At an age when most people enjoy a quiet retirement, 65-year-old Yang Xiaoyun is doing something extraordinary. The retired schoolteacher from Tianjin, China, has devoted her life to rescuing homeless, neglected, and abused animals, giving thousands of helpless creatures a chance to experience love and safety.
Yang has transformed her home into an animal shelter called “Common Home for Stray Animals.” She currently cares for more than 200 cats and approximately 1,500 dogs. Every animal receives attention and protection, despite the enormous challenges involved in looking after such a large population.
For 14 years, Yang has maintained a demanding routine, waking up before sunrise to prepare meals for her beloved animals. She makes homemade dog food because feeding so many hungry mouths requires careful planning and countless hours of work.
But her compassion does not end at the shelter. Yang has also dedicated herself to rescuing dogs threatened by the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. She works alongside animal activists, helping stop trucks carrying dogs to meat markets and negotiating with traders to purchase animals before they are slaughtered.
The previous year, she reportedly rescued 360 dogs from the festival. Determined to save even more lives, she prepared 50,000 yuan, approximately $8,000, for another rescue mission. This required traveling an incredible 1,652 miles from Tianjin to Yulin, hoping to bring as many dogs as possible back to safety.
During her years of rescue work, Yang has encountered heartbreaking cruelty. She has discovered abandoned animals on streets, in restaurants serving dog meat, and near agricultural colleges where some were reportedly used for experiments.
Many of these animals suffered terrible injuries. Some had damaged eyes, sewn-shut mouths, broken legs, and severe burns. Despite witnessing such suffering, Yang refuses to turn away from those who need her help.
On June 23, 2015, reports revealed that she had successfully rescued another 100 dogs from Yulin’s meat markets by paying vendors approximately 7,000 yuan.
She planned to transport all 100 animals to her shelter in Tianjin, where they could finally live without fear.
Yang’s incredible dedication proves that one person’s kindness and determination can change countless lives.
