Borneo Shelter Appeal

This shelter is in crisis - Borneo’s animals need you now.

Thanks to an incredible donation by a generous supporter, any gift you give will be DOUBLED through our new matched giving campaign, at no extra cost to you.

Click here to donate now.

Every day, almost 1,000 dogs and cats at this shelter in Sandakan are struggling. They have reached breaking point, with overcrowded cages, limited resources, and unsafe conditions. 

We have successfully completed Phase One of the shelter transformation, but there’s still so much to be done. 

The shelter is still heavily reliant on wire cages, lacks proper quarantine and disease control, and doesn’t yet have the infrastructure needed to consistently deliver good welfare standards. Without further help it will remain in a reactive, crisis-driven state.

Phase Two is the turning point. This stage moves the project beyond emergency stabilisation and into structured, welfare-led operations that address the root causes of suffering: overcrowding, disease, and limited care capacity.

Right now, every single donation to Phase 2 will be doubled by a generous supporter, up to the value of £15,000.

Once that full amount is matched, we’ll have £30,000 to transform the shelter. This is a rare opportunity where your support goes twice as far in improving welfare, reducing suffering, and helping more animals into safe, healthy lives.

They called for help - please don’t look away

This is a small shelter doing its best with almost nothing. The team is desperate, struggling to cope with the growing number of animals in their care who are dropped off weekly by the local authorities.

Dogs and cats are crammed into tiny cages out of necessity, and the current situation is heart-breaking for everyone involved. They are working incredibly hard for the animals and doing everything they can, but they just don’t have the resources to meet the demand.

In the video below you can see the scale of the problem. This footage was taken before we started Phase 1. Please be aware that you may find this difficult to watch.

We’re currently in Phase 2 of our three-part rescue and recovery plan for the shelter. Here is our roadmap.

✔ Phase 1 - complete

Thanks to your incredible support we completed Phase One in April 2026. We delivered urgent improvements to the shelter – clearing years of waste, improving hygiene and waste management, upgrading feeding systems, and neutering 800 dogs to help break the cycle of suffering.

➤ Phase Two - we are here

This phase focuses on creating the systems and spaces needed for safe, humane, and sustainable care:

• Improved housing and disease control
  Dedicated intake and quarantine areas will be created for puppies and new arrivals, alongside repairs to existing kennels. This will reduce disease transmission, improve recovery outcomes, and enable a transition away from cage-based housing.

• A shift in welfare approach
  A change in mindset is just as important as the infrastructure. Phase Two introduces new operating procedures that move staff from containment-based care toward genuine welfare-focused management, supported by training and practical systems.

• A new cattery and improved cat welfare
  Around 35 cats currently living in cages will be moved into a purpose-built cattery with an enclosed outdoor space (catio). This will significantly improve welfare and increase adoption rates.

• Puppy rehoming and Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) programme
  A dedicated socialisation and rehoming pathway will be developed for puppies, supported by quarantine and improved health care. This targets one of the most effective levers in population management – finding homes early, before animals become long-term shelter residents.

• Stronger veterinary care and prevention
  With up to 85 dogs arriving every month from the municipal council, Phase Two will strengthen vaccination, parasite control, and neutering capacity to reduce disease and prevent further suffering.

• Reliable nutrition and daily care
  Ongoing provision of commercial food will be supported, ensuring consistent nutrition that cannot rely on donations alone.

Phase 3: 2027

The next step in the shelter transformation is due to begin in 2027. New high quality dog enclosures will be built at the shelter, and additional training will be delivered to staff for the new dog protocols.

Beyond!

When the animals at the shelter are happy, healthy and set-up for the future, we will begin work on creating our brand new IAPWA Borneo Animal Welfare Centre. From here we will run a comprehensive Dog and Cat Population Management Project containing a range of programmes, some of which will be the first of their kind.

Every animal deserves protection.

The cats and dogs in Borneo didn’t choose this life – but you can help change it. Please donate today, because doing nothing means nothing changes.

Thank you so much.