Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) has shown that quality academics aren’t the only thing that’s prioritised at the institution; instilling social responsibility is crucial too.

It all started when FurryKids Safehaven, a shelter for stray and abandoned animals, was destroyed earlier this year due to severe floods in Seremban, Negeri Seremban. Under the leadership and guidance of Ms Abbhirami Sivarajan, lecturer at APU’s School of Business, the APU Student Affairs crew responded immediately by raising funds of RM6,500 to help rebuild the shelter.

The initial bond between APU and FurryKids Safehaven has now been strengthened and formalised in a virtual event held on 21 October 2021 through an MoU signed by both parties represented by Mr Gurpardeep Singh, Chief Operating Officer of APU, and Ms Jeskiran Kaur Bhat, President of Furrykids Safehaven.

In her speech, Ms Jeskiran emphasised on the importance of collaboration with APU in hopes to create awareness on the plight of strays.

“We thank APU for giving us this opportunity to collaborate. We often see people-oriented organisations getting a lot of support from multinational organisations or equivalent but it's not often that an animal shelter gets the limelight. We hope to collaborate to be able to create awareness and educate the public to understand the plight of strays. We are delighted that APU’s students are joining forces with us as they are the future of this nation and this nation must mould a kinder generation towards the strays,” she said.

Mr Gurpardeep added that the initiative and collaboration with FurryKids Safehaven is to instil kindness and compassion for other living creatures in their students.

Moving forward with their upcoming plans, both APU and FurryKids Safehaven will roll out a fundraising virtual run “Fur-a-thon 2021: Campus Edition” in November. Participants can pledge to either walk or run for a distance of 5km or 21km. They can also opt to complete the run or walk indoors on a treadmill.

The initiative aims to help fund the construction of a clinic for rescued dogs and an office for the shelter administration staff, besides covering medical and other overheads. More details of the event will be announced soon.

According to the UN Convention on Animal Health and Protection (UNCAHP), a unique initiative to globally protect animals at the UN level, all animals have the fundamental interest to live, be free, be well treated and not to be harmed in any case, unless human life is at risk. APU’s collaboration with this NGO is a step forward towards protecting animals, especially those that are most vulnerable.