Saving the Strays: Animal rescue efforts in Beijing

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The cities of Beijing and Tianjin have an estimated 1 point 3 million homeless dogs and cats. International NGOs are playing a part in encouraging China's animal protection movement. BUT local groups and individuals are increasingly taking the lead. Our reporter Li Jianhua went to the suburbs of Beijing to bring us this story.

Three days each week, Li Yuan comes to check on her fur "babies". To make sure these stray dogs - she brought back from Tibet - can live through the cold winter, Li rents a place in the suburbs of Beijing.

Today, they are lucky - Li has brought some pork bones for them. It's been nearly 15 years since she took home her first stray animal. For her, they are family.

After being trapped at home for the whole day, the dogs are eager to go for a walk. Although where the dogs live is two hours via subway from her work, she likes to spend as much time as possible with them.

LI YUAN ANIMAL RESCUE VOLUNTEER "I've been working as an animal rescue volunteer for more than 10 years. To be honest, I feel worn out sometimes, but I have to and must carry on. I hope people from all walks of life can help with animal protection. And I wish that the Small Animal Protection Law could be passed as soon as possible."

But the lives of these dogs are the exception. Li brought us to another dog shelter in a nearby village - there 30 stray dogs are housed. The owner of the shelter said most of them were abandoned or abused by their original owners.

QIU XIAOQIN DOG SHELTER OWNER "The other day, online I heard a dog was abused. Someone doused him with boiling water. I drove there around 7 in the evening to rescue the dog. I sent him to the vet's for treatment. He's been living here for four months."

Qiu's selflessness comes at a cost. Just to feed the dogs, it costs her around 600 US dollars a month. But lucky for her, the burden is lifted slightly thanks to an animal protection organization which sponsors the cost to spay or neuter the canines.

LI JIANHUA SHUNYI, BEIJING "China passed its first Comprehensive Animal Protection Law back in 2009, but progress is rather slow. For animal lovers, they can be considered family members; but for others, they are a potential threat. The animals here are the very few lucky ones, because there so many dogs and cats - just like them - that are wandering the streets."

For Li Yuan, this is not the end of her day. Dragging along a trolley bag, Li roams the lanes to feed stray cats.

Today she found one ginger feline hiding in the corner. She said sometimes there are more of them "feasting" together.

After that, she moves on to the next spot where many other cats may be waiting for her. LJH, CGTN, Beijing.