KUALA LUMPUR: The grounds of the Desa ParkCity Waterfront became a sea of wagging tails on Saturday as about 100 golden retrievers and their devoted paw-rents gathered for an evening of fun, socialisation and prizes.
The annual mega gathering of the Golden Nuggets Club Malaysia (GNCM) filled the area with friendly faces and happy barks as owners reconnected, newcomers made friends and dozens of dogs revelled in the attention.
Many good, good boys and girls – along with their owners – embraced the Hawaiian theme with colourful garlands, hula skirts and other tropical-inspired outfits.
GNCM founder Audrey Yeow said she was thrilled by this year’s turnout, which was up from around 80 dogs at last year’s gathering.
“I’m very thankful to everyone who decided to attend this year. I hope everyone had a great time,” she told FMT Lifestyle.
“We also had many wonderful sponsors, and I’m very grateful for their support.”
The event is believed to be the largest gathering of golden retrievers ever held in Malaysia, with guests travelling from Johor Bahru, Melaka and Seremban to join in the fun.
The dogs’ colourful costumes certainly made them the centre of attention, with pet lovers and passers-by stopping to take photographs with them.
Goodie bags were handed out, while prizes were awarded in categories including Youngest, Oldest, Fluffiest Tail, Perfect Body Line, and Best Dressed.
A sudden downpour forced the prize-giving ceremony to be cut short, but not even the rain could dampen the spirits of the dogs and their owners.
One of the event’s winners was three-year-old Lizzie, who came out tops in the Best Dressed Female category with her eye-catching pink Hawaiian fairy-princess outfit.
“We participated last year and came in fourth, so I’m glad we did better this year,” her human Nithi Kumar said.
“I think she looks great, and I’m very proud of her.”
GNCM was founded in 2022 after Yeow’s own golden retriever, Titus, fell ill and required medical treatment.
The experience inspired her to create a supportive community where local golden retriever owners could exchange advice, share experiences and form lasting friendships.
The club also rescues abandoned golden retrievers across the country – a problem Yeow said was worryingly on the rise – and helps find them new homes.
“Many people buy them when they are young, then later decide they can’t handle the responsibility of caring for them,” she said.
“It is wrong to simply abandon them.”
GNCM has since grown to about 820 members nationwide, with most based in the Klang Valley.
Yeow hopes such events will raise greater awareness about treating animals with kindness and compassion, particularly in light of recent cases of animal cruelty.
She also hopes to organise even larger gatherings in future, with room for between 150 and 200 dogs.
To accommodate the growing community, she is searching for a larger venue – preferably an indoor one.
“I hope more golden retriever owners will reach out to us,” Yeow concluded. “These dogs are very easy to love, and we can offer owners plenty of help and advice on caring for them.”
Follow the Golden Nuggets Club Malaysia on Instagram.
