In a residential area behind the American School in Tienmu, there is an inconspicuous courtyard with a small hanging sign that says "Big Ear Sister's House." Named after a dog, Big Ear Sister, the sign announces that this is a home for abandoned cats and dogs. The owner of this home, Helen Chang, collects money to take care of the abandoned animals. She uses, for example, the flea market at "Big Ear Sister's House," where you hear animated voices on holidays and weekends, to drum up funds. People come from near and far to sell their unused and secondhand goods, and even more people come looking for treasures. The especially low prices help transform other people's unneeded goods into your new treasure. When an exchange is made, a donation is given to help support Helen's abandoned animals.

Stepping into "Big Ear Sister's House," the first thing you notice, besides the assortment of secondhand goods, is the pack of head-shaking, tail-wagging, gentle and obviously well-cared-for cats and dogs that follow you around and politely listen as the host and her guest chat in a friendly atmosphere. Helen says that these cats and dogs have been with her for quite some time, some for more than ten years. No matter where she moves, she will take them with her. In addition to the animals she keeps at home, if Helen goes out and comes across an abandoned animal, she will take it home to tend any illness and then have it neutered. She will then find the animal a good home.

Helen Chang has a special affinity for cats and dogs. Her friends think it's strange that animals in need of rescue will suddenly appear in her presence. "How come after living in Taipei for so long I've never noticed any abandoned animals?" friends wonder. "Yet when I'm with Helen, all the little cats and dogs come out looking for rescue."

There are many instances of how entwined her destiny is with cats and dogs. Once at a bus stop a small black dog jumped onto her back. She thought someone was trying to get her attention, but it was just the small dog holding up an injured foot. Helen said, "Ok, ok, I'll take you to the veterinarian."

Another time she was walking past a dark alley and discovered a fluffy little object that turned out to be a small shivering dog that appeared to be ill. Helen was in a hurry and could not take the dog along, but she said: "Wait for me here, I will finish my errand, and then I will take you to see a vet!" When Helen was finished she returned and could not find the little dog. Searching high and low, she could find no trace of the animal and decided to give up. Walking to the bus stop on her way home, she saw the little dog waiting for her, and her tears started to flow. She was happy to bring the animal to a veterinarian to receive treatment. After spending time in the garden at Helen's home, the dog was adopted by a good family.

Most people are afraid that abandoned animals are dirty and sick, but Helen believes that small cats and dogs rely on us to live. People can care for these small animals, and can give them health and a warm home if only they are willing. In Helen's eyes, all abandoned dogs or cats on the street are cute and cuddly. Over the years, she has found good homes for countless abandoned cats and dogs.

Due to the renown she has gained for her good work, Helen Chang often receives calls to rescue animals, including calls to pick up animals that have been killed on the highway. In such cases, she brings home the corpse of the animal, and in Buddhist fashion places lotus flowers around it, burns paper offerings, and then takes it to a crematorium for cremation.

Helen Chang's love for animals has its origin in the environment that she grew up in. Born in 1960 to a military family, her father, Chang Tse-yang, was an Air Force doctor. In addition to his hospital work, he often helped others with great enthusiasm. Once when he could longer bear to see an empty blood bank, Mr. Chang organized a blood donor association under the slogan of "Donate one pint of blood, save one life." For years he traveled all over Taiwan, to every military unit and every school, to promote blood donation. After he finished a speech, everyone in the audience would roll up their sleeves and vie for the chance to give blood.

Helen remembers that her father once helped a bean-curd seller who had a mentally challenged wife and three young children. Everyday they would struggle to sell their bean curd. One day the bean-curd seller was involved in a car accident and taken to the Air Force hospital. He quickly fell into financial trouble. Helen's father not only helped pay the hospital bills, but he also thought of a way to publicize the plight of the bean-curd seller through the newspaper. Donations came from all over to help the old bean-curd seller. If there was a case in the emergency room, where a guarantor was required, but could not be found, Helen's father would say, "I'll be their guarantor, but first save their life!"

Over time, Helen Chang gained a deep appreciation for life and a willingness to help people. "Father taught me," she says, "that when you have good fortune, no matter if it concerns money or the spirit, you must use it to help people who are in even greater need."

Helen studied at the Chungtai Institute of Health Sciences and Technology but did not graduate, or go on to serve in the medical field. Instead she became involved in sales, and over the course of many years of fair and honest dealing she accumulated a large number of business connections, which serves as a resource for her work rescuing abandoned animals.

In her campaign to help animals, Helen Chang has also met with difficulties. Three years ago, when it was raining heavily one evening, Helen and her daughter both came down with a fever, and they didn't have enough money for a taxi. Just in time, a friend called to ask if they needed any help. The friend heard of her trouble and immediately came over to drive them to the hospital. "In this life, I have encountered many unexplained miracles," Helen says with great sincerity. "I deeply believe that Heaven always provides a way. There is a mysterious force in nature that always helps us and protects our lives."