Woman charged with embezzlement to feed stray dogs

A woman appeared in court on Wednesday accused of embezzling 220,000 yuan  ($35,000) to feed more than 70 stray dogs and cats, the Mirror reported.

The 50-year-old divorcee, surnamed Guan, worked as a sales representative at a company in Huairou district, northern Beijing.

The Huairou prosecutor charged Guan with embezzling public funds.

The prosecutor said that from October 2009 to February this year Guan had taken more than 220,000 yuan from the company and did not return the money within three months.

Prosecutors said Guan's behavior constituted the crime of embezzlement.

However, the prosecutor also suggested the court hand down a lighter sentence as all the money Guan embezzled was used to raise stray dogs and cats.

Guan said she began to raise the strays in 2004.

"Every single time I saw stray dogs and cats on the streets, I would always bring them home", Guan was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Guan said she raised more than 70 dogs and cats, according to the report.

She moved from her home and rented a farmhouse away from the city to avoid disturbing her neighbors.

"The rent is 800 yuan per month. Daily care cost me almost 7,000 yuan. When the animals became sick I spent even more," she said.

In order to afford this, Guan had to work four part-time jobs. 

In April 2009 Guan received a settlement of more than 10,000 yuan from a client.

"I should have given the settlement to the company the next day, but my cat got sick and I used the money for its medical treatment", Guan said. "This was the first time, and after that I did it over and over again."

Guan's company discovered her actions and on May 31 this year she was arrested. After her arrest, all her animals were taken care of by friends and relatives. Her friends also posted adoption notes online.

Most the animals have since been adopted.

The court did not make a ruling on Wednesday.