(CN) HK team finds dog that helped save woman trapped in rubble

May 29, 2008

SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE

South China Morning Post

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Thursday 29th May 2008

by May Chan

A Hong Kong team has found one of the two dogs that helped an elderly woman

survive 196 hours trapped in rubble.

Volunteers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

came across Qian-jin, a six-month-old mongrel, on a hill next to a Buddhist

temple in Pengzhou city. The other dog, a German shepherd named Guai-guai,

was found earlier by temple staff.

The animals were reported to have kept alive Wang Youqiong, a 61-year-old

Buddhist, by licking her face as she lay stuck between two rocks next to the

temple. Their barks led rescuers to her last week.

The mongrel was taken to an animal shelter, but will be reunited with the

German shepherd and returned to the temple after it is rebuilt.

Tony Wong Tse-tong, superintendent of a team sent to the earthquake area by

the SPCA, said both animals were in good shape.

The seven volunteers arrived in Sichuan at the weekend, and have been

training locals in disease control and how to rescue, vaccinate and shelter

surviving animals. " We are heartened by the eager response from the local

community in saving animals, " Mr Wong said, adding the team had saved more

than 20.

Another group, Animal Asia Foundation, has rescued 68 dogs and two cats. The

foundation has set up a centre in Chengdu offering food, vaccinations and

shelter.

Foundation founder Jill Robinson said dogs and cats could provide comfort to

people who had lost family members.

Last week, police in Qingchuan were ordered to kill dogs to prevent the

spread of disease.

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