KUALA LUMPUR – If only dogs could talk, they would perhaps croon among themselves – me and you, and a man named Salehin – probably styled after Lobo’s Me and you and a dog named Boo.
If ever such a tune was sung by Muhammad Salehin Ibrahim’s dogs, it would be such a lyrical tribute to the bachelor, who chose to live the rest of his life with a pack of canines on the banks of the Sg Kenong near the Sg Dabai waterfalls in Hulu Langat.
The chorus of Lobo’s song also strikes a chord with the former banker’s life, where the 60-year-old sought to be a free man, away from the maddening crowd after 25 years working in the city.
“Me and you and a dog named Boo, travelling and living off the land. Me and you and a dog named Boo, how I love being a free man.”
However, Salehin’s bond with his dogs – Patch, Putih, Hitam, Koa, Hugo, Stoner, Toffee, Hiley and Nymeria – has never been an easy journey.
Being a Malay-Muslim and living in the Malay community, Salehin is treated as a “social pariah” for living so closely with his canine friends and taking them out for a ride in his car.
Speaking to The Vibes, Salehin said: “I do not see anything wrong with that. Trouble is not my business, but it somehow comes to me in more ways than one because of my endearing friendship with my dogs.
“Apart from being my companions, my dogs and I are engaged in the Dr Dog Programme Malaysia, an animal-assisted therapy which originated in Hong Kong.
“K-9 is not an animal shelter but a therapy centre where visitors come to bond with the dogs in a very natural setting,” he said, noting that dogs are more than just pets.
Salehin said this programme is a growing field that harnesses the presence of dogs and other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and mental disorders, as well as for children with autism and geriatric patients in nursing homes.
“K-9 Cottage also offers ‘dogcation’ services, where dog owners who are travelling overseas or outstation can leave their pets with us for a fee,” he added.
Clinging for life
The December 18 floods last year was the latest disaster to hit Salehin – one that turned K-9 Cottage into ground zero.
“It was raining heavily and I heard a thunderous sound at about 9pm on December 18. A landslide had occurred in front of my living quarters and the animal kennels.
“Sg Langat in front was blocked by the debris and the water rose very fast. I was in waist-deep waters and my dogs ran helter-skelter, except for one, Nymeria, which swam through strong currents to be with me. Later, Patch joined us.
“My storeroom with supplies and the perimeter fencing was swept away. K-9 Cottage became an instant ground zero.
I clung to a wooden post with just one of my dogs, simply hoping that the water would not rise higher,” said Salehin, who suffered a stroke several years ago.
He said he was clutching onto the wooden post till 7am the following day with his two dogs as the waters churned around due to the strong currents.
“Of course I was afraid. But I was more concerned about the safety of the other dogs, which were nowhere to be seen.
“A tree had also fallen at the back of the building, destroying a good portion of my living quarters.
Though I was finally reunited with my seven other dogs, I did not get any help from my immediate neighbours and the authorities. It was only on the second day after the floods I got some assistance from volunteer workers and well-wishers,” Salehin recalled.
“I could not leave the K-9 Cottage to stay elsewhere temporarily, as the fencing was flattened by the strong currents. My dogs would stray all over the place and get into trouble. Volunteers came and set a tent for me to live in until the place is rebuilt.
“I also had placed a dumpster with the help of some good Samaritans to collect the debris from the flood’s aftermath. While there were so many kind people lending a hand, there were also those who were cruel to my dogs.”
Salehin related that some young ruffians came to the dumpster looking for discarded items to be sold at “besi buruk” junkyards for a quick buck.
“One of my dogs, Hugo, barked at them so loudly that they left, but not before slashing Hugo’s head with a parang.
“This is the height of cruelty that a man will callously execute to dogs who are perceived as man’s best friend. Hugo suffered a 5in gash on its head, but is now at the vet, all stitched up and recovering well.”
Salehin said he is very thankful to the many volunteers and well-wishers who helped him in the initial days after the floods.
But I still need more manpower to help rebuild the K-9 Cottage. There is an urgency to reinstall the fencing quickly so the dogs will be safe,” he said.
“I have chosen to live here with my canine companions, as it means living life right at the source of nature. My source of water is a spring from a nearby mountain. I use solar panels as my source of power.
“The floods have greatly scuttled my lifestyle with my canine friends. We need building materials and funds in order to continue our Dr Dog Programme and be on the road again.” – The Vibes, January 8, 2022
