Elderly Muslim man uses pension and savings to build shelter for abused stray dogs

Seventy-year-old Pak Hassan, a Muslim man from Seremban, has dedicated the last three years to rescuing and sheltering stray dogs in his neighborhood.

Speaking to Sin Chew Daily, he told reporters that his parents had raised him to respect every life as precious, no matter what kind of animal. Initially, not the biggest fan of dogs, his feelings took a turn when he witnessed his fellow neighbors mercilessly attacking the stray dogs near their homes with a slingshot.

Pleading with them to stop, they refused and he began to think of what he could do to protect the innocent canines. It was then that he had the idea of building a shelter.

He told the paper that he had even seen others pelt the poor dogs with stones until their heads were bleeding, or until their legs were broken (ok, we’re crying now). There were even dog death squads who would come to kill the canines.

Pak Hassan began by simply feeding the hungry dogs that would loiter near his home; unsurprisingly, his neighbors began to complain, and accused him of un-Islamic behavior.

While some Muslims see dogs as unclean, many scholars point to early Islamic literature characterizing dogs as symbols of self-sacrifice and loyalty. One would certainly be hard pressed to find justification for animal cruelty.

In an attempt to appease others, he began to let the dogs inside his home to hear. The gesture had an opposite effect – his neighbors began to complain even more. Pak Hassan then decided to begin housing the dogs on his property.

He named his first rescue Cindy, and described the state that she came to him as “devastating.” Her legs had been broken, and she was skin and bones.

One soon grew to 20, and the ire of his neighbors grew. Even his young neighbors lectured the elderly gentleman in what was Islamic and not.

He told them politely: “Dogs are also created by Allah.”

Pak Hassan has since relocated the shelter to a more suitable location, and has used most of his pension and savings in building the dogs a proper shelter.

While there are some out there that will use religion to absolve their cruelty to animals, gentlemen (in the truest sense of the word) like Pak Hassan are here to show us what love and selflessness are truly about.