Operation to deworm and vaccinate rescued strays rolled out across 18 Chinese cities in a major push to give neglected animals special care.

When Ze Sheng, a gorgeous golden retriever, was rescued in Fuzhou city, in China’s eastern Fujian province, he was in a cage with a broken leg. It had been wounded for at least a month before he was picked up and taken to a shelter.

After examining Ze Sheng’s leg, a vet decided the injury was so serious there was no option other than amputation.

After a successful operation, Ze Sheng was recently given a completely clean bill of health after being dewormed and inoculated against disease. He is just one of more than 3,500 cats and dogs who have benefitted from an animal welfare programme funded by Animals Asia in the past five months.

Sadly, thousands of cats and dogs in China and other Asian countries end up in shelters having been abandoned by their owners, born on the streets or rescued from the meat trade.

Without proper medical care, they can fall prey to diseases such as rabies and parasites such as tapeworms, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and even, in the case of rabies, death.

Since 2015, 47 Chinese animal organisations in 35 cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, have received funding from Animals Asia to help renovate their shelters and provide food, toys, vaccines, de-worming tablets, anti-pest sprays and collars for more than 16,800 cats and dogs.

Another survivor is San Hua, a tiny kitten who was discovered shivering and drenched by the rain on the grounds of a university campus in Xuzhou city, Jiangsu province in June last year.

A student kindly rescued the kitten and contacted a local animal organisation for help. Small animal milk powder was quickly dispatched to the campus as well as advice on how to look after such a young, fragile soul.

Like Ze Sheng, San Hua has thrived thanks to her carers and has also found a forever home.

Animals Asia’s Cat and Dog Welfare Director for China, Irene Feng said: 

“There is an army of animal lovers in China ready and willing to help animals in need. Right now they just need the guidance, the expertise and the funding. That’s why Animals Asia is working with over one hundred local groups to build capacity all over the country. No one organisation can help all of China’s strays and shelter animals, but by spreading skills and awareness and working hand-in-hand, we can improve thousands of animal lives.”

“Anyone who has seen a cat or dog with rabies, knows how devastating the condition is and how painful. Infected animals can suffer fever, seizures, paralysis and weakness. Sometimes they can’t swallow their food or lift their heads and of course the risk to humans and other animals is dire. Yet rabies is completely preventable, and by stopping the spread we mitigate suffering for potentially hundreds of animals.

This vaccination programme was carried out by Ya Dong, a consultancy wholly owned and advised by Animals Asia.

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