In virus-stricken Wuhan, animal lovers break into homes to save pets

FILE PHOTO: Street view after Wuhan government announced to ban non-essential vehicles in downtown area to contain coronavirus outbreak, on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 26, 2020. cnsphoto via REUTERS/File Photo

BEIJING (Reuters) - A 43-year-old native of Wuhan, a central Chinese city ravaged by a coronavirus outbreak, said he climbed up rusty pipes to the third-floor balcony of an apartment to gain entry into the home of a middle-aged couple.

Lao Mao was no ordinary housebreaker - his mission was to feed two starving cats trapped in the home for 10 days.