She shares the view of Sun Jiang, an expert in animal welfare law at the Northwest University of Politics and Law in Xi'an, capital of northwestern China's Shaanxi Province.

"China has no basic law to regulate the principles and application of animal protection. This makes it hard to draft specialized laws," says Sun.

Under existing laws, mainly rare, endangered and valuable species of wild animals are under protection. No legislation is in place to protect companion, working and entertainment animals.

"Abusing and killing pet dogs will lead to no punishment," Sun says. He believes this is why reports of animal abuse repeatedly make headlines.

In May, the city government of Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, ordered that all dogs in rabies-infected villages be killed. At least 34,000 dogs have been killed, regardless of their state of health.

At a seminar at the Northwest University of Politics and Law in December 2008, experts began to draft an animal protection law to submit to lawmakers. Sun was in charge of the section on companion animals, or pets.

The draft, jointly written by eight law experts, is set to be finished this year. It will be published and submitted to the National People's Congress and government departments, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Forestry Administration.

"Besides legislation, the public should be an important force. Animal welfare organizations in Western countries are better established. They even provide lawyers for animals in lawsuits," Sun says.

But most Chinese counterparts provide limited help. "Most of them are small groups supported by individuals. They can only help a small number of animals and always run short of funds," he says. "They could more effectively operate in the form of foundations."

Ding has a very hard time running her animal asylum. After retiring in 1987, she spent all her monthly pension, 105 yuan (US$15.44), on 20 dogs and cats.

"It was far from enough, so I went to a nearby market every morning to pick up discarded food and fish intestines," she says.

She also covered veterinary expenses herself. Since she was a doctor, she handled vaccinations and treatments, but sterilization required surgery.

"Gradually more people heard about me and sent money, food and medicine." Today, she makes ends meet, but can take in no more animals.

Sun worries about what will become of the animals when Ding dies.

"She is old," he says. "It will be better to have an organization to take care of these animals."

But Ding has no trust in organizations. She once worked at a non-governmental animal rescue center, where the animals were kept in cages.

"It was wrong. You have to give them space or they'll fall ill and die. I let all my healthy babies roam free," she says.

She cages only sick pups and kittens for special care.

With no laws and regulations, animal protection groups have no standards on how to operate.

Sun suggests these organizations should be properly supervised by donors or government departments once laws are in place.

"I hope, when grandma Ding can no longer look after her animals, they can find another sanctuary," he says.

(Shanghai Daily July 27, 2009)