SICHUAN PROVINCE, China – Human survivors in China’s earthquake-hit region, Dujiangyiang, have lined up to hand over their pet dogs to the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) for temporary safe-keeping. The Hong Kong-based charity has set up a receiving station at a local veterinary clinic and a hotline for people to call.

The AAF, which has a sanctuary for moon bears in Chengdu, Sichuan Province’s largest city, decided to act after learning that the Dujiangyiang authorities had initiated a cull of all dogs for fear the animals may spread disease. So far, the AAF has rescued 68 dogs and two cats, taking them to Chengdu, some to an animal shelter, others to its rescue centre for medical attention.

This is one small way to help the human survivors too. “These poor people have lost almost everything -- family members, homes and livelihoods,” said AAF representative Christie Yang. “Now they’re faced with losing much-loved pets in a most cruel way. So if we can help them, we will.

“We’re asking people who want their dogs back to sign an agreement that we’ll make sure the animals are well looked after for six months. After that, if they’re still unable to take their pets back, they can renew the agreement. If not, we’ll try to rehome the pets. We’re also taking starving dogs that we find as they wander looking for food.”

Repeated offers by the AAF to enter the devastated area to vaccinate dogs and people against rabies and to rescue strays paid off when the Dijiangying Rabies Control Centre gave oral permission for the charity to help.

Equipped with free dog food and vaccinations from the corporate sector, the AAF is trying to save as many dogs (and cats) as possible. It’s a race against time because any dogs or cats found by the police or soldiers will be killed, either shot or beaten with sticks.

The rescuers take animals to the Qi Ming Pet Rescue Centre in Chengdu, which can handle about 200 dogs. The AAF, with funding help from the Humane Society International, is providing food and building a temporary quarantine area there.

Many animal lovers have been hiding their dogs in the ruins of buildings and risking their lives to return and feed them. “One elderly couple handed over their two Pomeranians,” said AAF founder Jill Robinson. “Clearly, they didn’t want to give them up, but were so relieved that we’d look after them. The old man walked away with tears in his eyes.”

Robinson felt heartened by the reactions of people in the survivors’ camp, many of whom thanked the AAF team for caring about the dogs. She hopes that in future the authorities will think twice before ordering a cull of animals in a disaster zone.

“We understand the need to act urgently to stop the spread of disease,” Robinson said. “But in a disaster like this, dogs and cats actually prevent diseases by keeping down the rodent population. Without dogs and cats to control their numbers, the rats and mice will breed to plague proportions, leading to serious threats of an epidemic. Rats will devour the food rations too.”

Immediately after the earthquake, the AAF contacted Red Cross China and three times has sent teams to Dujiangyan and Anxian to assist survivors, bring medical supplies, food and water, and offer basic first aid.

From day one of the earthquake, dogs have worked beside human rescuers, doing what they do best – helping humans. “For example, sniffer dogs found many survivors in the rubble, with one dog saving 35 lives,” Robinson said. “In another case, an old lady survived for 190 hours buried under rocks because two dogs kept licking her lips and giving her the will to live.”

Even family pets and strays, with their keen sense of smell and willingness to help humans, can locate trapped people and human remains. Dogs found barking and whining amid devastation often reveal where to look for survivors long after human rescuers have given up hope.

“We need to remember that dogs and cats also are victims of the earthquake tragedy,” Robinson said. “Many are family pets and have suffered terribly too. They may have lost contact with their families and now wander the streets, thirsty, hungry, weak, sick, confused, frightened and hurt. At this point, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between stray dogs and family dogs. Anyway, stray dogs too can help in such a crisis.”

Robinson vows to rescue more dogs and cats from the earthquake area.

ARCHIVES