As the earthquake outreach goes on I know that many people are wondering about the health of our new bears. Naturally we’ve had to postpone all but the most urgent of surgeries as our vet team really don’t want a sleeping bear on the table as another aftershock hits. (The latest on Monday afternoon literally rocked the chairs during our meeting.)
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Wednesday and we’d earlier received seven more calls on the hotline and then found ourselves standing in the middle of another 22 dogs surrendered in Dujiangyiang.
At 2pm on Monday we arrived again at our temporary registration and collection station in Dujiangyiang and found a queue already forming. It was reassuring to know that our hotline was doing its job and this, together with a local TV programme, which went out the night before, was alerting local pet owners that help was at hand for their dogs and cats.
Driving in to Dujiangyiang yesterday morning, we passed so many people leaving their now-destroyed homes. Trucks, trikes and even bicycles loaded up with meagre belongings and heading for places far away, to build anew.
It's Sunday morning and we are just about to head off on our latest trip to Dujiangyiang to help the dogs in the area, but first let me tell you about “Pi” the puppy, the newest member of our family. This little mite was rescued from the River Pi (pronounced Pea) yesterday by our lovely security staff who heard him yelping, then saw him struggling into the reeds by the water.
Good news. Christie has finally secured official authorisation today for us to go into Dujiangyiang, collect dogs and cats that need help and place a notice on the government bulletin boards and surrounding areas alerting the public that we can help with companion animals wherever required.
Over the past few days, there have been several conflicting news reports about a possible cull of dogs in Qingchuan, one of the counties worst-hit by the earthquake. We’ve also heard that the Army may be sending snipers in to two districts to shoot surviving dogs. We’re trying to get as much information as we can to see if there is anything we can do.
Over the past few days, there have been several conflicting news reports about a possible cull of dogs in Qingchuan, one of the counties worst-hit by the earthquake. We’ve also heard that the Army may be sending snipers in to two districts to shoot surviving dogs. We’re trying to get as much information as we can to see if there is anything we can do
This morning (Wednesday) was quiet, but raining, and must have been so miserable for the people at the centre of the quake. It’s a relief to report that everyone here at the sanctuary is still safe and sound and coping with minimum staff. No one wants to be away off site, of course, but all have been incredibly understanding as to why everything can be more safely managed when so much uncertainty is around.
Thanks so much for your concern about the bears that may be stranded on abandoned farms in the areas effected by the recent earthquake. We too are very concerned about these bears and have been in touch with the authorities in these areas. We have already made it clear that we are ready and willing to accept all bears recovered from the farms.
Jill's Bio
Jill founded Animals Asia in 1998, after an encounter with a caged bear on a farm in China changed her life forever. She now heads a team of over 300 enthusiastic staff and divides her time between our bear rescue centres in China and Vietnam and our Hong Kong head office. She travels extensively to participate in conferences and speak at fundraising events.
Read more here.
