OVER 100 stray dogs were rescued from a slaughterhouse in Longhua District by workers with an animal protection association, according to sznew.com.

People in the slaughterhouse had a conflict with the association’s workers and the faceoff between the two sides didn’t end until police arrived. Pan Qiang, a veterinarian of the association, said that only half of the rescued dogs survived as most of them had been severely injured.

The 29-year-old has been working at the association for nine years. He was a veterinarian at a pet clinic nine years ago, but the pet clinic’s owner sold the clinic in order to set up the association and Pan also gave up a well-paid job as a veterinarian to join the association.

Living in a rented apartment near the association’s rescue center, Pan starts his day by making breakfast for the rescued dogs and cats and doing checkups for them.

Currently, there are four people working at the association. The head of the association had to pay the rent and medical fees for the rescued animals with his own money in the very beginning. Many volunteers joined the association and some people donated money, food and medicine.

The rescue center also provides bathing, foster care and medical services for pets at a low price, and most of the center’s earnings are used to buy food and medicine for rescued animals.

Pan said although his salary at the center was way lower than his previous income at the pet clinic, he felt really happy working at the center because of his fondness for the animals. “Many dog lovers have also brought us abandoned or sick dogs that they found on the street,” he said.

The center also encourages people to adopt the rescued dogs and the center’s staff pays follow up visits to those who adopt on a regular basis.

Pan came to Shenzhen from his hometown in Henan Province when he was 18. He wants to promote animal welfare in his hometown in future. (Zhang Yang)