PETALING JAYA: The #AdoptDontShop campaign was started to shed awareness on the plight of homeless animals and encourage potential pet owners to choose their next four-legged family member from shelters or rescue groups.
My Forever Doggo, a proponent of the campaign, is an online platform that began in 2018 with the goal of increasing adoption rates across the Klang Valley.
Dubbed the “Tinder for dogs”, they work by visiting animal shelters and taking photos of its occupants, which are then shared with information about each pooch in the hope of matching them with loving families.
Observing that pet purchases tend to increase during the holiday season, My Forever Doggo has reached out to 11 local celebrities, of different backgrounds and industries, to join their effort.
They all have the same goal in mind: to raise awareness about adoption.
Among them is comedian, emcee and actor Douglas Lim, who strongly believes in adopting as it saves lives of shelter dogs who might not otherwise find a forever home.
He and his wife have six rescue dogs that they love very much.
Television actor and comedian Harvinth Skin is another figure aboard the initiative. He is determined to boost the profile of Boba, a two-year-old hound whose happily-ever-after didn’t last long.
Boba was adopted a year ago but was unfortunately returned and put back up for adoption.
In a video shared by My Forever Doggo, Harvinth is seen brushing Boba’s teeth and giving him a shower. The two even have a meal together.
He has a pithy message to aspiring pet lovers out there: “Just adopt a dog lah.”
Stray dogs are voiceless and defenceless creatures that are targeted every day. To shed awareness on their plight, actress Umie Aida has hopped on the bandwagon to spread the message that all beings should be able to live in harmony.
“We should appreciate all of God’s creations on earth,” she says, adding that dogs should not be harmed even if one does not like them.
Senior dogs, especially those that are disabled, have the slimmest chance of getting adopted. To increase their visibility, My Forever Doggo’s “Adopt a Star” sub-initiative involves celebrities posing with senior dogs to show they also deserve to have hearts and homes opened to them.
Actress and TV presenter Jasmine Suraya recently visited a shelter and picked out Ginger, a senior dog she connected with.
She believes all dogs should be loved equally and that through this initiative, Ginger will be able to find her fur-ever home.
Other celebrities involved are mixed martial arts fighter and actor Theeban; emcee and model Sarah Lian; designer Josephine Yap; singer and host Neeta Manis; actress Tong Bing Yu; emcee, pet groomer and DJ duo Leng Sean and Leng Yein; and model-actress Alicia Amin.
If you’re looking for a furry friend, visit My Forever Doggo’s Instagram profile or website and send them the name or screenshot of the dog you would like to adopt.