University students rush to walk stray dogs

(ECNS) -- Walking stray dogs has become a favorite activity among some students at East China Normal University.

Located in Shanghai, the university has two campuses, home to at least 13 stray dogs and 200 stray cats.

Student response has been enthusiastic. As soon as a dog-walking notice is released in a WeChat group, the walking quotas will fill up instantaneously.

It is likely that this year more students have joined the animal protection club so stray dogs have become relatively "rare," said XieYifan, a sophomore at the university, and current vice head of the club.

Stray dogs and cats were a problem at the university. They inhabit campuses because of the large green spaces and friendly students, but also pose a safety threat.

To protect dogs and people at the university, some students then decided to build a kennel.

The animal protection club was established in 2004. It began to raise stray dogs five years ago, with 13 dogs inhabiting the kennel now, Xie said.

The duties of the club members include cleaning the kennel, bathing the dogs, grooming them regularly, and taking them to animal hospitals to get spayed or neutered.

Members of the club walk the leashed dogs after eight p.m. every day.

"We make a schedule for walking dogs at the beginning of each semester, but there are always changes due to club members' schedules, so we will call for help in our WeChat group," Xie said.

Their practice has gained praise from netizens.

Instead of keeping them in captivity on campus, club members hope the stray dogs could be adopted.

More than 200 stray cats have also been rescued and raised in the university.