A dog was recently rescued from underneath the ruins of a house, where it was trapped for 70 days after the Sichuan earthquake.
"Wangwang, we kept our promise, mama brought you out, and you are still alive," said Fei Hongwei, a Dongfang Steam Turbine Plant employee, to her dog.
Fei bought the dog, named Wangwang, in 1998 during the Chinese Spring Festival. After ten years, both she and husband Hou Jun, also a Dongfang Steam Turbine Plant employee, consider Wangwang like a daughter to them.
On May 12, the couple left for work and left Wangwang at home. After the earthquake struck that day, their home was completely destroyed. The couple could not return to their home until June 2.
Fei impatiently rushed back that day.
"I shouted Wangwang's name and could hear her response," she said. "But there was no way of getting in the house, so I could not rescue her. I felt heartbroken."
"Then, I heard her bark at the main door. I was determined to continue. As I persisted to the main door, I was certain that I could rescue her."
Fei was unable to reach her pet. Afterwards, all she could think about was Wangwang's life and death.
On July 22nd, the factory that Fei and her husband work at received a notice that said people could return to their homes to move furniture.
Fei returned to her home once again, where she heard from others that the dog was still in the house. She rushed to the main gate of her house in excitement and Wangwang immediately jumped on her and began to lick her face.
It is thought that Wangwang survived for so long because of 10 eggs left under a bed in the house.
"I went back into the house to discover 10 empty egg shells and a small bucket of water," Fei explained.
"You see, Wangwang is all skin and bones," she said, as she lovingly stroked Wangwang's back. "Wangwang is traumatized by this event, so now I never stray too far from her. People should cherish the relationship between humans and animals."
(Brian White for China.org.cn July 25, 2008)