An example of what I was talking about

[Guest guest]

This item is an example of what I was talking about regarding

the role of " stray " dogs in finding buried people in my message of

Monday, re " China county orders dog cull after quake. "

 

What people usually don't realize is that incidents of this

sort really are not unusual. I have collected examples after every

major disaster worldwide since 1994, for a cumulative total in the

hundreds.

 

-----

 

 

South China Morning Post Thursday, May 22, 2008

 

SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE: Puppies help to save trapped grandmother

Kristine Kwok

 

Wang Youqiong did not know the two puppies. But the two canine

strangers have become her best friends since they helped save the

devout Buddhist who survived 196 hours stuck between two giant rocks.

 

A resident of Chengdu , Ms Wang was planning to stay in a Buddhist

temple in the city of Pengzhou throughout May. But her month-long

retreat was interrupted when the massive earthquake struck the

mountainous region on May 12.

 

The grandmother fell to the ground and was then swept away by an

ensuing mudslide. When it was all over she was stuck between two

rocks, the Xiaoxiang Morning Post reported.

 

Villagers in the surrounding neighbourhood had abandoned the area, so

her cries for help went unheeded, then the puppies came along. In the

following eight days, the dogs were her only companions. They did not

leave her until rescuers followed their barks and found her on

Tuesday.

 

" Over the past eight days, these two dogs kept barking, and licked

Wang Youqiong's face and mouth, " the report said.

 

Ms Wang reportedly survived by drinking rainwater and by the moisture

from the dogs' licks.

 

She was conscious when pulled out and was able to give rescuers her

family's contact details.

 

The family was overwhelmed upon receiving the rescuers' call.

 

" I have been waiting for my mother's call. I couldn't believe a

miracle would happen, " her son Zeng Linghua said.

 

Ms Wang's amazing rescue came along with another as rescuers

persisted in their efforts despite ever-diminishing hopes for the

survival of those still missing.

 

Yesterday morning, a worker at a hydropower plant in Shifang was

saved after being trapped in a tunnel construction site for nine days.

 

Xinhua reported that Cui Changhui, 35, suffered several bone

fractures but the injuries were not life-threatening.

 

---

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]