Sabrina died as a result of leukemia, an illness that she did not know she had until days before her death. Sadly she was an orphan with no family, but her friends, Salehin and Myza, were by her side when she passed.
Sabrina was well known to those in the animal welfare community as the founder of Furry Friends Farm - a rescue centre for stray dogs in Malaysia - and the Coordinator of our Dr Dog animal therapy programme, which she began in June 2007.
Sabrina's vision with Dr Dog was to focus on the mixed-breed dogs who could give their unconditional love to a community that had abused or neglected them or their kin in the past. The stories of her success were legendary - with patients in homes for the disadvantaged gradually accepting, and then looking forward, to the unique and friendly dogs that Sabrina brought into their lives.
Over time, Sabrina and her team, which included long-time examiner and help, Salehin, intelligently and compassionately steered Dr Dog into a programme that saw the image of dogs gradually being enhanced and celebrated at last.
Today, nine canine ambassadors visit a variety of centres, including an autism centre complete with noisy and very enthusiastic children under the age of 10. As with every centre across Asia that embraces this programme, the children here react positively to the dogs and enjoy learning to stroke them in the correct and gentle way.
Over the years, Sabrina and her team also held successful charity drives in Selangor, and coordinated a very successful Walk for Harmony event too, where a couple of years ago they featured the birthday of a very special dog called Hope.
Hope had been rescued along with many other dogs by Sabrina and her team. His story began in May 2009 when he and hundreds of dogs were dumped on a deserted mangrove island by residents of Palau Ketam, who were sick of living their lives with apparently over 2,000 stray dogs, seeing their children attacked and bitten by the hungry animals, and angry with the government for not doing anything about it.
Their solution was to round up and catch 312 dogs and take them on a 25-minute journey by boat to the nearly deserted mangrove island - and dump them. Over the next few weeks as they struggled with the elements and were left to fend for themselves, half of the dogs died of starvation, or from being cannibilised by other starving dogs, or from drowning after trying to swim back to Palau Ketam.
Only a few were saved - Hope being one of the lucky ones...rescued by Sabrina, and taken by boat back to the mainland and to a vet who helped him pull through. Hope is now a Dr Dog and a perfect ambassador for his species.
Another of Sabrina's biggest successes was Jasper, who was a victim of a hit-and-run driver and was discovered under a car by some friends of Sabrina's who called and asked if she could help. Up until then, no-one had gone to his aid, or realised the extent of his injuries. Sabrina said he had a broken skull showing part of his brain - and, in spite of his terrible of pain, she said that he wagged his tail, as if he knew that help had finally arrived.
Sabrina took Jasper to the vet and over the next few weeks with multiple surgeries and procedures Jasper slowly began to recover - a real miracle dog.
Jasper's story then spurred Sabrina to do something about the countless number of traffic accidents that involve dogs and cats and, on World Animal Day, she sent out a media release calling for animal crossing signs saying; "Beware! Slow down! Cats and dogs crossing", to be put up at strategic places along the roads.
Today, as we say goodbye to a remarkable woman, we also remember her friends and colleagues who will form a new committee to determine how best to continue her tireless work. Kind Salehin has expressed interest in helping to continue on with Sabrina’s duties, specifically in terms of the Dr Dog Programme, and volunteers continue to help at the farm where donations and food are currently being organised for the immediate future.
Sabrina's memorial service was held on the 18th July 2012 and her cremation, led by a procession of Dr Dogs, will be Friday 20th of July. Her ashes will be spread on the Melaka Straits as per her wishes.
From all in the team of Animals Asia, we remember Sabrina as someone beautiful of face and heart, a true heroine who selflessly helped animals and people alike, and championing a lasting legacy of compassion and respect for all creatures great and small.
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At a public event in Shanghai for the animated blockbuster “Ice Age 4”, the theme throughout the event was "Love and Adventure".
Chinese celebrity superstar, Sun Li, was the guest of honour and, of course, as she has been to our bear rescue centre in Chengdu many times, spoke about her love and adventure in helping China's endangered moon bears.
Sun Li said:
“I was a little afraid because I didn't know how to communicate with the bears at the beginning. Then the staff told me that I should open my heart with love. I want to share my view with all of you that the earth belongs to every living being – and we should share the love with each other, and give our love to the bears”.
Sun Li also asked the public to join her on this adventure – and so the ripple of publicity calling for the end of bear farming goes on.
As an old friend of Sun Li, Lucky, our China PR and Education Manager was also invited to the event and told the audience that Animals Asia staff were on an adventure of their own each and every day, because there are always new challenges. Lucky said: “It brings us confidence and satisfaction when we see the bears starting their new life, instead of suffering so much pain.”
She also praised the growing mass of people supporting an end to bear farming, and said a huge thank you to Sun LI as a perfect example of a celebrity with such a strong social responsibility.
When I see such touching events like this I wonder how the bear farmers feel, knowing, as we know too, how much their bears are suffering behind closed doors. One day, as a result of people in China continuing to take such a strong stand against this truly horrible industry, the farms will be empty at last.
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The anti-bear farming movement has been moving at such a frantic pace that we can hardly keep track. Across the country, over 1.4 million people have watched the disturbing undercover film of the bears suffering on the farms, and many thousands more are driving a movement calling for the end.
Not surprisingly, the opposition has begun a dirty smear campaign, posting untruths in media stories, and hacking our website relentlessly each day in an attempt to bring us down.
Are we deterred? Not a bit. Never before have we seen such an outcry, and every opportunity now must be taken to keep the issue out there – well and truly in the public eye.
Unbelievably, the two most searched words recently on the internet in China, behind Chinese basketball player "Jeremy Lin", were thewords "bear farming". Citizens everywhere are making their disgust known about this truly evil trade.
Now, the disgust of the country is being seen in a new artistic wave of talent from compassionate Chinese illustrators, designers, photographers and artists who have taken the time to express, from their hearts, the plight of bears on the hideous farms today.
With the slogan "Every life is equal. How do you know that it won't hurt?" they are using their creativity to answer the ridiculous statement made by Fang Shuting, Chairman of the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine who uttered the immortal words: - "The process of extracting bear bile is as easy, natural and painless as turning on a tap."
Meanwhile, support emerges from other incredible sources now that Jia Youling, a member of the national committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the state chief veterinary officer, has said that bear bile farming is immoral. “The vet's professional ethics is to cure rather than create disease. Operating on a healthy bear to create a free drip fistula is against the vet's professional ethics. From the veterinary point of view, this is slaughter, this is cruel."
Just who stands behind the surgery of these bears? The mutilation of their bodies to create the dripping hole? Who will stand up and respond to Jia Youling and our own veterinary staff and debate the veterinary science behind the draining fistulas they cut into sentient warm-blooded mammals? Who can possibly believe them when they maintain that this butchery is humane.
I wonder too what the farmers really think as they lie in bed at night knowing, as they must, how the bears under their "care" suffer so terribly?
Do they hear the clattering of the steel, or see the demented weaving of these animals, as they rock miserably to and fro in their cages? Do they feel even a shred of shame or remorse as they see the bears whither and die from the diseases that take their lives on the farms.
What do the farmers do with the bears’ bodies - and what do they do with the parts? Are the bears buried with respect and love by a team of grieving carers as they send them on to the afterlife with handmade flowers and garlands, and their favourite food and toys?
To you, the farmers - especially those who say they treat the bears like their own children - how on earth do you sleep at night?
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Although a little late in posting, this blog about my trip to Italy is no less sincere, and comes with no less gratitude to all those who made it such a perfect and memorable time. With particular thanks to Irene, our Italy Director, for writing such a beautiful summary of our days spent with friends and supporters. Irene, Giulia and Antonello for their most incredible organisation and coordination of an unforgettable few days.
Thanks especially to all in our support groups who were so welcoming and kind – and for all you do, so very passionately, in helping bear bile farming to end.
And now, with a huge and heartfelt grazie mille to all, I’d like to turn this blog over to Irene, who summarises our whirlwind mini-roadshow so beautifully.
Things never turn out quite as expected. But when Animals Asia supporters are involved, the change is always for the better. We have waited for this roadshow for nearly two years. It was May 2010 when Jill last came to Italy to open a display of photos taken by renowned photographer Rocco Toscani at our China bear sanctuary – and a lot has happened since then.
We have faced many challenges during this past year, with the economic crisis making things bitter for a lot of us, and the many unexpected natural disasters that have hit the country leaving thousands heavy-hearted. Times are changing in Asia too, with Chinese people calling for an end to the barbaric bear bile industry. As I write, I feel we are closer to meeting this goal than ever before – and the roadshow showed us just how much the people of Italy care.
First stop was VeganFest in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, where the outline of the surrounding mountains made us think of Tam Dao National Park – home of our bear sanctuary in Vietnam.
VeganFest is one of the best-known vegan and eco-friendly expos in Europe – and our heartfelt thanks go to Sauro Martella and his wife Renata “The Bio-Countess” Balducci, two incredibly generous and thoughtful people, for inviting us and making us feel at home – but above all for making the festival the perfect meeting place for animal-welfare and humanitarian organisations from all across the world. This was a place where, for five exciting days, people could share ideas, views, and learn from each other’s experiences with compassion and empathy. I would also like to thank Tommaso Palazzolo for his professional assistance before and during the event, and celebrity chef Chicco Coria for creating his delicious, and 100 per cent vegan, specialties.
There are simply no words to express our gratitude to those who shared these precious moments, laughs and sometimes tears with us – and made it all possible. Thanks to the wonderful team of brave supporters who tirelessly volunteered day and night, in the heavy rain and under the burning sun – you did such a wonderful job, devoting time and passion to our cause. And thanks to each and every one of you – old friends and new – who simply stopped by, enjoyed Jill’s exciting presentation and cheered when during the evening she received the VeganOK Award for her extraordinary achievements in animal welfare.
Then we were over to the magical city of Florence and the stunning Palazzo Vecchio for a conference.
Once again, I would like to thank everyone who attended. In particular, I would like to send my gratitude and admiration to Giorgio Ceccarelli, Founder and CEO of “I love papà” and “Figli Negati” associations, who came all the way up from Rome to honour Jill with the Mini Oscar 2011 in recognition of her services to animals and people in Asia.
Giorgio also gave Jill one of his beautiful canvasses – specially painted to celebrate the occasion – which is now proudly displayed in our Education Centre in Chengdu. And thanks to friend and writer Stefania Schiaroli for calling off all her previous engagements in order to attend and have Jill sign a copy of her latest novel. Stefania is generously donating the royalties to us.
And what can I say about City Counsellor Tommaso Grassi? Thank you Tommaso for doing the honours with so much kindness, genuine passion and respect, for your professional organisation and for showing us the true colours of Florence. Tommaso honoured Jill with a beautiful plate on behalf of the City of Florence – her third award in just a couple of days.
There is a very special place in Florence called “La Fontana del Porcellino” (the piglet fountain) – right in the New Market. It is believed that whoever puts a coin in the piglet’s mouth and rubs his snout can make a wish and will return to Florence one day. Wishes should never be shared, of course, but we are very much looking forward to both wishes coming true.
Many thanks to Giulia and Antonello who worked so hard to ensure everything went smoothly. And to Jill for being the inspiring woman she is – the beaming smiles and the superhuman capacity to deal with such a hectic agenda with grace and charm.
And most of all our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful supporters, those who donated – either financially or in kind – to ensure our roadshow was a success.
“You will always have what you have donated” – Marco Valerio Marziale, Latin poet
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Dieter Häckl, a long-time supporter of Animals Asia will soon be joining over 3,000 triathletes and 600 relay teams to take on the world's largest triathlon, "Challenge Roth" in the town of Roth, Germany. This includes a multitude of challenges - swimming 3.8km in the Main-Donau-Kanal, cycling 180km, and finally running a marathon of 42.2km. Add the heat of the summer temperature in Roth, and you have some idea of the true task that Dieter is taking on.
Dieter has been preparing intensively for this competition for many months in his free time, with the aim of raising €3,000 for Animals Asia and the 14 moon bears recently rescued in Vietnam, and now recovering from their traumatic time on a bile farm at our Tam Dao sanctuary.
Dieter is incredibly generous with his time and has long been a champion of the bears, promoting their cause at festivals in the town of Babenhausen,
Heartfelt thanks to you Dieter, from us all for this and everything you do for the bears. I can't imagine taking anything like this on, and you have our endless respect and good wishes. Big bear hugs from us all.
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