Volunteers devoted to caring for stray animals

Nearly 300 stray dogs and cats have been helped over the past five years by members of a philanthropic pet salon in Jiuting Town. Among them, 36 dogs and more than 20 cats have found new homes.

Containers of food are placed in front of many households in the Shilin residential area in Fudi Community.

“The food is for the stray dogs and cats in our community,” said Wang Lingjie, chief of the pet salon.

On hearing her voice, several cats and dogs gathered round. Wang knows everything about each animal, such as which cat has just been sterilized and which dog has an ailment.

Some residents don’t understand why 65-year-old Wang spends most of her 4,000-yuan (US$573.4) monthly pension on caring for tray animals.

“An animal’s life is no inferior to a human’s. I can’t bear to see them starve or go cold,” Wang said.

Members of the salon are volunteers who adhere to strict rules and clear labor divisions. Funds raised are managed by a special accountant and payment used to care each stray cat or dog have to have a receipt and be witnessed.

In addition to animal care, salon members also help to improve the neighborhood environment. They made dog fecal bag distribution boxes and set them up inside the neighborhood for pet owners to use when they walk their dogs.

“It’s also important that stray cats and dogs receive sterilization operations. A cat can be pregnant three times a year and give birth to four or five kittens each time. If we don’t give them sterilization operations, they will multiply too much and cause problems both for the neighborhood and their own livelihoods,” said Wang.

So far the salon has offered sterilization operations for 152 stray cats and dogs and its members will invite volunteers from TNR Shanghai (trap, neuter, return) to give lectures on animal care and management.