President Wu Zhaozheng Vice President Qian Jinchao, Beijing Zoo Dear Sirs, I am writing to express my deep concern about the situation of stray cats in the Beijing Zoo. The story has reached international audience, and this is how I've learned about it. This is not a criticism but some constructive suggestions that I hope you will consider. I understand that the problem with stray cats population in Beijing has increased immensely in the last few years and that they find refuge mostly on the campus of universities, communities, parks and organizations such as yours. Also, since 2007 the Beijing Zoo has become a sort of stray cats reservation, now with over 200 cats living under your protection. This has brought concerns to you regarding the spread of diseases, and the protection of birds and other critters on your grounds, prompting you to order the dismantling of homemade stray cat nests made by volunteers. This is what most concerns me, along with animal caring people worldwide. With the winter fast approaching and the temperature in Beijing has already dropping considerably since October, the Zoo cats will not be able to survive without any shelter this winter. Their suffering will be unbearable. While I recognize that the Zoo authorities have a good reason to be concerned, I beg you to find an alternative to protect these poor animals currently under your protection. Based on our experiences in the US and Europe, I would like to respectfully offer you some suggestions and ways to carry out a solution to deal with this situation. Firstly, your Zoo would benefit immensely by keeping an area on your property to keep the cats as a humane education center so visitors would see how beautiful and easy it is to coexist with all animals in a peaceful and humane way. It will demonstrate the rise of China also on compassion towards the most vulnerable members of your society: The animals. This would bring you a good international image of your country. The number of compassionate Chinese citizens has not gone unnoticed, throughout the world. You could be a part of this historical event by setting a an example of humane treatment of animals. My suggestions: 1) By encouraging local animal rescue organizations and volunteers to raise fund to develop the project of stray cats reservation (such as cat island or stray cat home). With so many compassionate animal caring Chinese citizens, you would have NO problem in getting the assistance of these organizations and volunteers to elaborate a design to build China's cat community, transforming it into a beautiful scenic line in the Zoo. It will attract more visitors and thus financially benefit the Zoo. 2) Local animal loving groups, volunteers and organizations will surely enhance the vaccination and sterilization on the stray cats, and the weak and the sick would be transferred or humanely euthanized. They would also guarantee to keep the number of stray cats in the Zoo reservation by sterilization and adoption, never allowing the population to exceed 120 cats. 3) Publicize, through domestic and foreign media, reports of this greatly humane project as a model for other organizations to follow. Your Zoo would be commended not only at home but also abroad. On my part, I would make sure to spread the word to all my listings and social pages about your good deed. Your supervision and guidance are greatly welcome. Warm regards, NAME STATE, COUNTRY
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