Saving strays, one meal at a time

Volunteer group goes the extra mile despite costs to give animals a shot at a better life

- Brian Teo

In the quiet hours of the night in secluded Kranji, car headlights illuminate the gates of an abandoned factory, revealing a few pairs of glowing eyes watching from a distance.

One by one, stray dogs appear, eager to devour the food that the visitors have prepared for them.

These canines are among the many stray dogs and cats in Singapore's industrial estates and farmlands that an animal welfare group feeds every Saturday night.

Founded in 2022 by six animal lovers, The Stray Affairs feeds approximately 150 dogs and 100 cats.

Without the volunteers, these animals are at risk of malnutrition and dehydration, as their surroundings provide little access to food and clean water.

The environments also pose significant dangers to the animals due to the presence of heavy machinery, moving vehicles, and hazardous materials that can cause injury or death.

"I felt their life was hard enough living in such conditions. So I tried to make a difference, one stray at a time," said co-founder Daryl Mah, 26, who has been feeding strays since his junior college days.

The areas covered by The Stray Affairs - Kranji, Lim Chu Kang and Neo Tiew - are mainly industrial estates, which are the preferred refuge for stray animals.

"Housing estates are usually developed and bustling with human activity," explained Mr Mah, a final-year student at NTU.

"Industrial estates, on the other hand, are quieter, with forested patches and large factory spaces that offer plenty of hiding spots where strays can go unnoticed."

Since its inception, The Stray Affairs has steadily grown to include 432 volunteers aged 20 to 54, representing a diverse mix of students, civil servants, and professionals from the private sector.

A group of 10 to 18 volunteers participate in the weekly missions.

The feeding is done on Saturday nights to minimise disturbance to workers.