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Pak Mie said it takes between RM40,000 and RM50,000 a month to run the shelter, which has no proper running water or electricity for now, and donations came in form of cash, food and medicine.
The hatred for what Pak Mie does runs so deep that there is a group called Pak Mie Animal Shelter Hell on Facebook and some blogs that attack the couple over what they do.
Pak Mie said some people take one look at his shelter and start criticizing before trying to understand the hardship and commitment required to run the place.
"Some have lodged complaints with the local veterinary department. The officers here came to inspect the shelter, hear my explanations and left satisfied. My critics were still unhappy and even took their complaints to Putrajaya (Malaysia's administrative seat) but we are still here. It is always easier to talk than to do the actual work. They should try rescuing strays themselves, set up a better shelter and outdo me. Show me a good example and I will follow. It will do a lot of good if others also start rescuing the animals."
In recent months, Pak Mie and Mak Intan's furry kids were also looking at an eviction.
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Mak Intan was rescued by a bunch of stray dogs when she was washing clothes in a river near her place. She slipped and fell into the river and a stray dog saw her being swept away by the river's current. The dog then brought with her fellow strays and together, they pulled Mak Intan to the bank of river. Mak Intan said, her eyes, glistening, she owes her life to dogs and that she doesn't understand why Muslims hate such lovely, sentient creatures.. |
The state City Council had ordered the couple to get out of the government reserve land and a plot belonging to the private Malaysian sewage treatment consortium beside a river in the plot of land, which they had been occupying for years now with their simple makeshift shelter.
This happened around the same time Pak Mie was told he could not relocate his animals to another remote area some 37 km away, where he had bought a piece of land and started building a new shelter.
He had already invested more than RM300,000, which partly came from a donation, on the project.
"The land in Kuala Nerang was a good place as it was not near any residential area but some villagers started to object. I had allowed veterinary students to conduct operations to spay 10 of my dogs there. The villagers came, saw what was happening, and lodged complaints.We had planned to move there in September but now I have to sell the land. I cannot pursue it any more to avoid problems and tensions with the locals. It would not be safe for my dogs any more," Pak Mie lamented.
With assistance from the local MP, Gooi Hsiao Leung, the couple were given a reprieve until the end of this month.
However, the authorities have recently granted permission to Pak Mie to keep his existing shelter with the condition that he builds a more proper place for the animals.
"I was directed to set up a proper shelter with a septic tank so the animal feces will not flow into the river, and also cement the ground.
"I have no idea how and when we will finish building the new shelter. We can only work on it bit by bit when we have some money," he said.
Pak Mie, who refers to himself as “ayah” (father) when he talks to his dogs, said he and his wife just want to be allowed to care for the animals they rescued from the streets in peace, and that he would face even cannon if anyone tries to take his animals.
"They are precious to us and we have made many sacrifices. Mak Intan even took time to learn from veterinarians how to treat the animals for minor illnesses and injuries. She doesn't go home to sleep if she has to care for the sick animals."
Pak Mie said he hopes the authorities will find a better solution to control the stray population than catching the animals and destroying them.
"Putting a dog to sleep sounds humane but why kill a perfectly fine animal when the stray population can be controlled by spaying? If the Government does not want to spend money to set up shelters, then think of a way that does not involve taking an innocent animal's life."
Pak Mie said he and Mak Intan would keep on saving dogs and caring for them until they die, even though age has already caught up with them.
"We are training our grandson Alif Affandi to take over from us. I have told him that if he does not do well, he would be dishonoring the both of us."
On why he does not allow the public to adopt dogs from his shelter, he said people who wanted to be kind to dogs should rescue strays from the streets themselves. "There are many out there to be saved and given a home. That is how they can truly help, not by adopting or buying dogs.
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