Dogs orphaned in China's quake find a home.
A woman run a shelter for dogs cripped by the quake.
This is one of China's lucky survivors. His hind legs crushed after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Sichuan Province last May, killing nearly 70,000 people, but his luck didn't stop there. He was picked up by this woman and brought to her private animal shelter where he's learning to get around again.
It's here where Chen Yunlian, a former businesswoman, cares for about 900 dogs. She rescued about 100 of them from cities hardest hit by the quake. Like other dogs with crippled hind legs, this one now walks with the help of a wheelchair device made of PVC pipes. Chen said her shelter is close to full capacity. She spends nearly 9,000 dollars each month on dog foods, salaries and supplies.
Much of that money, she says, comes out of her own pocket. Private animal shelters are still extremely rare in China. Dog ownership has grown in popularity as the Chinese become wealthier. But many people don't have the strong emotional attachment to the animals that's common in the West.
Sandy Kozel, the Associated Press.
WORDS IN THE NEWS
1. PVC : n-uncount
PVC is a plastic material that is used for many purposes, for example to make clothing or shoes or to cover chairs. PVC is an abbreviation for `polyvinyl chloride'.
2. attachment : n-var
If you have an attachment to someone or something, you are fond of them or loyal to them.