Ever since my roommates and I found an abandoned puppy last August, I’ve been paying a lot more attention to animal rights news and periodically browsing adoption ads on various websites. Through Beijing Mamas, I just found out about a no-kill shelter operated by a homegrown organization called Together for Animals in China (TACN). If you’re looking to adopt an animal, add this to your list of potential shelters.

TACN was founded by Chinese nationals who wanted to raise awareness of animal rights issue in their country. Investigations focus on the illegal dog and cat meat industry in China. For example, a dog called Hei Niu (currently available for adoption here) was saved from “being made into a hotpot for someone’s Chinese New Year celebration meal.”

The organization currently isn’t accepting any volunteers for the TACN Rescue Centre in Tongzhou, but animal lovers can help by spreading the word about their mission, donating to the shelter, adopting or sponsoring a dog, or becoming part of the “flight volunteer” team that helps adopted animals get to their new families.

Scarlet and Melissa’s Dog Fund
Scarlet Salmons from Salon DePark and Melissa McKenna from Juice by Melissa are teaming up to raise money for abused dogs. I heard about their project when I went by the salon recently to get my hair done.

Scarlet, who considers her own pooch a “child substitute” with his own Ikea wardrobe, was horrified to hear that someone had thrown a firecracker at a stray dog, burning its hindquarters. Melissa took the animal in, prompting her and Scarlet to start a dog fund.

Anyone who goes by the salon and donates at least RMB 100 towards the cause will have their name entered in a raffle. They get a chance to juice cleanses from Juice by Melissa, hair treatments, and haircuts. Even if you don’t win the first time, your name stays in the box for next month’s draw. All proceeds will be donated to Little Adoption Shop, a local dog shelter started by Chris Barden.

“I’m telling all my clients that I won’t cut their hair unless they donate 100 kuai!” says Scarlet. I’d better get donating then if I want my highlights refreshed…

Photo from TACN’s website