Wanted: A new home for 400 cats and dogs

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Animal welfare campaigners in Chongqing said they are still looking for homes for about 400 cats and dogs that were cared for by a woman who recently died.

Luo Yingmei, who passed away in May at the age of 82, had adopted stray dogs and cats over a period of 25 years.

The animals were housed in three rented suburban apartments in western Shapingba district, costing her almost 10,000 yuan ($1,590) a month for rent, pet food, veterinary fees and the salaries of her two helpers.

She survived on donations, mostly from six core benefactors.

After Luo's death, long-time friends Yang Sumin and Huang Sulan have taken on the responsibility of looking after the animals that still live in the apartments.

"We had no other choice," said Yang, 67, who donated almost 300,000 yuan to help Luo over a period of more than a decade. "However, the food and money (about 20,000 yuan) we have received from well-wishers (since her death) will only last a couple of months."

Yang and Huang are now appealing for people to adopt the dogs and cats.

"We don't charge anything for adoption," Yang said. "So far we've managed to find new homes for more than 20 dogs and cats. We demand that the new owners not only have love, but are also responsible."

Luo, who is survived by her five children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, had been raising money for a new animal shelter before her death. Although construction on the project had started, she said in March it was still short about 40,000 yuan.

Chen Mingcai, chairman of Chongqing Small Animal Protection Association, urged authorities to do more to prevent the number of abandoned animals from increasing greatly in the city.

A shelter run by the group is home to more than 1,500 stray dogs and cats.

"We have received a total of 300,000 yuan in donations," Chen said. "Yet, our costs are about 80,000 yuan a month."

He said Luo's death should draw attention to people who care for strays in Chongqing. "Most are elderly residents who depend on meager pensions," he said. "What we need is help from society and the government."

He appealed for authorities to improve the laws for animal protection relating to small animals often kept as pets.

About the broadcaster:

Rosie Tuck is a copy editor at the China Daily website. She was born in New Zealand and graduated from Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Communications studies majoring in journalism and television. In New Zealand she was working as a junior reporter for the New Zealand state broadcaster TVNZ. She is in Beijing on an Asia New Zealand Foundation grant, working as a journalist in the English news department at the China Daily website.