Driven By Faith & Compassion, This Buddhist Monk Has Saved 8,000 Stray Dogs

With the enrichment of the population, the market for domestic animals has boomed and pet stores sell purebred puppies at high prices in the big cities. Some end up on the street after their owners don't want them anymore. There they breed at high speed, thus increasing the number of stray dogs in Shanghai.

He does not receive any public aid and subsists. He has borrowed from his parents and other monks and receives handouts from donors.?

To finance the purchase of 60 tons of dog food each month, he spends more than 12 million yuan ($2 million) a year. "The problem is that I can't borrow any more money now," he adds.

The monk managed to send some of the strays to the United States, Canada and various European countries including Germany with the help of volunteers who can speak English and use social media to reach an international audience. "I think they're very happy so I feel it's worthwhile," he said. "But of course I miss them."

One Saturday morning, with tears in his eyes, he handed a poodle to a passenger who volunteered to take it to a new home in Seattle, US. He holds the small dog in his arms until the last minute, muttering "goodbye, goodbye". He wipes away tears as the woman and dog disappear through the departure gate.