On April 12, a minivan filled with cats and dogs from the Star Animal Shelter in Melaka was hit by a lorry along the North-South Expressway while travelling towards a pet expo at Mid Valley Megamall here.
Inside the van were shelter founder Norashikin Ahmad, her husband, her sister, and a volunteer, who all suffered injuries and trauma.
Of the 20 cats and five dogs being ferried, three cats died, while several animals were reported missing in the aftermath.
Norashikin told FMT Lifestyle that they had been heading to the last day of an adoption drive at the Oh My Pet Expo at Mid Valley Megamall when they heard a strange noise from the engine.
They pulled over into the emergency lane. Moments later, a lorry hit the van from behind, causing it to roll several metres before landing sideways in a ditch.
Norashikin is still sore and shaken. Her sister and the volunteer have since been discharged from hospital.
Her husband is helping her handle matters related to the accident, including filing police reports and making insurance claims.
As for the animals: as of press time, 14 cats and four dogs are being monitored at the vet for trauma. Three cats are still unaccounted for, and efforts are ongoing to find them.
Even as Norashikin and the others recover from this tragedy, the shelter needs the public’s help to get back on its feet.
Shelter committee member Revathi M Kavi Rajan told FMT Lifestyle that their van had played a vital role in the shelter’s operations, from rescues and emergency transport to adoption drives.
“However, the damage is beyond repair. As a result, we are now unable to participate in upcoming adoption drives or continue our rescue and rehoming efforts, which will significantly impact our funding.”
They hope to raise RM87,000 in total: RM80,000 for a new van, RM5,000 for vet services, and RM2,000 to replace equipment and supplies.
‘Never lost spirit’
Amidst the distress, there have been small moments of relief. Norashikin spoke of finding 9.9, a cherished dog that had momentarily gone missing after the crash.
Named after the date on which she had rescued her – Sept 9, three years ago – 9.9 is a permanent resident and guard dog at Star Animal Shelter.
“She has three legs after she lost one in a cruel act, but despite everything she went through, she never lost her spirit. I’m overjoyed that she is all right,” Norashikin said.
A photo of Norashikin hugging 9.9 spread quickly on social media alongside news of the incident, drawing an outpouring of sympathy from netizens and animal rescuers.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation. Incidents like this are unexpected, but we still have to move forward as we have many more animals under our care,” said Navwinderan Mahenderan, president of Pawtarian.
Fellow animal activist Nicole Ann-Thomas called the accident “the ultimate nightmare for a rescuer”.
“As someone who has stopped along highways to help injured dogs and cats, I always pray a reckless driver will not appear,” she shared.
“I hope her team heals soon, physically and mentally, and that the missing cats are found.”
Representatives from Oh My Pet Expo also visited Norashikin at her shelter after the incident and were relieved that there had been no significant human injuries.
Organiser Jaice Tan encourages the public to help Star Animal Shelter as much as possible, while urging supporters to use official channels to avoid scams.
“We are very sympathetic over what has happened, and hope to do all we can to help Shikin and her shelter,” Tan told FMT Lifestyle.
For Norashikin, the emotional weight of the incident lingers. While she sees it as a test of faith, she admits the loss of the three cats has been especially painful.
Still, she remains grateful for the support and well-wishes of the public. Her message, even in the midst of recovery, is one of kindness.
“Treat every living being with compassion, no matter who or what they are. When you do good sincerely, that goodness will find its way back to you,” she said.
“And even if you don’t like these animals, please, at the very least, don’t hurt them.”
If you are able to help, please send your donations to Maybank account 5540 4452 6496 (Shikin Team Animal).
For more information, follow Star Animal Shelter Melaka on Instagram.