These two stories perfectly fits the saying above!
Penangite who spends more than half of salary to feed strays
Anfalazie Anuar or Ann, from Butterworth, Penang, recently gained much attention following an online post which revealed the sacrifice he makes just to feed stray cats and dogs around Bukit Mertajam. To date, the post has gone viral on social media with 417 shares on Facebook.
Despite earning a meagre salary, Ann who holds two jobs as a parking attendant and cleaner in Bukit Mertajam, would use more than half of his salary to buy food for the strays. Ann takes it all in his stride even if that means owing money to market owners for the animals’ food.
Source: Facebook
What’s even more touching is Ann’s great compassion for strays – come rain or shine and even when he is unwell, Ann continues to stick to his routine of feeding strays for the past 10 years and counting!
Ann, usually his rounds twice a day to feed stray cats and dogs around the area. Needless to say, the strays he feeds have also bonded with him and look forward to his visits every day. “I’m grateful with the blessings that I have. It is enough to be able to breathe, eat, drink, be with my family, and feed the stray cats and dogs”, he told mStar.
Responding to public generosity following his story going viral on the Internet, he said, “I’m actually a shy person and was surprised when the story grabbed the attention of many”. Ann is grateful that donations from the public has helped him to fully settle debts for the animals’ food which was more than RM1,000. A kind soul has even offered to repair the motorbike he uses on rounds to feed the strays.
At the end of the day, Ann prefers to remains humble about his deeds – “There are others who feed strays too, not just me. Compassion for animals is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
Mak Intan’s unconditional love for her furry kids
Source: freemalaysiatoday.com
For the past 30 years, Halijah Idris or better known as Mak Intan from Kedah has been taking care of many of her “four-legged children”, over 700 homeless dogs and cats, to be exact. It was her late husband, Muhammad Azmi Ismail, Pak Mie, the animal lover, whose story first garnered public interest back in 2013 when local authorities urged him to vacate the premises and move his animal shelter, The Tanjung Bendahara sanctuary.
Reminiscing her memories with Pak Mie in caring for her furry kids, she told The Rakyat Post, “we would spend hours with them and that was what made me and my husband closer”. When faced with various challenges in the past from a segment of the Malay community, Mak Intan has this to say – “Islam teaches us to love all animals as they are creations of God but then again, everyone has his own opinion. We just do what is right for us but I shall continue to love all my furry kids as they have been entrusted to me by The One Above”.
Fast forward to current times, Mak Intan is left to fend for herself in caring for her furry kids, after the demise of Pak Mie, four years ago.
It was reported that the shelter required about 40kg rice, chicken, fish and eggs per day and the cost of medicines are also expensive.
Vowing to continue the legacy of her late husband, Mak Intan is grateful to generous donors who show support by donating rice, chicken and fish as well as medication for the sick animals – “Only God can repay the kindness of those who have helped”, she added.
In 2016, the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya honoured Mak Intan with the “Dignifying A Profession” award for her outstanding contribution to society. She dedicated the award to her late husband and thanked everyone for their support.
Mak Intan vehemently believes that she has to remain strong and take care of her health for the sake of her furry kids.
Thank you for all that you do, Ann and Mak Intan! The rest of us can surely learn a thing or two from the both of you and show more compassion to animals.
