Hua Hua, a small dog from Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, trotted 20 km in search of its owner after the May 12 earthquake in the province's Wenchuan county.

Yan Yudan, the dog's owner, bought the animal three years ago and named it Hua Hua.

After the earthquake, Yan took his mother and daughter to Chongqing but had to leave Hua Hua guarding the gate of his house in the midst of persistent aftershocks.

The dog was later sent to a lost pet station in Wenjiang, a city some 20 km from Dujianyan, but Hua Hua ran back to Yan's house. He found his owner again with the help of staff at the pet station.

(Chongqing Times/China Daily July 14, 2008)