Guest Contributor – Jace Chong
Article submitted by Jace Chong
[Winning article for “A Chance To Bring Home Medicine Buddha — For Free!!” – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/a-chance-to-bring-home-medicine-buddha-%E2%80%93-for-free.html]
The Hero In My Heart
My mom, Mdm. Lee Kam Meng is a super animal lover. After I told her about how Kathmandu Animal Treatment has spay program for stray animals, my mom started her journey to take care more cats and dogs.
She loves animals since young. After all her children graduated and moved out from the house, my parents have more spare time. Instead of just feeding stray cats and dogs with leftover food, they started to buy cat and dog food to feed the animals who wonder around at the valley behind the house.
They are not rich people, after my mom celebrated her 55 years old birthday, she applied to take out the money in her KWSP account and spent on spaying all the cats, and taking care of the dogs.
My parents paired up really well to trap the cats and sent them to clinic for spaying, after that they put them into cages to make sure they healed before running freely and get the wound hurt. Most of the cats do not leave even after they are free from the cage. They stay around and became my mom’s babies.
One of the inspiring case is, there was a skinny injured dog, not sure where she came from, wander around the valley behind my house. She can’t eat, one front leg broken, whole body cover with skin problems, sometimes will bark in pain. My mom manage to pursue a vet doctor to came to the house and send the dog to vet in the doctor’s truck (as my parents not sure how to handle an injured dog).
After the check up, the doctor says the sickness is quite severe and advice to put to sleep to cut down the sufferings. My mom rejected, as I told her before, never put animals to sleep, it equals to killing, very bad karma. She insisted to take the dog home and take care of her. The neighbours kindly spare a space for the dog to stay. My mom start to take care of the dog diet, feed her with cod liver oils (as the vet doctor suggested), clean her, apply medicine to wounds, sometimes chant “Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum” to all the animals.
Miracles happened. After a few weeks, the dogs healed slowly, become healthy and gaining weight. My mom named her Xiao Bai (means little white in Chinese). She sent Xiao Bai for medical check up, the vet doctor asked where you get this pretty dog from? My mom proudly answered this was the dog you wanted to put to sleep last time. The doctor cannot believe it and the health condition is very well, just keep on the diet.
When Xiao Bai first came, she was badly injurded.
She becoming better after a few weeks
NOW!
She is completed healed and healthy now, she has a friend I am not sure the name is “Tiger” or “Leopard” that always protect her from attacked and bullied by others cats and dogs.
Actually my sister and I don’t call the dog Xiao Bai, we call her Fat Sheep as her nickname.
The neighbors like her very much. Some help to shave her, some feed her when my mom goes out for a few days.
Here are the cats, my mom has spayed over 20 cats by her own funds, now there are about 16 cats left at the valley behind the house. Some was poisoned to death as some neighbours feed rat poison to them as the cats make noise sometimes at night.
Those in cage are just sent back from vet.
Some of them don’t look very pretty, but my mom can find something cute in each cat and can tell me long story about them.
Having a siesta!
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This is really heart warming story to read. Beautiful people will create their own lives full of love and hopes especially to those vulnerable one. Their action inspired many as role model of being compassionate and is not mistaken Jace will be following their footstep as well. Jace, I’m proud of you! ❤️🙏
Dear Jace,
Looks like the heroine (you) that I’ve known have some interesting stories behind and now I understand better why you’re in love with them! ?
All the best!
Thank you Jace for sharing the heartwarming story. Both you and your mom are very compassionate people and treat animals with so much love and care. I have not heard of people willing to spend their retirement fund from their EPF and spent it all on the stray dogs and cats. Very generous and kind of her.
May her actions continue to bring more awareness to care for the animals.
谢谢你们对动物或是另一个众生的关爱。世界和平人人都能说出口，但都得从身边开始行动。不然也是空口而无行动的喧哗。
It warms my heart to see/hear of people like Jace Chong’s Mom be inspired by the good and kind things people in the world are doing.
Even until now I have never heard of someone who does not have an animal shelter but yet still doing as much as what animal shelters are doing.
I am very impressed that atop all the mean and abusive to animals kind of people there are still people like the honorable Pak Mie as well as Jace’s mom to cross boundaries and do what someone with a kind heart would do.
What I was more amazed was that she 100% used a savings and did not take a single cent from other people at all
I believe that no matter how poor we are we should still be able to rescue animals or at least be kind to them.
It is amazing how many cats she has managed to save!
Congratulations Jace Chong on winning the Medicine Buddha Statue!
Dear Jace,
The story of Xiao Bai reminds me of the story of a dog in Kathmandu Animal Treatment. It is also a rescued dog which was in a very bad state but with love and care, the dog recovered. What your mom does is full of love for beings who could not thank her but she still continues her work. She is such a kind soul.
Not many people can do what your mom does. SHe is truly inspiring and may Medicine Buddha bless her and all the animals she saves. She can be part of Kechara Animal Sanctuary when it comes up in KFR. Thank you for sharing.
Such a beautiful story and Xiao Bai, though not very Xiao now, has turned into such a beauty. But the most beautiful of all is Madam Lee in her tireless crusade towards animal welfare.
Love is such a nurturing trait.
wow i am sooooooooooo glad that the doggie is ok! this story is amazing a heartwarming, who says we can not do this, we can! i am so happy to hear that so many lives have been spare by Jace’s amazing family. i hope that they save more lives to come.
Congratulation Jace. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Your mom is amazing and inspiring. Her kindness to the animals will inspired many others. May your mom be blessed with good health and continue with the good work she is doing.
This is story really so touching and inspiring me.. Thank you Jace for sharing this interesting story of your mom 🙂 This called no matter how, if we give our sincerely heart to treat someone or animal, nothing is impossible.
Thank you, Jace, for sharing this beautiful story of your mother. Mdm. Lee is indeed a kind, compassionate lady whose unselfish acts have saved so many stray dogs and cats. Instead of spending the money for herself, she used it for the benefit of the strays.
I rejoice that she is able to invite Medicine Buddha home to bless the family and her furry friends. May your mum be blessed with good health and a strong body to continue the beneficial work she is doing.
Congratulation Jace, ur mum is so awesome. We salute to her.
May her always good health & good fortune to continue benefit more sentient beings…
There is such a difference between the Xiao Bai from before and the one now after receiving care and kindness from Mdm. Lee. The difference is not only in Xiao Bai’s physical condition but much more. What Mdm Lee did for the poor dog was to give her a new lease of life and a sense of love and security, not just a new skin and some food. The gift of relieving one from trauma is truly a gift of kindness and Xiao Bai has a home and a better life because Mdm Lee did not see her as a dirty and rotting animal but a life worth saving and sacrificing for. And this is what makes Mdm Lee a hero. This is also the first time I heard of a retiree taking out her life-savings to care for stray animals. Retired people are usually quite concerned about being able to last the distance with their savings but clearly, the welfare of others is just as important. I am very Glad that kindness has brought Menlha into Mdm Lee’s life and may she live a long and happy life.
Looks like this kindness runs in the family because Jace is also extremely kind and together with Khoo, they have saved countless stray animals. Khoo tells me that whenever Jace sees a dead animals by the road, she would always take them and give them a proper burial How kind and very thoughtful.
Such beautiful real story Jace! I am very happy for your mum. She is a real animal lover. With a kind heart and dedication your mum doesn’t give up and keep Xiao Bao nursing her until her recovers a bit before sending to the vet. Thank you for writing such a beautiful story and testimonial for what a person can do help the animals. 🙂
Dear Jace, your mum and dad are such a beautiful people! Now I know why you are so kind are loving as your mum is so kind and loving & love animals too!
A lot of people take out the money from KWSP after their retirement for their children or their house, car, etc. However, your mum took out the money from KWSP for the cats & dogs! It’s such a great way to spend the money and celebrate her 55 year old birthday! Her love and care to animals are so sincerely and unconditional.
Thank you Jace for sharing this beautiful story and thank you Madam Lee for so inspiring and also loving to the animals.
Dear Jace,
Thanks for sharing about your mom. If not for this blog post i would not have known of her wonderful care for animals. How Xiao Bai has healed and looks completely like a different dog is amazing! Your mom is an amazing woman and she will inspire so many people to look after animals. I love your post!
Dear Jace, your mum and dad are truly heros in their own ways. Even your neighbors are kind to help out when your mum needs it. The most interesting part was when your mum spent her savings on the dogs and cats. I am really happy that many people nowadays are concerned about the strays everywhere. And I am really happy that Fat sheep is healthy and well!
Jace’s mama is such a kind lady, she’s just like the female version of Pak Mie. I’m very glad to know that xiao bai is completely healed now, thanks to Jace’s mama!! Animals are treated very badly nowadays, it’s nice to have people like Madam Lee and Pak Mie to take care of them.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
Dear Jace and Jace mummy,
Thanks you for all the kind hearted work you all have done for these animals.
I feel so happy for the actions you all have made. Truly, it’s not easy to spend your money and time on these animal. Not everyone can do that. Like me, i still having time to communicate now with my parents to love stray animals.
Jace, your mum really is awesome!
Keep going Mdm. Lee Kam Meng, I will dedicate my prayer to you for your long life and healthy aways to benefit so many lovely furry friends that have the affinity to meet you and share your love. I would like to sponsor two bags of dog food for xiao bai and whenever I have extra cat food for free. Rejoice!
Thank you Jace for the sharing, your mother is really inspiring, she is so generous, kind and selfless. She is spending her own money to save and feed the animals, not only this, she also influenced the neighbours with her kind act. She is really doing it genuinely without asking anything in return.
Her action also shows how much you have been taking Dharma into practice, because of your sincerity, your words create big influence to your mom.
A real Hero that hidden behind the scene.
Thank you for submitting this wonderful story. It’s beautiful to see people taking care of animals that are helpless and in dire need of help. These people are deserving of an award!
I’m really glad that Rinpoche conceptualized this competition for everyone to share their stories with us here… for all the hard work these people have done, they do deserve much recognition from the public, not for fame, but for the public to appreciate their effort in helping these animals.
Congratulations on winning the Medicine Buddha statue. May all the fostered animals be blessed and have a good life without much sufferings under the car of this compassionate lady.
Dear Jace
I remember sometime back you shared with me about your mom and to read the stories and see the many pictures absolutely makes my day. I would very much like to meet your mom and all her lovely friends. It is obvious where you got your gentleness and kind heart from. There are not that many people who are like your parents and I wish very much to thank them. I look forward to meeting them soon.
Dear Rinpoche, Xiao Bai/ Fat sheep is so cute. She had suffered a lot but at least now her body is getting better thanks to Rinpoche’s mother and also Medicine Buddha. I never like to see animals suffering. I hope that no more animal will ever suffer again.
What a wonderful sharing Jace, thank you! I really rejoice to hear in what your mother is doing out of such kindness and goodness of her heart. She is like a lady version of Pak Mie! (http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/the-honourable-mr-pak-mie.html)
I’m also so glad to hear of her efforts and care for “xiao bai”. There are many cases like this where vets are quick to recommend putting down a dog or a cat, but actually, all they need is just a little love and care – which is the best healing. The photos of her now are beautiful – she does look a little like a fat sheep too hehe.
I guess this is where you have become such a kind animal lover yourself – you have helped me to rehome some of my cats too in the past, and I see how you and your housemates are constantly rescuing dogs. Thank you!
Oh my Buddha… Jace… your story is sooooo sweeeeet!!! You mum is like an angel for animals. I never knew there is such wonderful kind animal hero who is your mother, who does not need fame or recognition but helps these poor injured voiceless beings through real care. How kind of your mum and dad to be doing this, it is really compassion in action. Really admirable. She has so little yet she does so much more than some other people who complains they don’t have enough.
I really really love the story and picture of Xiao Bai and the cute cat that protects her. So adorable and I am so glad your mom did not give up on her and continued to nurse her back to health. She definitely deserves a beautiful Medicine Buddha statue to help her heal and plant Dharma seeds to all those furry freinds she save!
dear Jace
u have such beautiful parents who extends their love beyond the boundaries of their children. I felt so much care and love when I saw the pictures of your mother’s dogs and cats.
May your mom be blessed with good health by the power of Medicine Buddha’s prayers to be able to continue with the good work she is doing. May all the animals who come under your mom’s loving care be blessed also.
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Your story has spurred me to do more for the strays and to teach my kids to be kinder to animals. Thanks so much for sharing your story. I think your mum is awesome for doing this.
Dear Jace,
Heroes are everywhere, your mummy has a gentle heart towards animals.
What has transformed in ‘Xian Bai’ is another testimonial that with love and care all animals can be beautiful and healthy. The recovery in ‘Xiao Bai’ is remarkable surely.
Not many people will dig out their money to take care of strays. In short, these animals are none of our business. But your mum did the opposite just upon hearing a short story from her.
I wish your mum much happiness, health and fulfillment in many aspects of her life.
Xiao Bai’s story is really inspiring! With love and proper care all beings are beautiful. Thank you Madam Lee for saving all the dogs and cats and spraying for them. You inspire more to love animals.
Thank you for all that you and your mom/parents do for these animals. _/|\_