Cover image via @woofmyroof (Instagram)
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A Malaysian animal rescuer was left shocked after uncovering what is alleged to be an illegal puppy breeding mill run by an elderly couple
Shan, the founder of Woof My Roof, an initiative dedicated to improving the lives of stray dogs, said it was her first time witnessing a breeding mill firsthand.
On Sunday, 26 October, pretending to be a buyer, Shan managed to convince the couple to show her more puppies — only to be met with a heartbreaking scene.
"Today, we witnessed a breeding mill with 60 to 70 dogs… Trapped in filthy small cages with bowls of water filled with algae," she wrote on an Instagram post.
Inside the home, she reportedly found Poodles, Pomeranians, Beagles, Jack Russells, and Shih Tzus, all kept in cramped cages and repeatedly bred for profit.
"Locked in cages their whole life, used and used again to breed, because someone out there wants a cute, 'branded' dog," she said.
According to Shan, many of the dogs were sick and had been "debarked" — a surgery that involves removing a dog's vocal cords to stop them from barking
She claimed the couple told her that "a guy comes to the house to do the surgery".
"No names, no love, no voices," she wrote.
Following the discovery, Shan appealed to the public to help raise funds to "bail out" the dogs and provide them with medical care
"Please help us set them free. We need funds to 'bail' them out. We need funds for medical attention — they will all be sent to the vet to get checked, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and nursed back to good health," she said.
She estimated that she would need about RM100,000 in total, or about RM2,000 per dog.
She explained that her goal is to negotiate with the couple to surrender all the dogs so they can be rehomed in safe, loving environments.
While many social media users praised Shan's compassion and efforts to help the animals, others urged her to report the alleged breeders to the authorities
"Thanks for advocating against buying animals. But why bail them? Isn't this an illegal operation? You can make a police report and rescue all," one user commented.
Another user pointed out that working with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) could lead to a more sustainable solution.
"If this is a backyard breeding operation, work with animal control — they can seize the animals while your team provides aftercare. Paying the breeder could just allow them to start over. The Animal Welfare Act 2015 can be used to prosecute the owners for animal cruelty," they said.
They also warned that paying money to the breeders could set a dangerous precedent, rewarding illegal operations and potentially fuelling further cruelty.
"Paying money to the breeder is NOT the solution. The breeder could very well take the money and start another puppy mill," one user cautioned.
SAYS has reached out to Shan for clarification on whether she has filed a police report and for further comment on the case.
