When life fell apart, 18 abandoned dogs kept Logendran going

SHAH ALAM: Every morning, 18 dogs and puppies watch the entrance from inside a rented factory in Klang, ears pricked and tails ready. They know the sound of his vehicle. They know his footsteps.

When 52-year-old S Logendran finally appears, they rush towards him, jumping excitedly and crowding around the human who has fed them, cleaned up after them and cared for them since they were born.

What they do not know is that behind the smiles and routines is a man who often feels life has cornered him from every direction.

“Everywhere I move, checkmate,” said Logendran, describing a string of financial setbacks that have left him facing bankruptcy, struggling to rebuild a business, and worrying about how to support his family.

Yet every morning, the dogs still need breakfast. So he shows up.

The animals entered his life about five years ago when a neighbouring factory closed down and left behind several dogs. Logendran could not bring himself to leave them abandoned.

“They stayed around our place and we started feeding them,” he recalled. “Then they stuck to us.”

Today, the dogs live inside the factory he rents in Klang Sentosa, where he runs a maintenance business. It is far from an ideal environment for animals, but it is the best shelter he can provide for now.

“They are like my children. I’ve been taking care of them with my brother since they were puppies. I cannot just let them go,” he stressed.

Originally from Taiping, Logendran moved to the Klang Valley in 1993 after college and built his own maintenance business. Hoping to expand his income, he later ventured into logistics and purchased five lorries.

Unfortunately, the investment turned disastrous. Clients failed to pay, operational problems mounted, and the business collapsed under the weight of growing losses.

Two of the lorries eventually ended up in workshops, while debts continued to pile up. “Everything is gone,” he said, describing the situation as “ground zero”.

Despite his financial troubles, giving up the dogs has never crossed his mind.

Caring for them costs between RM2,000 and RM3,000 each month for food alone, although a pet store in Subang occasionally donates bags of kibble.

“If people want to help me, I normally refuse cash and ask them to buy kibble,” Logendran said.

Vaccinations cost RM800 to RM900 annually, while parasite treatments every six months add another RM1,050 to his expenses.

The numbers are daunting for someone in his situation, but Logendran insists the animals are not the source of his problems.

“Many of my relatives have asked me to give the dogs away. They tell me I am struggling to keep them.

“I’ve told them not to talk about my dogs like that. I tell them that I’m not struggling to keep my dogs. I’m struggling to rebuild my life.”

Indeed, for Logendran, his four-legged companions have become a source of comfort during some of the darkest moments of his life.

“Because of them, I feel alright,” he said. “During my struggles, I am very happy with them.”

Should he manages to rebuild his finances someday, he hopes to create a proper shelter where abandoned animals can live in a safer and more comfortable environment.

For now, survival comes first: his own, and that of the 18 dogs waiting every morning by the gate.

As long as they need him, Logendran says he will keep showing up.

If you wish to help Logendran, contact him at 011-1227 1518.