Today, he operates ATV Janda Baik at the Rimba Valley Motor Campsite in Bentong, supported by a “furry, four-legged crew” of dogs and cats.
“I was previously ambivalent to dogs; they were irrelevant in my life. I’ve seen ‘Rin Tin Tin,’ ‘Lassie’, and Disney movies about dogs. These were very nice, but that was as far as it went,” the 66-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.
There were times when he didn’t even like dogs, he said, mostly because their owners let them bark endlessly. But several incidents at his campsite changed how he now feels about canines.
For starters, he recalled noticing how the dogs owned by the Orang Asli would often follow their humans who walked into town. The animals would only head home once they were satisfied their owners had safely reached the main road.
“After a certain time, the dogs came back down because they sensed their masters’ return. The level of loyalty and timing was just incredible.”
He also remembers feeling miserable when a stray dog he and his wife once fed at his campsite suddenly went missing. He was shocked to later learn she had been poisoned, despite being a friendly stray.
But the one dog that made the biggest impression on him was a skinny stray that showed up at the campsite one day.
Describing this particular dog as a “game changer,” he said: “He had the ‘five-metre rule’. When I walked towards him, he reversed to maintain the distance. I believe stones had been thrown at him or he experienced other unpleasant encounters with humans.”
The couple started feeding him and named him Rusty. Soon, Rusty let his guard down, making way for a new friendship to begin.
And there were many more after Rusty. Today, Captain Nik cares for seven dogs and eight cats, all of whom showed up at his campsite at different times throughout the years. One of them is Tom Tom, a handsome feline who nearly lost his life, most likely after being attacked by wild dogs.
Then there are the puppies Luna and Molly, which Captain Nik found under his camper van. There is also Ali, who greets his humans by jumping in excitement.
“The level of appreciation when you show dogs love is amazing – such as the sounds they make when you start petting them. Or how they’ll turn on their backs for a rub on their stomach. It’s totally new to a Malay person like me.”
Indeed, the canines have made a profound impact on him. Apart from bringing his family laughter, they keep the campsite safe from wild boars and snakes. When his wife goes for a walk, Rusty never leaves her side.
“They bring happiness to a lot of people, including my guests,” he added. “Girls in tudung have said, ‘Lawanya anjing you, okay ke kita ambil gambar? (Your dogs are beautiful, can we take a photo?)’ I have seen those who arrive here not liking dogs but end up being okay with them.”
Still, he shared, for hygiene purposes, the dogs are prohibited from entering his house.
“When some people hear that dogs aren’t allowed in a particular area, they go, ‘Oh, that’s because this is a Muslim country.’ But they don’t realise that there are beaches and parks in the US that don’t allow dogs. It has nothing to do with Islam.”
He said Islam should not be linked to the issue of canine abuse. “If the animals work and care for you, I don’t think there’s any religion that tells you not to repay them with gratitude. Islam is a religion of more than a billion people. It’s a religion that makes sense.
“There is also a soft side to Islam that’s important. It doesn’t make sense not to be nice to an animal that’s taking care of you and devoted to your wellbeing,” he concluded.