Elderly woman struggling to keep 5,000 stray dogs

70-year-old Chen Yunlian attends to dogs at an animal rescue center in the city of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province on September 13, 2017. It’s the 20th year of Chen’s dedication to helping stray dogs. The animal rescue center keeps 5,000 dogs and 300 cats, most of which are sick. Chen said food costs for these animals are over 8,000 yuan (about 1,220 US dollars) each day. She has also hired more than 10 people to help run the center. To cover the expenses, Chen has sold her store, spent most of her savings and raised over 900,000 yuan online. [Photo: VCG]

70-year-old Chen Yunlian attends to dogs at an animal rescue center in the city of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province on September 13, 2017. It’s the 20th year of Chen’s dedication to helping stray dogs. The animal rescue center keeps 5,000 dogs and 300 cats, most of which are sick. Chen said food costs for these animals are over 8,000 yuan (about 1,220 US dollars) each day. She has also hired more than 10 people to help run the center. To cover the expenses, Chen has sold her store, spent most of her savings and raised over 900,000 yuan online. [Photo: VCG]

70-year-old Chen Yunlian attends to dogs at an animal rescue center in the city of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province on September 13, 2017. It’s the 20th year of Chen’s dedication to helping stray dogs. The animal rescue center keeps 5,000 dogs and 300 cats, most of which are sick. Chen said food costs for these animals are over 8,000 yuan (about 1,220 US dollars) each day. She has also hired more than 10 people to help run the center. To cover the expenses, Chen has sold her store, spent most of her savings and raised over 900,000 yuan online. [Photo: VCG]

70-year-old Chen Yunlian attends to dogs at an animal rescue center in the city of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province on September 13, 2017. It’s the 20th year of Chen’s dedication to helping stray dogs. The animal rescue center keeps 5,000 dogs and 300 cats, most of which are sick. Chen said food costs for these animals are over 8,000 yuan (about 1,220 US dollars) each day. She has also hired more than 10 people to help run the center. To cover the expenses, Chen has sold her store, spent most of her savings and raised over 900,000 yuan online. [Photo: VCG]