Woman adopts 1,500 stray dogs

A Chinese woman has given up her job, her home and her car to adopt more than 1,500 stray dogs.


Ha Wenjin gave up her business career and sold her house, car and jewellery to set up her unofficial dog rescue centre in Tangquan County, Nanjing.

"At first I did this in my spare time, but as I gathered more and more abandoned pets, I had to work full time for them," she said.

She has taken on 10 workers to help her look after the dogs - and another two to help care for 200 adopted cats at a second centre she has set up nearby.

But her project was put at risk when local government officials, who don't recognise her work, reclaimed the land for redevelopment.

"I had to find a new place which was deserted and not close to any human habitat, as 1,500 dogs are not quiet," she said.

"And the place had to be very cheap to rent, as most of our income comes from donations."

Finances are so tight that she partly relies on volunteer days when people bring hundreds of 'pork buns' to feed the dogs.

Ha eventually found a site, in Houyu village, Pukou County, but desperately needs funds to get the new animal rescue centre up and running.

And she is hoping more volunteers will turn out help her move the dogs on four buses on 4 December - and to clean the vehicles afterwards.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Woman_adopts_1500_stray_dogs

Woman adopts 1,500 stray dogs

A Chinese woman has given up her job, her home and her car to adopt more than 1,500 stray dogs.


Ha Wenjin gave up her business career and sold her house, car and jewellery to set up her unofficial dog rescue centre in Tangquan County, Nanjing.

"At first I did this in my spare time, but as I gathered more and more abandoned pets, I had to work full time for them," she said.

She has taken on 10 workers to help her look after the dogs - and another two to help care for 200 adopted cats at a second centre she has set up nearby.

But her project was put at risk when local government officials, who don't recognise her work, reclaimed the land for redevelopment.

"I had to find a new place which was deserted and not close to any human habitat, as 1,500 dogs are not quiet," she said.

"And the place had to be very cheap to rent, as most of our income comes from donations."

Finances are so tight that she partly relies on volunteer days when people bring hundreds of 'pork buns' to feed the dogs.

Ha eventually found a site, in Houyu village, Pukou County, but desperately needs funds to get the new animal rescue centre up and running.

And she is hoping more volunteers will turn out help her move the dogs on four buses on 4 December - and to clean the vehicles afterwards.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Woman_adopts_1500_stray_dogs

Ripley's Helps Dog Out of Hairy, Homeless Situation

AOL News

(Nov. 3) -- A toy poodle that looked more like a matted ball of yarn than a pooch is getting a new "leash" on life thanks, in part, to the folks at Ripley's Believe It or Not.

The dog was recently found in a ditch and brought to an animal shelter in Houma, La., covered in matted fur -- so much that his eyes were covered with hair.

Since the folks who run the shelter, My Heart's Desire, couldn't believe anyone could treat a dog like that, they decided to name the pooch "Ripley."

This toy poodle was found in a ditch with fur so badly matted that he couldn't even walk. A shelter in Houma, La., rescued him and named him "Ripley" because it was hard to believe anyone would do that do an animal.


"You would have never believed there was a dog under there," said My Heart's Desire co-founder Tracey Lapeyrouse. "He didn't even look like a dog. He looked like the elephant man. All you could see was his snout."

Once Tim O'Brien, VP of communications for Ripley's Believe It or Not, heard about Ripley's hairy situation, he became a believer about wanting to help his employer's namesake.

"This isn't the first animal I've heard of that was named Ripley," he confessed. "I once had a goldfish named Ripley. But this is the first time an unbelievable animal had the name."

O'Brien learned about Ripley's plight through a Google search and immediately called the shelter offering to help.

"Ripley the dog is what Ripley's Believe It or Not is all about," O'Brien said. "It's unbelievable that a dog could even be in this condition, let alone survive and go on to potentially become a great pet for someone."

Unbelievably, except for the Rasta-like matting, Ripley was fairly healthy and wasn't malnourished.


However, the fur covered the pads on his feet and he had a couple of skittish moments when he tried to walk without the excess foot fur.

Now that Ripley has been given a good grooming and lots of TLC, and been neutered, My Heart's Desire is looking for a permanent home for him. To that end, Ripley's will give $400 to My Heart's Desire and Ripley the dog will come with a gift card for a pet store that his new owners can use for food, grooming, toys and other expenses.

One person who is considering adopting him is O'Brien himself.

"Whoever gets him is getting a great dog," O'Brien admitted. "I'm tempted to drive down from Nashville and adopt him myself. My family wants me to."

Whether or not O'Brien adopts him, he promises that Ripley's Believe It Or Not will always be a part of Ripley the dog's life.

"We are putting his story in the 2012 edition of our 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not!' book," he said. "His life will be very public. It will be a big deal when he's adopted. I hope his new owners understand they'll have to share him with the world."

Ripley's Helps Dog Out of Hairy, Homeless Situation

AOL News

(Nov. 3) -- A toy poodle that looked more like a matted ball of yarn than a pooch is getting a new "leash" on life thanks, in part, to the folks at Ripley's Believe It or Not.

The dog was recently found in a ditch and brought to an animal shelter in Houma, La., covered in matted fur -- so much that his eyes were covered with hair.

Since the folks who run the shelter, My Heart's Desire, couldn't believe anyone could treat a dog like that, they decided to name the pooch "Ripley."

This toy poodle was found in a ditch with fur so badly matted that he couldn't even walk. A shelter in Houma, La., rescued him and named him "Ripley" because it was hard to believe anyone would do that do an animal.


"You would have never believed there was a dog under there," said My Heart's Desire co-founder Tracey Lapeyrouse. "He didn't even look like a dog. He looked like the elephant man. All you could see was his snout."

Once Tim O'Brien, VP of communications for Ripley's Believe It or Not, heard about Ripley's hairy situation, he became a believer about wanting to help his employer's namesake.

"This isn't the first animal I've heard of that was named Ripley," he confessed. "I once had a goldfish named Ripley. But this is the first time an unbelievable animal had the name."

O'Brien learned about Ripley's plight through a Google search and immediately called the shelter offering to help.

"Ripley the dog is what Ripley's Believe It or Not is all about," O'Brien said. "It's unbelievable that a dog could even be in this condition, let alone survive and go on to potentially become a great pet for someone."

Unbelievably, except for the Rasta-like matting, Ripley was fairly healthy and wasn't malnourished.


However, the fur covered the pads on his feet and he had a couple of skittish moments when he tried to walk without the excess foot fur.

Now that Ripley has been given a good grooming and lots of TLC, and been neutered, My Heart's Desire is looking for a permanent home for him. To that end, Ripley's will give $400 to My Heart's Desire and Ripley the dog will come with a gift card for a pet store that his new owners can use for food, grooming, toys and other expenses.

One person who is considering adopting him is O'Brien himself.

"Whoever gets him is getting a great dog," O'Brien admitted. "I'm tempted to drive down from Nashville and adopt him myself. My family wants me to."

Whether or not O'Brien adopts him, he promises that Ripley's Believe It Or Not will always be a part of Ripley the dog's life.

"We are putting his story in the 2012 edition of our 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not!' book," he said. "His life will be very public. It will be a big deal when he's adopted. I hope his new owners understand they'll have to share him with the world."