Dog and cat shelter in Nanjing, China

[Guest guest]

I am in the U.S., but am wondering if there is anyone in China who

might have ideas as to how this woman's shelter can be checked out

and how she might be able to receive help from the international

community (organizations or individuals).-- Thank you, Joellen

(www.joyatri.com)

 

Copyright 2006 South China Morning Post Ltd.

 

 

South China Morning Post

June 18, 2006 Sunday

NEWS; changing faces; Pg. 6

 

She gave it all up to devote her life to abandoned animals

 

Friends and relatives of Ha Wenjin say she was foolish to sell her

flat and car and drain her savings to set up a shelter for abandoned

animals. But the 36-year Nanjing businesswoman tells Kevin Huang she

has no regrets

 

 

Why are you doing this?

 

I had had a dog since 1993 when I started my business and was really

attached to it. I was on an overseas business trip in 1998 when my

dog was beaten by the local government dog patrol and it wandered

away wounded. I felt so much grief and searched the city for it for

several weeks. During the search, I saw lots of abandoned dogs and

cats on the streets.

 

I didn't find my dog but adopted several animals which I gave to

friends.

 

In 2002, I went to Beijing for work and heard about someone who had

set up a shelter for abandoned pets, so I decided to set up my own

shelter in Nanjing.

 

How many abandoned pets have you adopted so far?

 

I have adopted 453 dogs and 56 cats since 2002. They all live in the

shelter in Nanjing's Tangquan town. We picked up most of the dogs

and cats by the roadside and many were injured. Some of them were

sent to the shelter by their owners.

 

Does the shelter cost you a lot?

 

It has cost more than 1 million yuan over the past four years. We

need 17,000 to 20,000 yuan each month to maintain the shelter and

650 yuan a month in wages for each of the seven employees. The pets

can eat up to 1,000kg of rice in 10 days. I also spent 300,000 yuan

last August to buy the 6,000-square metre site where the shelter is

now. We rented space in other places in the past, but we had to move

because residents complained that the shelter caused pollution.

 

How did you get the money to do this?

 

I spent my savings. I used to be a book dealer in Nanjing from 1993

to 2002 and had an apartment, my own car and about 500,000 yuan in

savings. I stopped work in 2002 to devote myself fulltime to the

shelter. I sold my apartment and car in 2003 after exhausting my

savings. Now the shelter gets about 3,000 yuan in donations every

month, and we have set up a pet clinic to help subsidise the

shelter. But we still can't make ends meet and are about 300,000

yuan in debt.

 

What do your family and friends think about this?

 

Most of them think I have gone mad. My family opposed me and stay

away from me. My boyfriend left me in 2003 even though we had been

together for eight years. Some of my friends said I was mentally ill

but many animal lovers have given me material and emotional support.

 

Have you had problems?

 

I have not come across any major difficulties so far, but there have

been some frustrations. Some people said I adopted the pets so I

could deceive people into giving donations. I feel I am living a

meaningful life.

 

What are your plans for the future?

 

What I am sure about is that I will stay with this cause, adopting

abandoned dogs and cats.

 

Ha Wenjin: committed animal-lover