Dog's best friend: Chinese monk saves 8,000 strays | ABS-CBN
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Dog's best friend: Chinese monk saves 8,000 strays
Dog's best friend: Chinese monk saves 8,000 strays
Peter Stebbings and Jessica Yang,
Agence France-Presse
Published Jun 22, 2021 01:25 PM PHT
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SHANGHAI, China - His bald head glistening with sweat, Zhi Xiang peers into the eyes of a stray dog whose coat has become matted in heavy rain and says soothingly: "Let me cut your hair, cutie."
SHANGHAI, China - His bald head glistening with sweat, Zhi Xiang peers into the eyes of a stray dog whose coat has become matted in heavy rain and says soothingly: "Let me cut your hair, cutie."
The bedraggled pooch is among scores of dogs hauled off the streets of Shanghai by police and packed in metal cages in a foul-smelling holding area.
The bedraggled pooch is among scores of dogs hauled off the streets of Shanghai by police and packed in metal cages in a foul-smelling holding area.
More than 20 puppies are also crammed into a yellow plastic crate; one dog is dragged in while inside a tied bag.
More than 20 puppies are also crammed into a yellow plastic crate; one dog is dragged in while inside a tied bag.
But for Zhi's intervention, they will all be put down in a matter of days.
But for Zhi's intervention, they will all be put down in a matter of days.
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But Zhi is no ordinary animal rescuer: he is a Buddhist monk and will give these dogs a new life either at his ancient monastery or at a shelter he runs in the Chinese city.
But Zhi is no ordinary animal rescuer: he is a Buddhist monk and will give these dogs a new life either at his ancient monastery or at a shelter he runs in the Chinese city.
He already has nearly 8,000 dogs to feed and care for. A few hundred will eventually be resettled in Europe or North America.
He already has nearly 8,000 dogs to feed and care for. A few hundred will eventually be resettled in Europe or North America.
"I have to rescue them because if I don't, they will die for sure," said the 51-year-old, who temporarily discards his monk's robes for an orange workman's suit as he gives vaccinations to disheveled dogs fresh off the streets.
"I have to rescue them because if I don't, they will die for sure," said the 51-year-old, who temporarily discards his monk's robes for an orange workman's suit as he gives vaccinations to disheveled dogs fresh off the streets.
Driven by his faith, Zhi has been rescuing animals -- mostly dogs but also cats and other strays -- since 1994.
Driven by his faith, Zhi has been rescuing animals -- mostly dogs but also cats and other strays -- since 1994.
It started when he began treating cats hit by vehicles on the road. Back then, there were few stray animals, but that has changed markedly in the last four or five years, he said.
It started when he began treating cats hit by vehicles on the road. Back then, there were few stray animals, but that has changed markedly in the last four or five years, he said.
China's growing wealth has seen a boom in the pet market but some people simply abandon them when they do not want to care for them anymore, said Zhi.
China's growing wealth has seen a boom in the pet market but some people simply abandon them when they do not want to care for them anymore, said Zhi.
"This is not caused by people who dislike dogs, or by the government, but by so-called dog lovers who don't have proper animal-caring knowledge," said Zhi.
"This is not caused by people who dislike dogs, or by the government, but by so-called dog lovers who don't have proper animal-caring knowledge," said Zhi.
Breeding among strays is causing their numbers to explode.
Breeding among strays is causing their numbers to explode.
State media said in 2019 that there were 50 million stray animals in China and that number is roughly doubling each year.
State media said in 2019 that there were 50 million stray animals in China and that number is roughly doubling each year.
DOGS AND BUDDHAS
With help from volunteers and his small workforce, Zhi keeps several hundred dogs at his Bao'en Temple, where he is the head monk and golden Buddhas look on serenely against a backdrop of howling pooches.
With help from volunteers and his small workforce, Zhi keeps several hundred dogs at his Bao'en Temple, where he is the head monk and golden Buddhas look on serenely against a backdrop of howling pooches.
The temple, which is still a place of worship, also hosts a room filled with 200 cats, along with a ragtag collection of chickens, geese and peacocks.
The temple, which is still a place of worship, also hosts a room filled with 200 cats, along with a ragtag collection of chickens, geese and peacocks.
The air is an incongruous mix of animal smells and burning incense.
The air is an incongruous mix of animal smells and burning incense.
Zhi keeps mostly sick dogs there and the rest go to a bigger facility elsewhere. The lucky ones will find a new home with new owners.
Zhi keeps mostly sick dogs there and the rest go to a bigger facility elsewhere. The lucky ones will find a new home with new owners.
The unlucky ones, about 30 percent of the dogs he rescues, die of disease or were already too sick to save.
The unlucky ones, about 30 percent of the dogs he rescues, die of disease or were already too sick to save.
Zhi is not a trained vet but his love of animals, in the way he strokes, soothes and kisses them, is obvious.
Zhi is not a trained vet but his love of animals, in the way he strokes, soothes and kisses them, is obvious.
The continually growing number of unwanted animals is a huge financial strain.
The continually growing number of unwanted animals is a huge financial strain.
Zhi, who gets up at 4:00 am each day, gets no money from the government. He has borrowed from his parents and other monks and receives handouts from donors.
Zhi, who gets up at 4:00 am each day, gets no money from the government. He has borrowed from his parents and other monks and receives handouts from donors.
He estimates that annual costs are about 12 million yuan ($2 million) and he needs 60 tons of dog food every month.
He estimates that annual costs are about 12 million yuan ($2 million) and he needs 60 tons of dog food every month.
"The problem is that I can't borrow any more money now," he said.
"The problem is that I can't borrow any more money now," he said.
TEARFUL FAREWELL
Since 2019, Zhi has been sending some of the strays abroad to be resettled overseas.
Since 2019, Zhi has been sending some of the strays abroad to be resettled overseas.
Volunteers who can speak English use social media to reach an international audience, and about 300 dogs have been placed in the United States, Canada and various European countries including Germany.
Volunteers who can speak English use social media to reach an international audience, and about 300 dogs have been placed in the United States, Canada and various European countries including Germany.
The memory of those lucky dogs -- their journey from the streets and almost certain death to a new life -- brings tears to his eyes.
The memory of those lucky dogs -- their journey from the streets and almost certain death to a new life -- brings tears to his eyes.
"I think they're very happy so I feel it's worthwhile," he said. "But of course I miss them."
"I think they're very happy so I feel it's worthwhile," he said. "But of course I miss them."
One recent Saturday morning, Zhi was at Shanghai's international airport to drop off a dog to a passenger who volunteered to take it to a new home in the US city of Seattle.
One recent Saturday morning, Zhi was at Shanghai's international airport to drop off a dog to a passenger who volunteered to take it to a new home in the US city of Seattle.
Wearing his monks' robes, Zhi holds the small dog in his arms until the last minute, muttering "goodbye, goodbye".
Wearing his monks' robes, Zhi holds the small dog in his arms until the last minute, muttering "goodbye, goodbye".
He wipes away tears as the woman and dog disappear through the departure gate.
He wipes away tears as the woman and dog disappear through the departure gate.
"I have a dream that one day, when I have some free time, I want to go abroad and visit them, take photos with every dog that I rescued," he said.
"I have a dream that one day, when I have some free time, I want to go abroad and visit them, take photos with every dog that I rescued," he said.
"So when I get old and can't walk, I have these photos to look at."
"So when I get old and can't walk, I have these photos to look at."
jya-pst/dma/gle
© Agence France-Presse
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Biden thanks Black Americans for their support
Biden thanks Black Americans for their support
Reuters
Published Feb 07, 2024 12:33 PM PHT
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During an event to mark Black History Month on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden told the audience at the White House he expects to be back next year celebrating the date, hinting at a successful re-election campaign.
During an event to mark Black History Month on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden told the audience at the White House he expects to be back next year celebrating the date, hinting at a successful re-election campaign.
Biden thanked the Black Community for their support and called on voters to choose honesty, decency, dignity, and respect.
Biden thanked the Black Community for their support and called on voters to choose honesty, decency, dignity, and respect.
On Saturday, Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary - the first officially sanctioned race of the party's nominating season.
On Saturday, Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary - the first officially sanctioned race of the party's nominating season.
While Biden, 81, faced little opposition, the vote was being closely watched amid concerns about his popularity, especially among Black voters.
While Biden, 81, faced little opposition, the vote was being closely watched amid concerns about his popularity, especially among Black voters.
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Four years ago, it was South Carolina's Black vote in the state's primary that helped ignite Biden's campaign and ultimately propel him to the White House.
Four years ago, it was South Carolina's Black vote in the state's primary that helped ignite Biden's campaign and ultimately propel him to the White House.
(Production: Gerardo Gomez)
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