In a small town in the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo, dozens of stray cats and dogs have found a haven away from the gunfire. Called the Ernesto’s Cat Sanctuary, the pet shelter has provided medical care and temporary shelter for hundreds of animals in the past few years. /AFP Photo

The pet home was established by Mohammed Alaa al-Jaleel, a 43-year-old ambulance driver known as the “cat man of Aleppo,” who started rescuing cats since he was a boy. /Chinanews Photo 

When war broke out in Syria in 2011, people started fleeing the city and many had no choice but to leave their pets behind. Jaleel discovered and took home over 170 stray animals, gradually setting up a shelter with the help from other animal lovers. /Photo via Twitter

In 2016, the initial sanctuary was destroyed in an air strike, killing many cats and dogs. Fortunately, with crowdfunding campaigns launched online, the shelter was rebuilt last year and now houses over two dozen animals. /Photo via Twitter

With an in-house vet, the pet sanctuary is also serving as a makeshift animal clinic and has saved hundreds of wounded animals. /AFP Photo