A team of students from INTI International University’s Faculty of Engineering & Quantity Surveying has developed SafePaws — a mobile app designed to support the rescue, care, and adoption of stray, lost, and abused animals. Led by student Kiow Yoon Ying, the project earned second place at INTI’s 5-Minute Innovative Speech Competition and continues to draw attention for its practical design and social relevance.
Motivated by the growing number of abandoned animals and the fragmented nature of the rescue ecosystem, Kiow and her team created SafePaws as a centralised platform to connect individuals and organisations working in animal welfare. “We saw how difficult it is for people to report injured or lost animals, and how disconnected the rescue ecosystem can be,” said Kiow. “With SafePaws, we wanted to provide a platform that not only helps animals but also brings shelters, vets, volunteers, and adopters together into one community-driven space.”
The app prototype features a user-friendly interface, starting with a secure sign-in and leading to a dashboard offering multiple functions. Users can report animal cases with location tagging and images, track the status of rescues, donate to shelters, adopt pets, and register for volunteer opportunities. An educational hub within the app promotes responsible pet ownership, with tips on pet care, first aid, and rehoming.
A notable feature is the app’s built-in rewards system. Users earn points for reporting animals, volunteering, or making donations. These points can be redeemed for pet-related items such as food, toys, and bedding using QR codes at participating stores. To ensure safety and transparency, the team has also incorporated clear privacy terms and user protections into the app’s design.
The development of SafePaws was informed by field research, including interviews with shelter managers and pet owners, to better address coordination challenges among stakeholders in animal welfare. The result is a solution that reflects both compassion and practical problem-solving — an approach encouraged throughout INTI’s learning environment.
Industry professionals have also taken notice. “This is a very comprehensive solution,” said Robert Yong, General Manager of HR & Admin at Ann Yak Siong Hardware Sdn Bhd. “SafePaws has great potential to be developed further and introduced to the public. It’s a strong example of how young minds can drive meaningful change.”
The team is now exploring opportunities to test SafePaws in real-world settings through collaborations with local shelters and NGOs. They also plan to expand the app’s features and accessibility. “We’re grateful for the recognition, but our biggest hope is to see SafePaws used in real life,” said Kiow. “Animals can’t speak for themselves, so we created a platform that helps people become their voice, support, and second chance.”
Group members (from left) Ryan Ong, Chong Zhi Jin, Goh Zi Ying, Kiow Yoon Ying, Lee Zi Wei, May Hong Siang Fong, and Shen Zhaohui designed SafePaws — an app supporting the rescue, care, and adoption of stray, lost, and abused animals.
Screenshot of the SafePaws app prototype.
The Safe Paws team receiving their second-place award on stage with supervisor Dr. Vinoth Rex (first on the right from centre) and Azureen Abd Aziz, Head of Programme for General Studies, Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts (first on the left from centre).