt that. These dogs are hungry and we are doing our part to feed them. Other rescuers also are in need. So, I will help out as much as I can,” Chin explained, adding he will continue doing this as long as he can.
As for others who wish to care for strays as he does, Chin had this to say: “You don’t even have to rescue them or bring them home. Start with some basics first. Feed them. That’s a good start. And always begin in your own neighbourhood.”