Sharing Love and Maintaining Linkou Homeless Shelter, and Caring for Animal Shelters in New Taipei City, Formosa

By Taipei News Team, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)

Assisting Linkou Homeless Shelter Over the Years

Linkou Homeless Shelter is located in the mountainous area in Linkou near Tamsui River in New Taipei City, Formosa. Converted from an abandoned military camp, the shelter provides a resting place for homeless people who are ill or physically challenged. Because the shelter is big and remotely located, several stray dogs have also been adopted to help provide company for the residents. About 10 years ago, upon learning that the houses in the shelter were in need of repair — the window screens were broken and there were lots of mosquitos — Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed funds to repair the houses and build facilities for rehabilitation and leisure. (Please refer to the News #163 for details.)

Upon being informed that the kitchen table and the doghouses in the shelter were broken, at the end of October 2016, following Master’s instruction to always help those less fortunate, three brothers from our Taipei Center who were professional carpenters came to the shelter with a fund lovingly contributed by our Association members. Over the next 10 days, they fixed five kitchen tables, installed aluminum cabinet doors to help make it more organized and convenient for the chef preparing meals, and built six top-quality doghouses. The doghouses were not only windproof and rainproof, but also warm and comfortable. Each one was equipped with two doors (the smaller one has springs), wheels underneath for easy transport and a soft, waterproof bed.

When we helped repair the shelter 10 years ago, we also cultivated the land nearby, and we taught the residents how to grow vegetables. Today, the vegetable garden has grown bigger and greener. We were very happy to see that this thriving garden was producing vegetables free of pesticides and fertilizer for the health of the residents. The manager, Ms. Xu Xiao-Ying said, “I am grateful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving support. With the contributions from your Association over the years, countless homeless people have left the shelter, returned to society and are living positively and independently.”

Sending Help to Animal Shelters in Taipei, Formosa

As the weather changed dramatically during the winter of 2016, it was easy to experience four seasons in just a few days. Our Taipei Association members were concerned that the animals in the shelters did not have enough food and warm clothes; so we collected clothes, blankets, bed sheets and vegan dog food, and then delivered them to several animal shelters beginning December 2016.

We heard the Linkou Homeless Shelter in New Taipei City adopted six stray dogs to accompany the homeless people there who were recovering from sickness. So on December 27, 2016, we revisited the Linkou Homeless Shelter and saw three or four dogs sitting next to the doghouse we previously built for them. After feeding them veggie bones and vegan dog food, we handed over the clothes and vegan dog food to Ms. Xu Xiao-Ying, the supervisor and the representative of New Taipei City Volunteer Association.

Next, on the same day, we traveled to a remote mountain area in Linkou to visit Life Welfare & Environment Quality Association (Mother Liu Stray Animal Shelter). Mr. Shen Tian-Jin, who takes care of the animals in the shelter, drove us to the shelter since the area was remote. When he showed us around the shelter, we noticed that around 100 dogs there had no warm bedding in the cold wind, and several cats were sharing a thin mat. Mr. Shen told us that the most urgently needed items were cat food and cat litter, so we immediately purchased the items and asked the shop owner to deliver them to the office of the Association as soon as possible. We also ordered 400 kilograms of vegan dog food and delivered it to the Association on January 6, 2017. Additionally, on February 9, our members gave 30 cans of vegan dog food for the eight disabled, small-sized dogs who are blind or severely handicapped due to car accidents, and are now being taken care of by the Association.

On January 5, 2017, we went to New Taipei City New Life Pet Shelter Association in Pingxi District to assess their needs and to donate clothes. Ms. Chen, who often volunteers to clean the shelter, represented the Association as she accepted our donation. She took a picture of us and the shelter’s alpha dog Oding, and then showed us around the shelter. The shelter is in a valley, and its roof was covered temporarily with a discarded-billboard plastic banner. It is amazing that Mother Chang, founder of the Association, can look after 600 dogs and more than100 cats in this place. Fortunately, since some young volunteers come to clean the shelter regularly, it is very clean and hygienic. We were very happy to hear that after a shelter is built through a contribution made by the Formosan pop star Ms. Jolin Tsai, these 700 furry friends will have a permanent new home. However, 600 dogs require a large quantity of dog food, so apart from the 40 kilograms of vegan dog food we brought that day, we immediately ordered another 600 kilograms, hoping this would help them out for the time being.

On January 13, 2017, we went to Amity Animal Conservation Association (Wugu Puppy Nursery) in Wugu District. Mr. Wang Wen-Ping, the nursery’s caretaker, set up Wugu Puppy Nursery in 2012. At first, he mainly provided neutering and medical care to improve the lives of the stray animals. Later, he could not bear to see the stray animals die from euthanasia, so he decided, as his top priority, to rescue these stray dogs from their unfortunate fate and take care of them. Over the years, he has worked very hard to cover all the expenses of the nursery alone, and has now adopted 269 dogs. He was in debt and desperately needed help. We donated 16 boxes of clothes, blankets, bed sheets etc., and also ordered 600 kilograms of vegan dog food, which was to be delivered to the nursery directly. Our Taipei Center’s kitchen team prepared delicious vegan lunchboxes and two dozen vegan non-alcoholic beers for the volunteers; we wanted to express our gratitude for their help in looking after the dogs at the nursery over the years. 

Ms. Lai Yu-Hua is the caretaker of a stray animal rescue shelter that is located near MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) Beitou Depot. She pays for all the expenses herself, such as food, neutering and medical care, and she does not ask for help from the public. We met her when we carried out the relief work for stray animals in the beginning of 2016. She was surprised that our Association members could find her. She started to rescue stray dogs 10 years ago when she witnessed how an abandoned dog nearly died from eating plastic. Now that she is getting older, she has had to stop taking in more dogs. On January 21, 2017, we donated 400 kilograms of vegan dog food to her, and on January 24, we visited her again to deliver 11 boxes of clothes, blankets and sheets, as well as vegan lunchboxes for Ms. Lai. In addition, we contributed TWD 24,000 to her. Ms. Lai kept thanking Master for the assistance. She is such a kind and humble saint.

After many visits to the animal rescue centers, we feel that Master is blessing these animal friends, volunteers and shelter owners silently. Because of their love for living beings, their compassion to treat the animals as well as they treat themselves, these stray animals will have a safe and warm place to stay. Our contribution might make just a little difference to these animal friends, but we hope our humble act will inspire the public to protect all lives, help each other and develop compassion. May the world soon be vegan and peaceful. 

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association to Help a Homeless Shelter and Animal Shelters in Taipei, Formosa

Linkou Homeless Shelter, October to November 2016

Linkou Homeless Shelter, December 2016

Life Welfare & Environment Quality Association in Linko, December 2016

The New Life Pet Shelter Association in Pingxi, January 2017

Wugu Puppy Nursery, January 2017

Stray Animal Rescue Shelter, January 2017