Help offer for pet shelter pair
By Zha Minjie and Ni Yinbin |
February 13, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PET protection groups have offered to help an elderly couple who provide shelter for more than 70 stray cats and dogs on a downtown street.
The intervention follows complaints by neighbors that the animals are a health hazard.
Zhou Hongnian and his wife Wu Gendi, has been taking in strays for more than 10 years on Tongzhou Road in Hongkou District.
The couple have built three makeshift shelters - constructed out of scrap wooden boards, canvas and even tricycle carriers - to house the animals.
Numbers are on the increase and the couple are finding it increasingly difficult to care for their charges.
"We can help by sterilizing some of the animals for free," said a spokesman for the Shanghai Small Animal Protection Association.
This offer was echoed by the Dogs and Cats Shelter Center.
Both organizations have government backing.
The associations also suggested Zhou and Wu give them some of the animals.
"But we need to hear what they say," said the spokesman.
Zhou and Wu said they would be happy to have some of the animals sterilized, but were reluctant to give any away.
"For us, the current situation is the best choice," said Zhou.
But Zhou admitted that expenses were growing "We cannot feed them forever," said the 86-year-old.
Half of Zhou and Wu's 4,000 yuan (US$634) monthly pension goes on feeding their charges.
Neighbors, however, accused the couple of creating a health hazard with their shelter.
"The smell in the summer is very difficult to bear," complained one neighbor.
The intervention follows complaints by neighbors that the animals are a health hazard.
Zhou Hongnian and his wife Wu Gendi, has been taking in strays for more than 10 years on Tongzhou Road in Hongkou District.
The couple have built three makeshift shelters - constructed out of scrap wooden boards, canvas and even tricycle carriers - to house the animals.
Numbers are on the increase and the couple are finding it increasingly difficult to care for their charges.
"We can help by sterilizing some of the animals for free," said a spokesman for the Shanghai Small Animal Protection Association.
This offer was echoed by the Dogs and Cats Shelter Center.
Both organizations have government backing.
The associations also suggested Zhou and Wu give them some of the animals.
"But we need to hear what they say," said the spokesman.
Zhou and Wu said they would be happy to have some of the animals sterilized, but were reluctant to give any away.
"For us, the current situation is the best choice," said Zhou.
But Zhou admitted that expenses were growing "We cannot feed them forever," said the 86-year-old.
Half of Zhou and Wu's 4,000 yuan (US$634) monthly pension goes on feeding their charges.
Neighbors, however, accused the couple of creating a health hazard with their shelter.
"The smell in the summer is very difficult to bear," complained one neighbor.
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