A man gave up millions to save homeless dogs and opened a shelter to protect them.
Your faith in humanity may have dwindled in the previous years. This might be because of so many cruel things are being done to animals. Every week we see at least one horror story on social media.
It is usually about some terrible thing an evil person has done. Much of the time, it is done to an innocent animal. However, when you read how one man gave up millions to help stray dogs, you may think differently.
Restoring Your Faith in Humanity
Prepare to have your faith in humanity partially restored. It is heartwarming to learn how this Chinese man left his luxurious lifestyle to take care of abandoned dogs in his community.
Wang Yan, once a multi-millionaire in the Jilin province of China, gave up millions of dollars to establish a home for stray and abandoned dogs.
Why He Felt so Strongly About Helping
His desire to rescue abandoned dogs arose from the time his own beloved pet went missing in 2002. In an interview, Yan shared that he looked everywhere for his dog, but the search proved futile and his pet was nowhere to be found.
Ultimately, he extended the search to a local slaughterhouse. He did not want to find his dog there but needed a sense of closure by finding out what happened to him.
What Really Moved Him to Act in Such a Big Way?
There was no luck, however. After viewing the blood and gore typically found in a slaughterhouse, he vowed to help every stray dog in the best possible way. Hence, he established a shelter for homeless dogs.
All the wealth he had accumulated from his steel manufacturing business over the years in Changchun City was finally put to good use. He purchased the slaughterhouse from the previous owners to make sure that no more dogs would be killed there. It was transformed into a shelter that now caters to homeless dogs. He vows to continue being an advocate for these animals as long as he can.
What Can the Average, Everyday Man or Woman do to Help?
Not everyone has the mega wealth to build an animal shelter. However, each of us can contribute in some small way to make the lives of homeless dogs better. Here are a few suggestions for how you may be able to do so.
homeless dog in shelter donated by a man who gave up his millions of dollars to build it
Volunteers are needed at both on-site and off-site locations. Dog lovers are needed to help socialize, groom, cuddle, and walk animals in the local shelters near you. Feeding, cleaning pens, and other maintenance work needs to be done as does clerical work and answering the telephone.
Although having people commit to volunteering on a regular basis for several months at a time is ideal, there are also one time opportunities available. Off-site events that advertise the needs of the shelter, drive to collect funds or food need volunteers as well.
Who Can Volunteer and When Are They Needed?
Volunteers are usually 18 or older, able to read and write, and to think independently. Some shelters even have emergency home volunteers who provide foster homes when the shelter is full.
Animal care in shelters is needed year-round. However, summer is often a time when even more volunteers are needed. People take vacations and college kids working there go home for the summer. This often means not enough volunteer help is available.
If you can volunteer a couple of hours a week for 3 to 6 months at a time, you just may be a godsend to your local clinic. You do not have to be a generous multi-millionaire to make a difference in the lives of homeless dogs in your community.
Credits to One Green Planet.
Photos courtesy of Pixabay
