HELP NEEDED FOR MAK TUN & HER 16 DOGS

“Unconditional love: no matter a test score, a life changing decision, an argument, or a strong belief, the amount of love that remains between this bond is seen as unchanging and unconditional.”

While there’s flood of cases of US who give up on the true friends we said we once loved, of us who forget the unconditional love we got from our companion animals and easily choose to leave them behind, of us who say plainly we can’t no longer look after our special friends anymore when a problem arise without even making any effort, of us ‘educated’ people who just can’t educate ourselves on how to overcome problem without sacrificing our companion animals, of us who put the blame on the innocent beings and put their live and future in misery….SHAME ON US, IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP!! Mak Tun will show you what unconditional love really means; minus ego, minus gaining our own benefit, minus taking short easy cut for our own life’s sake!

Upon receiving an email on March 19, 2013 with a link to very touching story about Mak Tun (http://voiceofthevoiceless99.blogspot.com/2013/03/banjir-kanal-timur-semarang-sos-spread.html), a surviving old lady who lives under Kaligarang small bridge, Semarang, Central Java with her 16 dogs, our volunteer contacted Voice of the Voiceless. Shortly on the next day, companied by JAAN (Jakarta Animal Aid Network) team members, we managed to meet Mak Tun and new friends; Voice of the Voiceless Movement Semarang, Siska & family, Lani and some other caring individuals who share the same concern to help Mak Tun and her dogs.

MAK TUN’S PROFILE:
Mak Tun has been living in Semarang since she was just a little child, her family moved from Solo to that town to find a better life. For years they made a living by selling daily needs in a small shop they built by the riverside of Kaligarang. When her parents passed away, Mak Tun continued the business, it didn’t give much but enough to support her family and pay the rent for a small house across the street. Mak Tun has no siblings nor other relatives, she found it too lonely living alone, and decided to look after two puppies to company her, she named them Edo and Belang. Ever since, the two dogs were her only family. Not knowing about population control, this family of three soon grew bigger. Mak Tun once had 20 dogs, but not all of them survive and she ended up caring for 12 dogs. Half month ago, 5 new puppies were born, one died tragically, drowned to the deep of the river at the age of three days while she was leaving her ‘nest’ under the bridge to cook modest meals for herself and the dogs at the other side of the river and couldn’t monitor the new born.

End of 2010 was a nightmare for Mak Tun, she and many other inhabitants of the riverside had to take the bitter pill of 288 billions budget of city canal development project; being expelled from the land where they made a living. Her shop and every single things she sold were completely destroyed, without any replacement whatsoever. She understands the land belongs to the government, but she just doesn’t understand why after all those years the government seemed to let them living there and doing business, suddenly they were forced to leave and the properties they built on their own were demolished. Her life changed overnight, she lost everything she had, her loyal dogs were the only ones keeping her companied and became her whole life.

With no saving and many dogs to feed, she could no longer pay her house rent. With no help from the government or anyone, she had nothing to start a new business. With no relatives she knows and no friends willing to share a space, she ended up becoming a trash picker and a homeless. Mak Tun is such a simple person with a big heart. She holds no single drip of grudge to what happened, no matter how unfair. What she knows is to keep on living and caring for her dogs the best she could.
She lived under the big bridge with her 12 dogs, it was okay for her, her dogs still had room to walk around and play. Even if it rains, there’s no risk of flooding from the rising debit of river water. With little money she earns from trash picking to buy rice, she still can feed the dogs by collecting leftovers from nearby food stalls. However, soon that simple comfort’s also can’t be enjoyed by Mak Tun and the dogs any longer. Once again, they were forced to leave. Mak Tun’s friendly dogs were accused as being a nuisance for the ‘public space’ and frightening for the people visiting the river canal. She’s allowed to stay there, but the dogs must go, she was even asked to sell the dogs for consumption. And that was definitely not an option for Mak Tun who loves her dogs like they were her own children!

Mak Tun was really confused, then a friend, Pak Joni, suggested her to move and hide her dogs under a much smaller bridge. There’s only a very narrow cemented path for her and the dogs to rest. Not only that, that place is very dangerous when it rains. But she had no choice. The first night staying there was terrifying because heavy rain poured down, Mak Tun had to stand up holding the puppies in her arms all night, the bigger dogs could only line up next to her with rising current splashing and getting their feet wet, they also had to deal with big risk of slipping and falling to the water.
Knowing that, Pak Joni decided to build a wooden ‘deck’ for Mak Tun and the dogs, hoping that it could give a bit of comfort for them. Pak Joni makes a living from a small business of flat tire fixing service, he earns a little everyday, but still he manages to save a bit of money and once every two weeks he bought 1 or 2 kg of rice to be donated to Mak Tun and the dogs. We didn’t get the chance to meet Pak Joni while we were in Semarang, but his willingness to help other despite his scarcity is an amazing inspiration!!

THE SMALL AND BIG PLAN TO HELP MAK TUN & THE DOGS:
A coordination meeting between Voice of the Voiceless movement Semarang (who first finding out about Mak Tun’s condition), AFJ, JAAN, and several caring individuals (Siska & family, Lani, a generous couple) was held after we did a thorough discussion with Mak Tun, to find out what she hopes and what she and the dogs really need.

Here’s the breakdown of needs:
1. A permanent, safe and adequate place for Mak Tun and the dogs that can accommodate their needs.

2. Medical care for the dogs: general check up, deworming, supply of nutritious food, skin disease treatment, vaccination and sterilization

3. A better source of income for Mak Tun to make her able to care for herself and the dogs independently in long term.

What We Have Come Out With So Far (thanks everybody who directly helped with this short term solution!!):
1. A humble temporary place has been offered on the generosity of a caring couple, it’s located nearby a market area. We have checked the spot, and we think it could accommodate Mak Tun’s needs including to continue her trash picking and selling activity as her source of income. Friends at VoV will take Mak Tun to this place today and see what she thinks of this offer.

2. If Mak Tun agrees, she and the dogs will be relocated soon. The dogs can start their medical treatment.

What You Can Help To Provide:
1. In adaptation period at the new place, Mak Tun and the dogs will need supply & fund to buy food and basic needs at least for two months. Monthly donation to pay electricity and water (around Rp. 150,000 per month) will be helpful. Mak Tun generally makes only Rp. 100,000 - Rp. 150,000 a month from her trash picking job.

2. Funds to pay the cost of medical check up, dewormers, vaccination, sterilization, treatment for the dogs with skin disease. Donation in the form of medicines for sterilization surgery is also helpful to cut the cost. Experienced veterinarians who are willing to volunteer and help with all the medical treatment process and surgery are welcome!

3. Funds to pay the cost of medical treatment for Mak Tun, she suffers from painful rheumatic on one of her feet.

4. Permanent place or fund to get a permanent place for Mak Tun and the dogs for the rest of their life and steady income opportunity

5. Volunteer your time and energy by joining VoV movement!

To contribute and to keep all your donation/help properly documented, organized and straightly goes to those who deserve it, please directly contact Voice of the Voiceless movement at 085640104150, email: voiceofthevoiceless99@gmail.com.

Drop your donation goodies at:
Mitra Group
Jl. Madukoro Raya Ruko Semarang Indah blok C 8 No. 25 
Kel. Tawangmas, Semarang, Central Java

For you staying in Jogja and willing to donate stuffs through us (good quality dogfood, vitamins, dewormer/Drontal/Zypiran, flea & ticks repellent/Revolution/Frontline, good quality medicated shampoo, collars, etc) please drop them here:

1. SET.UR.DAY GARAGE_STORE :
Jl. Kaliurang Km 7,5 Ngabean Kulon No. 32 Yogyakarta
Open daily: 10.00–17.00 
twitter: @set_ur_day Phone: 081807922397 
website: http://seturday.wordpress.com/

2. JOGJA BODY ART GARAGE
Jl. Patangpuluhan 4a, Wirobrajan, Jogjakarta (across Bank Jogja)
Open: Monday–Saturday, at 13.30–21.00 
Hp: 083840190654 / 083869672698 Email : eko_mon@yahoo.com http://www.skinartjogja.com/tattooartyogyacontact.htm

We will provide you with a receipt for every donation you make.
Thankssssssssss :)

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