A Ukrainian in Kunming: Why I Chose to Advocate for Over 400 Homeless Lives. My name is Vera I come from Ukraine, China is my second home. Several years ago, I witnessed a heartbreaking scene—dogs destined for the dinner table. Their eyes made it impossible for me to walk away. From that moment, my life changed. I began rescuing stray dogs, intercepting dog meat trucks, until I established this shelter in Xiaochang Village, Tuanjie Township, Kunming. Today, over four hundred homeless children call this place home—each with a name and the right to be loved. “Da huang” was the first dog I saved. Rescued as nothing but skin and bones, he now greets every visitor with a wagging tail; “Xiaohei” once trembled on a dog meat truck, but now he’s the most affectionate “clingy little thing.” Watching them learn to trust humans again is my greatest joy. Yet sustaining this big family grows harder daily. The amount of dog food consumed is astronomical, and medical expenses are a crushing burden. I’ve nearly depleted all my savings, but looking into their pleading eyes, I know I cannot give up.