Driving change
Treating individual animals is vital work - but it's not enough on its own. For real, lasting change, we need to change the systems, policies, and attitudes that allow animals to suffer in the first place.
That means working with governments, partnering with other organisations, and campaigning for the approaches that evidence shows actually work. It’s all about fostering relationships built on trust, and being in it for the long haul.
Ending the culls in Penang Island
When we began working with the authorities on Penang Island in 2017, thousands of stray dogs were being killed each year.
We knew the evidence was clear: culling doesn't work. It doesn't reduce stray populations, and it causes enormous suffering.
By working in partnership with Penang Island City Council we were able to sign a formal agreement that ended the culls entirely. Dogs began to be neutered, vaccinated, and cared for instead. The programme has since been extended, with thousands of animals helped and a measurable reduction in stray numbers on the island.
Since the programme began…
Over 8,100 dogs have been neutered and vaccinated
Over 1,100 dogs have been rehomed via our adoption programme
Zero stray dogs have been culled to reduce numbers
A significant reduction has been measured in the stray population
This is what we mean by driving change. Not just helping one dog at a time, but changing what happens to every dog in that community, both now and in the future.
We're committed to the same approach wherever we work: building genuine partnerships, supporting local organisations to lead their own change, and sharing what we learn so the whole sector can move forward together.
The impact on individuals
It can be hard to wrap your head around a statistic like “8,100 dogs neutered and vaccinated” - but every single one is an individual with their own personality, history and future.
Like Stella, who was one of the very first puppies we ever rehomed in Penang Island. She was rescued from the streets, absolutely tiny and incredibly sick. Our team fought hard to save her life and, against all odds, she made it. It wasn't long until a wonderful couple opened their hearts to this very deserving girl. She’s been living happily in a loving home ever since, and her family sent us these beautiful photos on her seventh and eighth birthdays!
If Stella had been born just a few months earlier, she would have likely been killed under the old regime. That’s the power of changing the system - addressing the root cause of an issue can impact so many individual lives, now and far into the future.
