TAKE ACTION. EXPOSE PERPETRATORS. report abuse.
Every contribution matters, every action counts. #ExecuteAWA deeply believes no effort is ever too small when it comes to advancing animal welfare in Malaysia. We encourage individuals to stay informed, engaged, and empowered in whatever way possible for the benefit of greater animal welfare in Malaysia. Let’s replace criticism with collaboration and foster a nationwide spirit of synergy, optimism, and collective purpose in support of our animals. We hope the contents below offer some degree of proactiveness and alertness on animal welfare matters.
HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN DO YOUR PART FOR OUR ANIMALS
ATTENTION :If you witness any acts of animal cruelty, TAKE IMMEDIATE AND CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION! Always ensure your camera is on standby to record the incident. No matter photos or videos (both medias preferred), it is highly necessary and important to gather clear evidence(s) of unlawful conduct. It is most effective and useful if offenders are precisely caught in the act – on camera, with a duration enough to prove the act of abuse, as this will allow for swift and unmistakable legal action against the perpetrators of animal abuse. We hope anyway.
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Firstly, please sign Kopi’s petition for justice. Thanks to Kopi, we are today - awake and louder, together:
In the pursuit of accountability and justice for Kopi’s brutal and senseless death, we urge all concerned individuals to take meaningful action by supporting a petition initiated by Cristabel Leo - one of the first independent citizens to courageously shed light on the cruel shooting of Kopi executed by reckless and law-breaking authorities of Besut, Terengganu in October 2024.
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Share, expose and report animal abuse incidences through any means below:
Immediately share on social media for higher chances of quick action and support from fellow citizens
- Make sure to offer as much precise and correct information as possible (i.e.: exact address, location, date, time, specific help required, desired outcome if already known, specific description(s) of the incident that can help the public better understand the nature of abuse and identification of perpetrator(s), etc).
Make a report online to The Department of Veterinary Services
- Caution: Please be ready for delayed / slow responses due to bureaucracy, technicalities and / or lack of manpower, care and concern (hence, the first recommendation to share on social media for greater reach and prompt support from the public who may be able to render help for being in the same location as the reported abuse).
Make a police report at your nearest police station
- To expedite action from animal welfare authorities, an abuse incident ‘needs’ to be officially reported by as many citizens as possible at the time of abuse.
- A police report can be done by anyone - even if the abuse happened at another location / state.
- A police report can be done by anyone - even if the abuse was discovered online on somebody’s personal social media account or social media community page.
- Most important is to ensure to offer as much precise and correct information as possible relating to the abuse (e.g.: exact address. location, date, time, specific description(s) of the incident that can help authorities better understand the nature of abuse and identification of perpetrator(s), state specific action required by authorities).
- Click here to download an example of a police report made on an animal abuse incident.
Contact any animal NGOs to seek advice, support and / or help
- Click here for the latest 2025 list of shelters, animal NGOs and independent rescuers in Malaysia.
- Alternatively, please feel free to contact our AWA Troopers listed below for support and guidance if needed.
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Seek legal assistance if necessary, preferably from lawyers specialising in Animal Law
- It is important to understand your rights and options before legal action is taken on a case.
- Gather as much relevant documents and supportive evidence(s) as you can to corroborate and solidify your case.
- Stay informed of new laws and regulations affecting animal rights and welfare in Malaysia.
- For your consideration, here is a list of animal law firms in Malaysia.
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Identify the specific roles of resources and organisations relevant to animal welfare
- Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia (DVS): Responsible for improving animal welfare by promoting responsible pet ownership, prevention of animal cruelty, investigating animal cruelty cases, enforcing animal welfare laws and regulations, and providing veterinary services to animals in need.
- Wildlife and National Parks Department (PERHILITAN): Responsible for the protection, management and preservation of wildlife and national parks in Peninsular Malaysia.
- Malaysian Bar Council: Provides information on legal practitioners specialising in Animal Law.
- Counsel of Claws (CoC): Malaysia’s largest coalition of legal practitioners to offer pro bono legal aid to any animal welfare party in need in defence of animals.
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Join relevant animal-loving community pages on social media, which will help to :
- Expand your network of ‘Decent Humans’ with the aim to strengthen solidarity and friendship within the animal welfare community
- Boost efforts, urgency and participation when support is required for any / future animal-related initiatives
- Stay informed and educated on animal-related matters
- Open opportunities to contribute to animal welfare (i.e.: sharing of info on social media to create awareness for donations, abuse cases, join rescue teams, attend peaceful gatherings, etc)
- Here are a few, randomly picked, animal-loving community pages on Facebook for your consideration:
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Take advance initiatives to save the contact numbers of relevant parties that may provide assistance in emergency situations:
- This ensures you are well supported on-site at short notice, if needed.
- It it also advisable to save contact numbers of local animal rescue teams, or any other supportive members in your circle of family and friends that you can trust to lend a helping hand when needed.
- Click here again for the latest 2025 list of shelters, animal NGOs and independent rescuers in Malaysia.
- Here are 24/7 vet clinics available in Malaysia:
- Additionally, here are another 13 veterinary clinics available in Klang Valley.
- For immediate assistance within Malaysia, dial emergency response number 999 to be connected with the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM), Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), and the Department of Civil Defence (DCD).
- You can also call 112 from any mobile phone - even if locked or with no credit, and it will be redirected to the 999 Response Centres.
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Volunteer yourself and be an inspiration to service above self
- Rescue, adopt, foster, donate, feed, transport - pick your pick! There’s always something for everyone to do in the animal welfare ecosystem!
- Put your free time to good use at shelters by offering to clean compounds, give strays a good bath, prepare food, feed strays, send animals for vet visits, and much more - all while getting to spend time with the animals.
- You can also help independent rescue teams conduct trap, neuter, vaccinate, release and manage (TNVRM) programmes that aim to neuter / spay street canines and felines - a method that positively contributes to stray population management as a whole.
- Alternatively, have fun playing the marketer’s (or rather matchmaker’s) role at adoption drives as you help to identify potential suitors that are worthy of adoption opportunities with rescued animals #findingfureverhomes
- For those interested in advocacy work, find out which animal NGO in Malaysia best aligns with your personal objectives.
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Exercise responsible pet ownership
- Identification: Ensure your pet wears a collar with proper identification tags that include their names and owner’s contact information.
- Spaying/neutering: Get your pet spayed or neutered to help control pet population.
- Training & Socialisation: Train your pet to obey basic commands and socialise them with other animals and people from a young age.
- Veterinary Care: Regularly visit a veterinarian for checkups, vaccinations, and necessary treatments.
- Clean Up After Your Pet: Always pick up after your pet in public areas.
- Always Leash Them: Never let your pet(s) roam free. Unleashed pets on the street can pose as a threat to pedestrians, bike riders and car drivers, as well as to the animal which may get hurt or lost.
- Exercise & Mental Stimulation: Provide adequate exercise and socialising opportunities based on your pet's needs, including outdoor walks at least three times a day, group playtime for greater bonding, and interactive activities.
- Local Regulations: Understand and follow local laws regarding pet ownership, including leash laws, registration requirements, and restrictions in your housing area.
- Choose The Right Pet: Select a pet that suits your lifestyle and living space, considering factors like breed size and energy levels. Most importantly, please #ADOPTDONTSHOP.
- Be Fair. Be Responsible: Owning a pet is a lifetime commitment. Be sure you are ready before embarking on a furever experience filled with unconditional love and absolute joy, before your furry companion ultimately turns into your most beloved family member!
- Here are some related articles that could be of interest:
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Take every opportunity to create awareness and action for greater animal welfare
- Promote awareness by proactively initiating conversations on cases of animal cruelty and abuse, thereby fostering greater public understanding of the severity, frequency, and lack of justice surrounding such incidents in Malaysia.
- Further amplify this message by responsibly sharing photos and videos of animal abuse cases to ensure that animal welfare concerns are neither trivialised nor overlooked.
- We strongly encourage you to make it a good habit to always direct all and everybody to this website www.executeawa.com. This will ensure, at the very least, action for better animal rights are represented when they register as an Unsung Hero in #executeAWA’s mission to protect animals in Malaysia. Let’s keep putting a number on every voice for the voiceless! This isn’t limited just to Malaysians, so spread the news across borders and encourage international participation for registration - because why shouldn’t we make animal welfare in Malaysia, everybody’s business no matter who or where they are!
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Stay educated and informed with basic and correct information pertaining to animal welfare, such as the follows:
- The Animals Act has been existing since 1953, which aims to prevent cruelty to animals, control the import and export of animals and birds, and conserve and improve the general welfare of animals.
- In 2015, Malaysia passed an updated animal welfare law strengthening protections for animals and penalties for animal cruelty, today known as the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2015.
- Offenders violating laws under this act can be convicted with :
- a fine not less than RM 20,000 and not more than RM100,000, or
- imprisonment for a term not more than 3 years, or
- both a fine and imprisonment
- AWA has specific sections dealing with specific offences, namely Section 29 (animal cruelty), Section 30 (killing of animals), Section 31 (administration of poisons) and Section 31 (animal fighting ventures).
- The five basic needs that must be met to ensure the welfare of animals, are namely :
- providing them with an appropriate environment
- protecting them from pain, suffering, injury and illnesses
- placing them together or separately
- allowing them to exhibit natural patterns of behaviour
- providing them with an appropriate diet
- Examples of animal abuse and / or cruelty :
Beating, kicking, or torturing: Cruelly beating, kicking, overloading, or torturing any animal
Neglect: Failing to provide an animal with enough food, water, or shelter
Pain or suffering: Causing or allowing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal
Chaining: Keeping animals chained or tethered in a way that restricts their movement
Abandonment: Abandoning an animal
Medical neglect: Failing to provide medical treatment or care that causes unnecessary pain or suffering
Transportation: Failing to supply an animal with enough food or water when transporting it
Work: Forcing an injured, diseased, or sick animal to work
Mutilation: Physically mutilating an animal without certification from a vet authority or vet surgeon
Killing: Killing an animal for superstitious belief through a procedure that causes pain and suffering
- Essentially, animal cruelty is any form of treatment that causes physical and / or emotional suffering and trauma to the animal victim.
AWA Helpline 1