A hotline has been opened in Jinan, capital of eastern Shandong Province, to aid homeless dogs.

The hotline, 0531-86651726, which is sponsored by an aid center for pets and a local newspaper, is designed to find a home for the homeless dogs or cats in the city.

"The citizens are welcome to send the homeless dogs, no matter they are sick or not, to our center and we will provide them with food and medical treatment," said the head of the Bo Bo pet aiding center, who declined to give her name, on Thursday.

"We also hope those who care and love animals would adopt the dogs," she said.

In addition, "we not only teach consultants the proper ways to raise pets, but also tell them knowledge about rules and regulations on pet-raising," she said.

Statistics from the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Public Security showed that by the end of last year, there were more than 100,000 abandoned dogs and cats wandering in the city.

In order to ensure the consultants can get accurate information, the hotline also invites veterinarians from another three local pet hospitals with sound reputations as advisors.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2005)