An animal welfare activist in China has reportedly successfully rehoused 174 white foxes at a Buddhist sanctuary after rescuing them from a bankrupt animal fur farm that was planning to dispose of the animals.
The activist, a Chinese woman identified only as BoHe, has dedicated her life to rescuing animals from mistreatment and cruelty, operating a large rescue shelter in the city of Mudanjiang in northeastern Heilongjiang Province, where she feeds and cares for some 2,300 dogs, as well as cats, birds, and other livestock—most rescued from local slaughterhouses—with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers.
The fur farm was reportedly in the process of closing down and disposing of its remaining animals, but thanks to BoHe’s timely rescue initiative, the resident monks of the Buddhist Jilin Nursing Garden in Mudanjiang offered to give safe refuge to the rescued foxes.
American animal activist Karen Gifford spent several weeks communicating with BoHe and documenting her rescue initiative via social media, sharing the compassionate action with the world.
Sharing videos and photos via Facebook, Gifford observed, “The fox farmers are closing their business as they aren’t making enough money and cannot afford food for the foxes. They have been skinning live foxes and feeding the meat to the other foxes that are alive!” (Karen Gifford Facebook)
“The foxes . . . are domestically bred to be born in the spring and skinned alive in the winter.” (Karen Gifford Facebook)
Because the foxes were bred in captivity for commercial purposes, they don’t have the survival skills that would allow them to be released into the wild. Instead, these fortunate few animals will now live out their lives in a Buddhist nature sanctuary, tended by monks.
One video shared by Gifford shows the white foxes being freed from the tiny cages they were kept in and released into the Buddhist garden. Another clip shows a man identified as a Buddhist monk kneeling in prayer among the foxes.
Gifford has also been raising funds to help BoHe feed the rescued foxes while they await the construction of a permanent shelter by volunteers.
BoHe has urged animal lovers to spend less on minor daily expenses and to donate the money to help the animals:
Help the dogs around the world to help the dog, dog food only enough to maintain a few meals, soon will be out of food, less taxi, less cigarette, a few yuan can give the dog a full meal, Saving lives is easier than protecting lives. Protecting virtues are equally important. Keeping these children alive safely through the bitter cold is your hope every time you forward a message for them. (Karen Gifford Facebook)
A significant proportion of BoHe’s rescue dogs are reportedly pedigree animals sold to dog butchers from breeders clearing out unwanted stock. All her animals are available for adoption to new owners and families, sometimes even finding homes overseas when funding is available.
See more
170 Foxes Are Rescued From Fur Farm and Given New Home at a Buddhist Monastery (Good News Network)
THESE 174 RESCUED FOXES ARE NOW BUDDHIST MONKS (LIVEKINDLY)
Welcome to BoHe Animal Rescue in China (People for Chinese Animals)
China: BoHe’s Rescue Shelter For Dog Meat Dogs (Fight Dog Meat)
Karen Gifford Facebook
