Finding Inspiration From Other Countries

Finding Inspiration From Other Countries: Lessons in Compassion and Care

One of the most encouraging things about animal welfare is how much we can learn from each other. No country has all the answers, but every place has a few gems worth sharing. When we look beyond our borders, we find ideas, approaches, and sparks of inspiration that can reshape how we care for animals at home.

Dr Lucy has had the chance to visit several shelters and sanctuaries across Asia and beyond. Each one offered something different, something that made her stop and think, “We could do that in Cambodia… and it would work.” These experiences have played a big role in shaping the heart and direction of Kingdom Kitties today.

Nana’s Sanctuary in Malaysia – A Grassroots Movement Done Right

Nana’s Sanctuary is a place that sticks with you. What started as a small rescue effort for street animals in Malaysia has grown into a sanctuary built on love, resilience, and pure determination. They take in injured, abandoned, and vulnerable animals, giving them a chance to heal and find safety.

What sets Nana’s apart isn’t just the care they provide—it’s the way they involve their community. They run clever outreach programmes, adoption drives, and awareness events that genuinely change how people treat animals. And they don’t rely on luck or one-off donations. They’ve built sustainable funding strategies, like sponsorship programmes and community-led fundraising, that keep their work moving, month after month.

Key lessons from Nana’s:

• Real change starts at grassroots level with ordinary people deciding “enough is enough.”
• A long-term vision matters. Saving animals today is good—building a future where fewer animals need saving is even better.

It’s proof that passion, consistency, and community can transform a small shelter into a movement.

Other Places That Left Their Mark

A Wildlife & Domestic Animal Sanctuary (Example)
Dr Lucy once visited a sanctuary that didn’t just care for cats and dogs—it protected wildlife alongside them. Seeing domestic animals and rescued wildlife cared for under one roof was a powerful reminder that compassion isn’t limited to one species. This sanctuary partnered with environmental groups and ran school programmes teaching children about ecosystems, not just pets. That wider perspective opened Lucy’s eyes to how animal welfare connects to nature, conservation, and the health of the whole environment.

A Shelter Working Hand-in-Hand with Local Government (Example)
Another impactful experience came from a shelter that built strong ties with local authorities to humanely manage stray populations. Instead of working against the system, they worked with it. They helped train officials, provided humane alternatives to culling, and ran education campaigns in schools and markets. The result? Safer communities and better outcomes for animals. It showed Dr Lucy what’s possible when shelters and government agencies unite behind welfare instead of conflict.

Bringing Global Lessons Home to Cambodia

Every trip Dr Lucy has taken has reinforced one truth: good ideas travel well. Cambodia may have its own unique challenges, but that shouldn’t limit our imagination or our ambition.

Some of the ideas Dr Lucy is adapting for the shelter include:

• Community outreach, not just rescue – educating and involving local families

• School engagement, teaching children compassion early

• Partnerships, whether with local leaders, vets, or other NGOs

• Creative funding, so the shelter can grow sustainably rather than survive month-to-month

Animal welfare doesn’t need to be invented from scratch here. We can borrow, adapt, and improve ideas that are already working elsewhere.

Compassion is a global language. Whether in Malaysia, Cambodia, or anywhere else, the desire to protect animals connects us. When we learn from others, we don’t just improve our shelter—we become part of a global community of people who care.

Learning Together for a Kinder Future

Dr Lucy’s travels have shaped the vision of the shelter: to learn, to grow, and to always look for better ways to care for animals. Inspiration can come from a small rescue in a village or a world-class sanctuary abroad. What matters is that we keep learning and share what we learn with others.

If you’d like to be part of this journey—whether by supporting Kingdom Kitties, volunteering, or even sharing stories of amazing shelters you’ve seen—your contribution matters. We rise faster when we rise together.