A retired doctor in Shaoguan City lives with more than 100 adopted dogs and cats abandoned by local residents, yesterday's Guangzhou Daily reported.

Liu Shulan, 60, formerly a medical practitioner in Beijing, presently lives in a housing estate in Wujiang District, Shaoguan, with the abandoned animals. She has been taking in animals since 1999, and claims to have adopted more than 600 animals till date. However, only the 100 or so cats and dogs living with her have survived.

Liu, who regards herself as both mother and vet to the animals, has rented an apartment for her "adopted children," who occupy her bedroom and balcony, while she herself lives in the living room.

Liu left her husband, who is paralyzed in both legs, back in Beijing so she could take care of the animals in Shaoguan. Her twin daughters, aged 27, pay nearly 2,000 yuan (US$250) for the upkeep of the animals every month.

Her animal shelter has not gone down too well with her neighbors. They have filed complaints with the local authorities. The animals have also managed to scare away several potential suitors for her daughters.

A staff member of a local community committee suggested that more people in the neighborhood volunteer to adopt the animals to avoid the spread of disease.

Viruses and parasites such as fleas are more likely to be found on abandoned pet animals, said a supervisor with a local veterinary station. She also warned against rabies and cat-scratch disease.

(Shenzhen Daily March 27, 2006)