by Wu Wencong, China Daily/ANN|07 September 2010
A middle-aged woman wearing a loose T-shirt and pair of fake Crocs bustles around a compound cleaning doghouses in the rain. It's hard to believe she is a billionaire.
The woman, Zhang Luping, is the founder of Beijing Human and Animal Environmental Education Center (BHAEEC).
BHAEEC is located in a special compound in Changping district, where Zhang lives with more than 700 homeless dogs and cats, all of which receive her care and attention.
Though raining, there are still farmers and volunteers plucking weeds, so there will be fewer mosquitoes to bite the animals.
"I am a woman who will always stand my ground and make no concessions," said Zhang right at the very beginning of our conversation.
She used to be a soldier, before making her money in real estate.
She was very successful and could have emigrated to another country with her fortune 20 years ago, but she discovered how miserable life is for homeless pets in China and decided to stay.
"I have seen dogs being abandoned, abused and beaten to death. I knew I could not leave, otherwise I would never find peace in my heart wherever I went," Zhang said.
She understands that many people question her choice, but attributes her decision to an "inbred nature to be fond of small animals".
"Sometimes, I think maybe I was born to save these poor animals, and I am willing to do so even at the expense of having no personal life at all."
She doesn't agree with those who say she should put the welfare of people before that of animals.
"People's livelihood is the government's responsibility," she said. "I have no ambition other than saving small animals."
When she finally established the shelter at the current compound,
more and more people started sending her cats and dogs, raising the number of animals in BHAEEC from 200 to 700.
It is completely full right now, she said.
Zhang has thrown all her energy into the center. "I went to sleep at 5 am and woke up at 7 am today. You know how messed up doghouses can be when it rains," she explained.
She said no one has forced her to work like this, despite all the difficulties, she has never thought of giving up.
"If I don't hold on, what would happen to my 700 'kids'?"
It has been 18 years since Zhang began to devote her life to the rights and welfare of animals. She agreed her life in the army had made her tenacious, but was dismissive of speculation about her reasons.
"I didn't have a miserable childhood as some people may think," she said. "And who would like to suffer 18 years sleeping four hours a day and living in doghouses just for show?"
Zhang has six brothers and her family gathers at her home downtown, while she lives in the suburbs of Beijing.
"They don't understand my way of life, but it's no big deal. No one can stop me pursuing my goal," she said.
However, she knows well that saving the animals is a "trans-century program", which could not be done just by her. So, she already has plans for the future of BHAEEC.
Her first concern is to find someone who can take over the center and run it for her, so that she can pick up her business to solve the financial problems of the center.
After that, she would like to establish relationships with schools to teach children about animal care. Currently, BHAEEC has only built long-term relationships with some international schools.
But the most important thing, Zhang said, is to push for legislation for animal protection.
"Even with 10,000 Zhang Lupings, the mission to save small animals in China would be in vain unless we have an animal protection law, which is not just designed for rare animals," said Zhang.
"The road leading to a real animal protection law is still long," she said.
"But I will never stop trying as long as I am still alive."
She said she doesn't ask much of the public, but she does want people to stop eating non-economic animals such as dogs and cats.
"They were domesticated to become companions and friends of human beings in the first place. How can we eat our friends?" she asked.
Zhang also mentioned the importance of having small animals sterilized, not only for the sake of their health, but also to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats on the streets.
Above all, Zhang said the requirements of becoming a pet owner should be made law.
"Keeping a dog or cat as a pet is huge responsibility," she said.
"Some people, especially college students, buy small animals from peddlers thinking they are cute and cheap. However, when they finish their studies, they just leave the animals on campus," said Zhang.
Zhang said running a non-profit organization (NPO) in China is extremely hard; yet it is even harder for an NPO dedicated to animal rights.
"Don't get involved easily," she said. "You have to stick it out to the end once you start."
