I went to China on a mission.
During the past several years I have witnessed many heart-wrenching images and videos coming out of China of horrendous acts of animal cruelty on the internet. Within a few clicks we have the ability to witness animals being skinned alive for fur and thousands of dogs and cats crammed into trucks on their way to slaughter in China. The graphic cruelty is often hard to take and has caused a hatred for China to brew among animal lovers. I know I felt an overwhelming anger for anyone that would treat animals in this way. With my anger I would strike out within the cyber world. Ultimately, my angry remarks and insults were doing nothing to help animals, only fueling the anger and hate that others were also feeling . I found that the more angry and hateful I became the more helpless and sad I felt.
I realized that I was being reactionary and unfair. I was judging a country that I had never been to and I was generalizing an enormous society that I barely knew anything about. I was reacting in a way that was against my own morals and I sought a way to change it.
Animals are suffering on a massive scale in China, that is a without a doubt. Dogs and cats are eaten in large numbers and animal welfare legislature is non-existent. The method of slaughtering dogs and cats in live animal markets and restaurants is tragically cruel. Markets in China employ killing methods that leave both dogs and cats suffering a lingering, violent death as they are either bludgeoned over the head, stabbed in the neck or groin, hanged, electrocuted or thrown conscious into drums of boiling water. It is bad, really bad but I imagined that if there are compassionate people who are against this cruelty all over the world that some of them must live in China.
I went to China on a mission to find them and boy did I ever! The kind-hearted and generous people that I found in China have given me a new respect for the word “hero”. These inspirational Chinese devote their entire lives and incomes to saving innocent animals in a country where animal welfare is barely a consideration for many. Their passion and determination moved me and in many ways changed me. Each organization that I visited deserves their own blog and much more but I will attempt to give a brief tribute to 6 of them here.
Professor Paws: Chengdu, Sichuan
In China many children have never had the chance to touch a dog and parents often tell their children not to do so because they think that dogs are dirty or carry diseases. Professor Paws is a sector of the tremendous organization Animals Asia that takes loveable canines into schools and various events to educate the children on how to look after and love dogs. It doesn’t take long for the children to appreciate the warmth that animals bring to our lives.
One of the Professor Paws celebrities
“Professor Paws” picnic for toddlers.
A future Chinese animal rights activist, thanks to Professor Paws
Qiming Companion Animal Protection Center: Qiming, Sichuan
The Qiming Companion Animal Protection Center was founded by Qiao Wei and his wife Li Yanpin. At their shelter they house 800 dogs who have been recused from the streets and from slaughter for human consumption. Adoption in China is not always a safe alternative for the dogs. Many adopted dogs are not properly looked after, abandoned and end up back in the meat trade. All of the dogs who live here will be safe from the street and from slaughter but may never find an adoptive home.
The founders of the Qiming shelter, Qiao Wei and his wife Li Yanpin
Qiao Wei is responsible for saving the lives of thousands dogs in China
Nanning Stray Cats: Nanning, Guangxi
Nanning Stay Cats was founded 4 years ago by a group of passionate young women. 24 year old Sun Lu is one of the 10 volunteers who is dedicated to rescuing stray and abandoned cats off of the streets. Once the cats are rescued the group gets them medical care, spays and neuters them, then houses them in either their small shelter or in foster homes until a reliable and safe adoptive home is found.
Volunteer Sun Lu and a newly rescued cat
Nanning’s longest resident cat hoping for a home
Dr. Jen gives discounts for treatment to the rescued cats brought in by the volunteers
Sun Lu with two more rescued cats
I Save You: Wuhan, Hubei
Xiao Fan began rescuing dogs 6 years ago. He started by rescuing one dog at a time off of the street, getting them the medical care that they needed then working to find an adoptive home. Before long he realized that he needed to build a shelter because of the massive amount of dogs in need. 2 years ago Xiao Fan opened the doors to his newly built shelter which is now houses 200 dogs. To date Xiao Fan is personally responsible for saving the lives of over a thousand dogs. He holds down a full time job to financially support the dogs as well as depending on donations. Xiao Fan is one of the most kind-hearted and genuine people I have ever met anywhere in the world.
Xiao Fan surrounded by his fans. Just a few of over a thousand lives that he has saved
It can be a crowded house especially when lunch is on its way
Every Saturday local volunteers come out to the shelter to help groom and care for the dogs
Volunteers give love and support to dogs who have come from lives of only abuse
A volunteer helping this rescued dog stay cool for the summer
Saturday volunteer group shot
Chong Qing Small Animal Protection Center: Chong Qing City, Chong Qing
On January 15th 2012 a transport truck carrying 800 dogs to slaughter, many of them already sick and injured was stopped by 200 volunteers on a Chinese highway. The direct action to rescue these dogs was organized by Mr. Chen, the founder of Chong Qing Small Animal Protection Center. It is at the 2 shelters that Mr. Chen and his wife Mrs. Deng founded that most of these dogs live today. With a staff of 8 people they care for an astonishing 1200 dogs. Previously, the couple ran a successful shop and business for many years before deciding to sell the business along with their home to devote their lives to saving animals. If anyone is ever looking for true heros for animals that have an enormous capacity for compassion they need not look any further than Mr. Chen and Mrs. Deng.
Mr.Chen and Mrs.Deng the founders of the largest dog shelter in China
The shelter housing 900 dogs from above
Two rescued dogs typical of the type bred for human consumption
Mr.Chen
Handan Animal Protection Institution: Handan, Hebei
The Handan Animal Protection Institute is run by a group of caring and determined animal lovers who are passionate about rescuing animals and ending the dog meat trade in China. The farm-like shelter houses over 200 dogs, 50 cats, 2 cows, 5 goats, 1 donkey and 1 horse, so far. It was in Handan that I was welcomed with so much love and generosity that I was beside myself. This group of amazing people have the biggest hearts that I have ever come across. Any animal in their care is a lucky one. I support them fully on their mission to stop the suffering of animals in China.
Working as a street vendor Wang Shu Yun spent years rescuing dogs in her home. She wouldn’t tell me how many she had but said that her neighbours complained endlessly. When she met Yu Hong Gang he agreed to help financially and together they opened this wonderful shelter
One of the care givers that works full time at the shelter
Long term volunteer Moi Moi giving love to a rescued paralyzed puppy
Luo Lu Lu, a beautiful woman inside and out. She is a regular volunteer devoted to ending the suffering of animals
The co-founder of the shelter, Yu Hong Gang is a energetic and passionate driving force behind making China a better place for animals
Zhao Hua spends everyday at the shelter leaving her old job at a restaurant behind. Despite her family disagreeing with her life choice to work for animals she is determined to do all that she can to make their lives better.
The Handan Animal Protection Team
The thought of the suffering of dogs, cats and other animals in China still breaks my heart and makes me angry. But now I have a way to help them and so do you. I have witnessed the work of these wonderful people who I now consider dear friends. They are the ones that are responsible for saving animals in China and they are the ones who will end the cruelty. Please support these Chinese organizations that are working to make China and the world a better place for animals. It’s possible to make a donation on all of the websites provided, unfortunately for those that cannot read Chinese they will be very hard to understand. If you want to give and don’t have a Chinese friend to translate feel free to contact me and I can help to make sure that any contribution gets into their needy hands.
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Thanks for covering this story. You are very brave, I could not witness, yet let alone know about the cruelty without being very changed in a way that I could not cope. I have a great respect for you. All the best Julie. Hope to see you in the near future. xox Tina
What a wonderful story. It provides a glimmer of hope.
i can never figure out how to donate on any of these sites, even after translation. we need to help these people because they probably don’t have much local support.
Hello Catherine,
Please contact me directly julie@julieoneill.com and I can try to help. I can contact each of these shelters directly via friends in China who speak Chinese and we can work out a way for you to help.
Thanks for caring,
Julie
This is so heartening and inspiring ‚fantastic people who are so generous with their time,energy,relentless determination. They deserve and need our support and encouragement ‚bless them all.
It is not very often that we here “good news” stories from China when it comes to animals. It’s usually the opposite — pictures of the dogs in trucks on the way to a death that is so unimaginable to me I cant even let my mind go there. Great to see the pictures of the people that have sacrificed so much to save the animals and of course the pictures of the animals. As Heidi mentions above, your blog gives us a glimmer of hope.
This story warmed my heart! The abuse and torture of animals happens in every corner of the world, but there are heroes in every corner to. Reading and seeing the images which shows the love and compassion these people have for the animals in their care.…gives me HOPE for the animals in China.
so promissing.….love it
Thank you, you are true angels, we need more people like you on earth!!
what wonderful story!!!!amaizing and also very touching. now i think that no everybody in china it bad. !!!!!! thnks for thi s article it had bring hopes to my life about the animals at there. i want help!!!!
What a lovely story! I too have been horrified and deeply upset by the images and stories coming out of China, and vowed never to visit the country, where it seemed everyone treated animals cruelly. It is therefore so heartwarming to read about these heros who are saving animals on a daily basis, and I only hope that the Chinese children of today grow into adults who also appreciate animals and want to treat them kindly and with respect.
I would like to help in some way whether that be by donating or volunteering. I would appreciate it if you could contact me to discuss further.
Many thanks.
Thank you… GOD BLESS CHINA!!!
Thank you for this. It’s so easy to let prejudice boil up when I see these poor animals in such horrible scenes…your work helps to temper that. I could never have witnessed what you have. Your photos give hope. Tnx again.
this pepole and their stories are so wonderful, that i cried during i read the article. it’s so wonderful to know that there are people in such a big country like china, who really cares for the animlas.
You guys are so amazing i admire you all. i know we can change the situation if we work and support each other. thank you very very much for saving so many and so precious lifes.
I would like to help in any possible way so please contact me =)
Regards from Germany
Nil
thank you kindly, i´m a retired finnair stewardess flew for 34 years with labradors trying as 1 person to inform about tha asian meat dog, stolen pets, abandoned pets etc…to the dog world. i will follow you eagerly, best ritva in finland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRM6gZ8Lw_k
Looking at these images not only warms my heart but even makes me cry of happiness to see these true heros.We all have to support these heros so that the barbaric killing of innocent dogs and cats (humans precious friends) ends once and for all in China,and well not only in China but the rest of the world.
Thank you so much, Julie, for sharing with us the faces of those who are going to change their part of the world forever.
Julie, I appreciate what you have shared with us. These six groups are filled with true heroes. It is very true that you can’t paint everyone with the same brush. I hope that others in China will see what wonderful work is being done and just maybe the powers that be, will step in and help. You are very inspiring and much admired.….……
What touching photos. Thank you for taking the time to share your visits to these Chinese animal rescues. I was lucky enough to volunteer at the Hong Kong Dog Rescue in Hong Kong about 7 years ago, yet another great rescue. Fortunately, there are a lot of caring people in China; what would help tremendously is if the government would get on board. The animals need to have protection.
Julie — astounding and inspiring work !
I just felt exact the same way you did/do, about being angry because of all the animals suffering in China (and also rest of the world). I felt more and more sad and sometimes I’m asking myself what will become of this world we live in.. Right at that moment.. I saw your blog! It’s wonderful what you did, the people you are telling about are great! The pictures are beautiful!
Thank you very much for sharing these great stories of these wonderful people!
Thankyou ‚thankyou! The dislike for this country has been boiling over in me ever since I saw the nightmare pictures of their treatment of dogs and cats. Now I see that there are compassionate people who are working so hard to re dress some of the damage done. I will support them as much as I am able, and hope that change will come one day
. Thankyou again
There is a very valuable lesson here, thanks for bringing the goodness of China to light, we must remember there is always two sides!
Thanks for sharing the stories of these wonderful people..It’s given me a glimmer of hope. I’ve seen so many heartbreaking and disturbing images of unbelievable cruelty to dogs and cats in the food/fur trade in China.. God bless you kind souls!
Its great to know that the love for these animals is slowly filtering through the Chinese people,one day hopefully the animals will gain full respect from the Chinese people
I too though of china as the most cruel place on earth when it came to animals„but then I saw the great work/rescue of animals by the people ‚with good hearts miracles can be achieved,I still cry and get angry at the people that commit such horrendous acts,but it warms my heart to know,not everybody is cruel in china ‚hopefully the good will outweigh the bad.…education,compassion and love is the way.…thanks to wonderful people !
Given the fact that adoption in China is not always a safe alternative for the dogs, many adopted dogs are not properly looked after, abandoned and end up back in the meat trade. Perhaps international adoption is a good idea for animal shelters in China. By doing so, not only it will help to off load financial responsibly of the shelters, it will also makes more rooms for future rescues as well as sending out positive news to the out side world. Animal shelters in Thailand, Iran, etc open for international adoption.
WOOO THAT IS AMAZINGGGGG
SO GLAD THAT NOT EVERYONE IN CHINA ARE CRUEL TO ANIMALS 
THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS AND HELPINGG OUT THIS ANIMALS !!!!
Blessings to those Chinese people who are making an impact about the cruelty regarding the dog/cat meat and fur industry…change comes from within. Thank you so much for the work you do to save these animals in the face of so much cruelty and lack of compassion. I salute you.
Thankyou so very much for the these beautiful stories of hope and true kindness. Animal suffering knows no borders. These people are all heros and are changing the future of China; as we should all be helping change how we as humans treat all animals.
I hope that you will ask for contact info for each rescue/shelter, so that we may share this info with a ‘donate’ button or link.
Thankyou, the pictures were so amazing..I fell in Love with the grey kitty-cat. I wish I could have him x
Voice of China. Thanks so much to Julie and Patrick’s mission to China. so many people get good influence from you.
These people are real heroes — big thanks!
And thanks to the author of this article who helped me to deal with my own anger and frustration. Please go on informing about positive things as well, even this makes our word a better place.
This is such fantastic work Julie. You really capture the spirit of each of the animals you’ve photographed– each picture is like a piercing direct entry into their soul. Amazing! And what a wonderful organization that’s doing this great work!
Thank you for bringing attention to these wonderful animal-loving people in China! When I was there, all I could think about was all the dogs that were being eaten