In today’s society, the number of stray animals continues to rise, yet places that are able to shelter and care for them long-term and in a structured way remain few and far between. Today, our Soar team had the privilege of visiting HOPE Animal Shelter in Johor, Malaysia. This emotional and eye-opening visit was made even more meaningful as we brought along 10 boxes of cat litter as a small gesture of support. Through this experience, we gained a deeper understanding of what true compassion and protection really mean, as well as the quiet perseverance that keeps it going behind the scenes.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a warm and determined woman named Miss Eelynn, who is the person in charge of HOPE’s shelter in Pekan Nanas. She told us that the shelter currently houses at least 2,000 dogs and more than 100 cats. What surprised us even more was learning that the shelter once took care of up to 3,000 dogs. However, over time, many of the older dogs passed away due to aging, which slightly reduced the overall number. These animals come from many different backgrounds. Some were strays, others were abandoned, injured, or even abused. But once they arrive at HOPE, they are no longer cast aside. Instead, they finally have a place they can truly call home. Miss Eelynn shared with us that most people do not see the true situation behind the scenes. She said, “We work every single day to make sure these animals can live with dignity.”
When asked how she began this path, Miss Eelynn shared that back in 2014, she started by simply feeding a few stray dogs on the street. At that time, she was not even from Johor and had never heard of the HOPE organization. One day, she came across a few severely injured dogs that desperately needed help. Realizing she could not manage on her own, she reached out to HOPE for assistance. Gradually, she moved from being just a bystander to becoming a full-time caretaker, eventually taking on the responsibility of managing the entire shelter. Today, her work involves distributing hundreds of kilograms of food, taking sick animals to the vet, cleaning wounds, maintaining hygiene, and responding to emergencies. She told us, “This is a 24-hour job. There is no such thing as clocking out.” Before joining HOPE, Eelynn worked a standard office job with regular hours and routines. That lifestyle is now a thing of the past. “I used to finish work at 6 PM. Now, the earliest I finish is 11 PM,” she said. Sleep deprivation has become a daily reality, and physical exhaustion is constant, yet she never complains. With unwavering conviction, she said, “I am not caring for products. I am caring for lives. And because they are lives, this work is worth doing, no matter how hard it is.” That one simple sentence deeply moved every member of our Soar team. It made us reflect on our own work. What we provide may be a product, but if it can truly support these animals in need, then it becomes more than just a product. It becomes part of their journey, a continuation of their lives.
When we learned just how much food and litter HOPE goes through every month, we knew we wanted to help — even in a small way. So we donated 10 boxes of high-quality cat litter to support the cats' daily care. It may not be much compared to the shelter’s full needs, but we hope it eases their burden just a little. We believe that even small contributions, made with heart, can spark a ripple effect of kindness.
