Since 2013, we have been dedicated to bringing an end to China’s cruel dog and cat meat trade.
“My team and I have been on the ground non-stop, year round. We’ve been listening, learning and working with compassionate people across China to change hearts and minds.”
— Andrea Gung, Founder & Executive Director
Andrea Gung is a Chinese American who understands what is needed and what works.
The organization’s mission is uniquely focused on fighting the horrific dog and cat meat trade in 2 ways:
We’ ae reducing demand through culturally-conscious education and advocacy. And we’re reducing the supply of animals through humane spay and neuter initiatives.
Our approach does not vilify but instead works with empathy to serve animals and humans alike.
Andrea believes that humane treatment of dogs and cats is the gateway to greater compassion for all animals. “China has a quarter of the world’s population, so if we can change the hearts and minds of even a small percentage of people there, we’ll benefit animals and humans everywhere."
Why Duo Duo Project Deserves Your Support
Unlike other organizations that focus on periodic rescues, Duo Duo Project is on the ground all year complementing animal welfare programs with far-reaching programs that foster compassion.
All of our time and money is invested in China. While the dog and cat meat trade still exists in many countries, we believe that dismantling the Chinese dog and cat meat trade is the fastest path to widespread change.
We are connecting with young people in China, many of whom grew up with pets when the "one child" policy was in place. We are galvanizing this generation to stand up for dogs and cats.
We understand the Chinese culture and mindset. We take a respectful, culturally-conscious approach that builds community and contributes to a better quality of life for all.
It all started in 2012.
On a business trip to China, our founder, Andrea Gung, discovered a dog locked away in a filthy room with no food or water. Andrea learned that the frightened little dog was bound for a slaughterhouse run by China’s black market dog meat trade. Andrea fed the dog through a small window for a few days and arranged to buy her for the equivalent of ten dollars. She named her new companion "Duo Duo" (多多), which means abundance and vowed to end this tragedy of the dog and cat meat trade. Today, sweet Duo Duo lives a life of abundant love in Oakland, California.
Our Board of Directors
Andrea Gung
A Chinese American, Andrea has lived in the US since 1982. She has cared about the under-privileged and animals since childhood. After selling her successful import business of 25 years in 2012, she pursued her passion to give back to society using her background to unite the east and west.
Andrea’s hope for a world that works together for the betterment of people and animals resulted in her founding Duo Duo Project in 2013. Duo Duo is the name of a dog she adopted from China.
Ellin Kao
Ellin is a public health professional, vegetarian, and a lifelong animal lover. While Ellin Kao's career is in public health, her love of animals is the most important part of her work. She spent fifteen years in Africa and Latin America working in reproductive health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. For the past fifteen years, she has dedicated her time to fighting HIV/AIDS in her community in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She uses her experience in global and community health to help Duo Duo Project's fight against the dog meat trade in China.
Martha Lackritz-Peltier
Martha is a leading expert on philanthropic due diligence, having represented nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations in private practice, and as General Counsel. She is a member of the Texas and California State Bars, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Martha was named 2019 Outstanding Young Nonprofit Attorney by the American Bar Association. She is a graduate of Brown University and Berkeley Law School.
Our Advisor Team
Tamara Birdsall
Tamara is our marketing communications pro. She has a long history building brands as a creative director and copywriter. She conjured stories at big and boutique ad agencies, co-founded a venture backed media company and eventually veered into publishing. But her reason for being is the welfare of non-human animals. Tamara has volunteered to protect African elephants from the ivory trade, fostered 34 dogs for Paw Fund and been mixed up with Duo Duo Project from the beginning.
Peter Li
Peter J. Li joined the University of Houston-Downtown in 2002 after receiving a doctoral degree in Comparative Politics/International Relations from Northern Arizona University (NAU). Dr. Li specializes in East Asian Politics with an emphasis in the domestic politics, foreign policy and environmental governance of the People’s Republic of China. His research covers elite politics of China, Northeast Asian security, U.S.-China relations and China’s environmental and animal welfare politics.
Paul Fong
Mr. Fong was born in Macau and when he was three years old, his family moved from Macau to the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Fong served as a member of the California State Assembly from the 28th district from 2008-2014 (22nd district 2008–2012.)
Mr. Fong is an avid supporter of the environment, equality within the Asian community and animal welfare issues.
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