Meet Marjie.
HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA
There is an ever present fierceness in her like winter.
A timeless quality, just under the surface of her skin. She rarely smiles with her lips, but always with her eyes. When you see her you know, in your gut, she is straightforward, no nonsense, and good.
Marjie is a hero. She is an icon among Chinese rescuers because she has single-handedly shut down several slaughterhouses through sheer will and relentless persistence, armed with only her voice and one shaking fist. One time, she literally got down on her knees and begged the slaughterman to give her his dogs. And, so he did.
She went all in.
Marjie has been rescuing animals since 2016 and has 700 dogs and 100 cats that she cares for daily. She gave up any hope of a normal life the moment she rescued her first animal. She says she never regrets it.
Like most shelter owners in China, Marjie is constantly on the move. Pushed farther and farther into the outskirts of the city and the society. Every thought is for the animals in her care. She even sleeps every night on her modest bed surrounded by her charges.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Food is the ever present need. Marjie has learned to leverage her resources by negotiating with a local elementary school to collect the uneaten boxed lunches of the children to add to the daily meals of her dogs and cats.
In addition, she has a following on Chinese social media who helps her with monthly costs, but there are many months when the goal falls woefully short. There is only so much creative maneuvering one can do no matter the strength of will.
Heroes are made through acts of courage.
Most of us will not take the heroic leap of faith that Marjie has to manifest a meaningful life that benefits all of us. But, we can support her along her way. The WOA Foundation has committed to helping Marjie provide food for her 700 animals.
Marjie is on the move again. The landlord has asked her to leave her current residence and she is on the search for a new place.
We need your help to continue supporting her important work on the frontlines of the fight against the dog meat trade in China. She has done the hard work. Let’s join together and make the way just a little easier for her.
Please consider a monthly donation to support the feeding of Majie’s rescue animals. You can donate today at: woafoundation.org/donate-now