The end has come for Muhammad Azmi Ismail, or Pak Mie, who ran a shelter for stray animals in Kedah. He died of a stroke at 11.30pm last night.

Pak Mie, 57, leaves behind his wife Halijah Idris, 68, and three children, who are now left to care for his 700-odd dogs and cats in a shelter in Alor Setar.

Pak Mie was in coma since Thursday and died last night at the Ampang Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Halijah, better known as Mak Intan, said Pak Mie's funeral will held at the cemetery grounds of Masjid Al-Bukhaty, Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar, tomorrow.

His body will be taken back to his home in Taman PKNK, Alor Setar, today.

"I have to carry on his work. We cannot let all our ‘children’ fend for themselves, they need me now," she said, referring to the stray animals.

"We will decide what to do after his funeral tomorrow," she told Malaysiakini , when contacted.Those who wish to help Mak Intan carry on Pak Mie's work can donate to her bank account (Halijah Idris at Public Bank, account no: 6-8368860-36).

Makeshift shelter

Mak Intan is mulling whether to hire workers to run the shelter as her children are tied up with other work.

"Please support our work because we can only depend on the kindness of people to go on caring for our ‘children’," she said.

Pak Mie's story captured public attention in 2013 when the Alor Setar City Council threatened to drive him out of his makeshift animal shelter, which he has been operating with his wife for almost 10 years.

Although Muslims are wary of handling dogs, Pak Mie and his wife were lauded for their courage and compassion in looking after the strays.

The couple relied on donations from animal lovers, well-wishers and support from animal rights groups such as Penang-based Save Our Strays (SOS), which provided cash and food for the shelter.

KiniTV video of Pak Mie and Mak Intan l 11.28 min