Located in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Anugerah Mahligai Arah Nasib Abadi Haiwan (Amanah) is home to over 300 cats who, like Hashim and Zaini, are happy to share their lives and playtime with the canine trio.
“There’s no issue with having dogs, even in our religion. The Quran states that we can keep dogs to guard our crops, our livestock, and for hunting purposes,” Hashim, 64, told FMT Lifestyle.
He said the dogs lived inside the shelter in a separate enclosure from the cats and never ventured into the house.
Hashim and Zaini, who both have a soft spot for animals, said it had long been their dream to open a shelter for abandoned, injured or stray animals.
During a recent visit by FMT Lifestyle, it was clear that the furry residents here were not “fighting like cats and dogs” but were getting along peacefully with one another.
In fact, the cats would often sneak into the dogs’ enclosure to spend time with their canine friends or to have a literal catnap!
“We treat them equally without favouring one over the other,” Zaini, 63, said with a smile.
However, as expected, Hashim and Zaini received rather harsh criticism from Muslims when they posted videos of their dogs on social media.
Many reprimanded them for going against their religious beliefs, saying it was a sin to take the dogs in.
Anticipating such a reaction, Hashim replied: “There are many Malay veterinarians who treat dogs, and they comply with religious standards by wearing gloves during the process, don’t they?”
His reply put an end to the critics’ arguments and even garnered him support from others who shared his sentiments.
Most of the animals here are rescues or had been abandoned at the gates. Some of them belonged to people who had passed away.
Hashim said they encouraged owners who surrendered their pets, for whatever reason, to visit the animals on Sundays to give them some reassurance.
“We can give the cats food, but they won’t eat if they’re stressed, mostly due to the pressure of adapting to a new place or owner,” he said, adding that some cats actually die from refusing to eat because they were depressed and pining for their human family.
Running a shelter is a huge financial commitment given that utilities, pet food and medicines are costly. The duo said they fork out their own money to provide a home for the animals in need.
“It’s always been our dream to build a shelter like this, so it wouldn’t be fair to ask people to pay for our dreams,” Hashim pointed out.
All the same, many animal lovers have come forward with donations. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also sends veterinarians over to administer vaccinations and tend to the sick and injured.
As for the future, “we aren’t getting any younger, and it’d be nice if someone can step in to help run the shelter someday”, Hashim said.
“As long as you can take good care of the animals, have the passion, and are willing to put in the time, you wouldn’t even need to pay us to take it over!” he added with a laugh.
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