Project Overview
Potong Royong™ is a community project initiated by Star Pets Animal Clinic in collaboration with SPCA Selangor, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and the Malaysian Veterinary Medical Association (MAVMA).
The Malay term Gotong Royong roughly translates “working together”, often used when a community comes together to clean up or to achieve certain goals; while the wordplay from Gotong to Potong means “to cut”. Combined, it gives birth to the name of our project Potong Royong™ which encapsulates our hope that the community would all play a part to increase neutering rates for dog and cat populations as it influences the stray population size.
The primary objective of Potong Royong™ is to address the overpopulation of stray dogs and cats in Malaysia through humane solutions. This initiative focuses on increasing neutering awareness among pet owners and addressing the issue of affordability when it comes to neutering and spaying animals, whether they are pets or strays by providing subsidised neutering for local cats and dogs.
Project Goals
The key goals of Potong Royong™ are to:
- Provide affordable neutering and spaying services to low income pet owners, rescuers, and feeders of strays.
- Increase awareness about the importance of neutering as a humane solution to overpopulation.
- Engage volunteer veterinarians, veterinary assistants, vet students, and general volunteers to deliver high-quality, safe, and affordable neutering services to the public.
Call for International Volunteers: Join Us in Creating Lasting Impact
To expand our reach and impact, we are now inviting international volunteers to join our mission. By participating in Potong Royong™, you will be making a significant contribution to solving the stray overpopulation crisis in Malaysia, one animal at a time.
Volunteer positions open for veterinarians, veterinarian students and veterinarian technicians/nurses. If you are passionate about animal welfare and looking for an opportunity to make a real difference, we welcome you to join Potong Royong™. Together, we can create a sustainable, humane solution to the overpopulation of stray animals in Malaysia.
Volunteering Conditions
Your accommodations will be near the vicinity of the project operation and SPCA Selangor Shelter located at Ampang Jaya, Selangor. We will strive to provide private rooms, but may need to share rooms depending on availability. Basic amenities will be available and air conditioning or fan will be available for every room. As the shelter is located near to the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, an abundance of local and various cuisine will be available via short travel within walking distance or public transport (use of Grab is recommended). General weather conditions here are hot and humid, rain is also common, hence volunteers must be ready to work under these conditions.
The fees for 2 weeks of volunteering is USD 1,000 per person. This will cover transportation, accommodations, and food. The remainder will be used as subsidies or expenses for the program. Transportation from the airport to the accommodation and daily transport to the project site will be provided. Daily lunch and dinner will be provided.
Not included: flight tickets, additional accommodation apart from the 2 weeks volunteering period, personal insurance, additional snacks or drinks, and any charges incurred from application of visa and immigration needs.
Volunteer Benefits
- In the heart of the city of Kuala Lumpur: Having the convenience of being 15 minutes away from major local attractions to provide the duality of volunteering and travel.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain valuable experience in a high-yield (average of 50-100 animals neutered daily during project), community-based project. Students or Veterinarians who are looking to gain experience will get training from experienced surgeons.
- Cultural Exchange: Experience Malaysia’s rich culture and contribute to a meaningful cause. Get the unique experience of networking with local veterinary students.
- Community Impact: Play a vital role in improving the lives of animals and the community.
Responsibilities & Tasks
- Perform duties in the SPCA Selangor’s neutering clinic to administer vaccines, deworm, deflea, treatment and neutering/spaying surgeries for shelter and client’s cats and dogs (week 1 of volunteering)
- Assist in procedures and surgeries
- Set up venue to accommodate for the mass neutering program (before second week of volunteering)
- Perform tasks as needed in various stations such as physical check up, vaccination, deworm & deflea, handling animals for anaesthesia, preparing animal for surgery, assisting in surgery/ perform neutering/spaying surgery (for experienced vet), monitor and support on emergency situations, monitor recovery of animal post surgery and communicate with owners of post surgery care of their animals.
- Provide any other necessary support to provide good veterinary care to animals during the project
- Keep medical and veterinary records, as appropriate
- For inexperienced volunteers (new vets or students), you will be guided and trained during the orientation week (week 1) and during the time of the project by veterinarian and nurse (staff or other senior volunteer veterinarians).
Volunteering Requirements
– A degree (or study for) veterinarian or vet nurse
– Clinical experience desirable
– Self-assurance to handle animals with confidence and patience
– Good organisation and project management skills incl. computer literacy
– Strong observational and record-keeping skills
– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
– Good flexibility to adapt to working in a different culture
– Enjoys practical, manual, and sometimes heavy work
– Free of (or able to manage) allergies ( animal hair, fur, feather, and dust)
– Fluent in English, Bahasa Malaysia/Mandarin/Tamil is useful but not essential
Volunteering Details
Project date:
Week 1: 3rd – 8th December (pre-training and preparation week)
Week 2: 9th – 15th December 2024 (Potong Royong week)
Application closing date: 15th November 2024, 11:59pm GMT+8
Daily working hours: 8am – 6pm
Volunteer slots available: 5
Week 1: You will be volunteering at Star Pets Animal Clinic, which is a neuter and spay clinic operating at the site of SPCA Selangor, Ampang with a team of experienced staff. Airport pickup to check in at accommodation and to the project site will be provided. Week 1 will be considered orientation week whereby you will shadow our veterinarian on surgery procedures, assist to administer treatment or vaccine to the shelter animals and to help with the set up for Week 2 of the mass neutering project
Week 2: Begins Potong Royong project where you will either be teaming up with experienced veterinarian to assist in surgery or (for experienced veterinarian) performing the surgery. Each day the entire team will aim to neuter about 75-200 animals within the span of 8 hours. You might be placed into different task groups, depending on need or upon request. During this time you will gain a lot of on-hands experience to further your veterinary skills.
You are also free to explore the rest of the city anytime after the working hours. You may check iVisa to check the need to obtain a visa to enter Malaysia. You will be required to register for eVisa 3 days before entering Malaysia even if you are from countries that do not need a pre approved visa.
*Disclaimer: Application is subjected to approval of Malaysian Veterinary Council, beyond the control of the organising team. Volunteers are responsible to arrange own flight, visa, insurance arrangement and obtaining the necessary documentation to our organising team to apply for the *temporary practising permit (for qualified veterinarian only) before the deadline.
*Temporary Practising Permit is only open to veterinary qualifications from recognised countries and institution to practise in Malaysia, please refer to Veterinary Surgeons Act 1974 (pg 39 – 44).
Our Impact So Far
Since its inception, Potong Royong™ has made significant strides in various communities across Malaysia. Our project history includes:
- Sri Nanding, March 2023: Neutered 555 cats over a week.
- Bandar Botanik, August 2023: Neutered 362 cats and 125 dogs.
- Subang Jaya, March 2024: Neutered 212 cats and 203 dogs.
- Ampang Jaya, July-Aug 2024: Neutered 508 cats and 172 dogs.
- Mini Potong Royong Projects: Across various locations, these shorter campaigns (less than 3 days) have successfully neutered a total of 300 dogs and 104 cats.
These efforts have collectively resulted in the humane control of stray animal populations, providing a better quality of life for both animals and communities.
Application via Email
To submit your application, please email at potongroyong@spca.org.my with the following details and filled documents:
- Particulars of the applicant :
- full name,
- identity card number/ passport number,
- date of birth,
- sex,
- telephone number (mobile),
- email address,
- Position: vet / new grad / vet student / vet nurse / other (pls describe)
- principal place of practice (complete address),
- classification: Veterinary Clinic /Farm /Wildlife /Aquatic /Feedmill /Pharmaceutical /Higher Learning Institution /Consultation (choose one)
- Additional documents for vets (for application of a temporary practising permit):
- Completed form for temporary practising certificate (leave empty for details of sponsors and accommodations in Malaysia)
- Passport Size Photo (White background, MOST RECENT),
- Certified true copy of the identity card/ passport,
- Certified true copy entry visa/ Permanent Resident Identity Card (if applicable),
- Certified true copy of academic transcript and Veterinary Medicine qualification certificate (*only degree and institutions adhering to Second Schedule of the Act and its’ amendments – Veterinary Surgeons Act 1974 pg 39 – 44),
- Certified true copy registration certificate from Veterinary Statutory Body country of origin,
- Letter of Good Standing (Original Copy) from Veterinary Statutory Body country of origin,
- Curriculum vitae with coloured photo and two(2) referees
- Copy of previous TPP (if any)
- Payment via bank transfer to:
- Account name: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Bank name: CIMB
- Bank account: 8002481260
- Payment via online portal: https://www.spca.org.my/donation-form/
Application closing date: 15th November 2024, 11:59pm GMT+8
Join Potong Royong and be a part of a compassionate movement to control the stray animal population humanely. Your skills and dedication can help transform communities and save countless lives.