"I really don't understand why that man had to use such a cruel means of showing his anger. He could simply have scared the dog away by making a loud noise. He did not have to shoot him. Why did he have to shoot a helpless dog that wouldn't have fought back?" she asked.

Ms Warin herself didn't fight back, either. Although she was very angry with the "murderer", she said nothing bad to him because she didn't want to create an enemy. She was more concerned about protecting her "children" from human threats.

"People often think that I'm a freak because they always see me carrying a bucket of food to feed strays, playing with the dogs when I am free, or crying profusely when a dog dies. I don't want to quarrel with anybody because my dogs
might be in danger. I fully realise that there are both dog lovers and haters," she explained.

Nevertheless, Ms Warin desperately wants to drive home the message that humans should not hurt animals, whether wild or domesticated.
We're luckier than they are, to have been born humans. We should give them loving compassion and sympathy. You don't need to feed them like I do, but you shouldn't hurt or beat them. With just that bit of kindness, all dogs will thank you for your nobility," she said.

Apart from the sorrow, the episode taught her a lesson on the inescapable truth of life that clearly reflects the core teachings of Buddhism.