Heaven & Earth

A German reporter went to Taiwan to visit
the City Animal Pound and was overwhelmed by the conditions
there. Every cage was crammed with dogs. Then one pair of
sad eyes caught her attention. His name was "Heaven."
He was sitting there motionless, despairing, somehow knew
his fate, yet accepted it in a very courageous way.
The reporter decided to take him to Germany
with her. Unfortunately, after a thorough check up, it was
discovered he had heart worm and it would be some time before
he could leave the country. So she found another rescuer to
feed and medicate him.
Most rescuers have to feed as many as 100
dogs, and the husband of Heaven’s caretaker refused
to let additional dogs in the house, so Heaven had to live
outside with another rescued dog named "Earth."
Although a wooden house was built for the dogs, a neighbor
didn't like having dogs around, and eventually destroyed the
house. Heaven and Earth were left shivering in the rain and
cold.
One day the caretaker’s husband became
so angry at all the time being spent with the dogs he broke
the window in the front of the house and almost injured Heaven
and Earth. At that point, the caretaker knew she had to find
a better situation. She contacted Yao Bao whom she knew might
be able to move both dogs to the United States.
AHAN was contacted about their story, and
arrangements were made to temporarily keep Heaven and Earth
in Yao Bao’s studio until someone could be found to
accompany them out of the country.
This time luck was with them. A woman veterinarian
planned to attend a convention in Las Vegas in February and
would be stopping in Los Angeles for a few days. Since the
ticket could not be changed to San Francisco, AHAN got busy
looking for someone to pick up Heaven and Earth at the LA
airport and bring them to San Francisco.
IDA offered to do it. Someone who was working
with Jane Goodall heard about the situation and found a very
nice woman who went to the airport to pick up Earth and adopted
her. Heaven was picked up by yet another volunteer who kept
him for a few days. The woman from IDA, who was recovering
from surgery, drove Heaven to one of AHAN’s foster homes
in San Francisco. In all, twelve people volunteered their
time and energy to come to the aid of these abandoned dogs
from Taiwan.
The latest report is that Earth has settled
down in her new home and is very happy, and Heaven has figured
out every conceivable moment that his caretaker is ready to
go out, including just thinking about it. Heaven will dance
in circles, ready to go. He hardly ever barks and there is
not a mean bone in his body. If someone wants to examine him,
he will stay in the same position until the exam is finished.
Heaven is a perfect dog, about twenty pounds,
medium to long hair, mixed breed, and face like a fox with
a chubby body, light brown and white throughout.