Shanghai

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Dec 02, 2008

MY PEEPS: Leanne Armstrong | Second Chance Animal Adoption

Do Unto Others

How did you start fostering kittens? I actually just started rescuing a lot of cats when I first got here. But then I realized I really needed to have funding to help take care of the animals I'd found. I found out about the SCAA in a magazine and went out to some of the meetings and adoption days. And it pretty much went on from there? Yeah, I just couldn't stop. What is it that compels you to foster? You can see that you make a difference right from the beginning. I've been working with the foster program for a few years now and I know at least 20 cats and a few dogs that have even "emigrated" from China. Do you have enough foster parents? We always need foster parents. A lot of kitties are sick when they come off the street and they need to be isolated from other pets, so we're always in need of more and more people. Who makes a good foster parent? Well, I think people who stay home, work from home or are students make great homes for needy animals. But then there are animals that are very independent and are great for working, busy people. Our foster parent demographic is really diverse. We've got some local foster parents, Europeans and North Americans. Do you need to be an experienced pet owner? It's always good to have experience, but we, and the vets we work with, are here to help answer people's questions. How important do you think the SCAA is in terms of animal rescue in Shanghai? I think it's just so important to make an effort. Just to give people resources, be able to help people care for animals. How do you feel about the critique that resources, time and effort would be better spent helping people rather than animals? I think it's about compassion in general. There are so many different ways to fulfill your desire to help. I think the way people treat animals is connected to the way that people treat other people and that for a happy, healthy society you have to have a clean environment, respect for animals and respect for each other.