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Aoda Zhang
Aoda Zhang

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πŸ’» Doing Something Good with Code

We write code every day to make products faster, features cooler, and systems more efficient.

But what if code could also make the world a little softer?

🐾 A Stray Cat Changed Everything

One rainy night, my wife (a veterinarian) and I heard a faint β€œmeowβ€”meow—” in a dark alley.

We found a tiny, soaked kitten, shivering and exhausted. I wrapped it in my jacket and drove through the rain to an open animal hospital.

The vet said it was severely dehydrated. We stayed on the cold floor until morning.

My wife whispered:

β€œSome people treat animals like family.

Others treat them like trash.”

That night, I wondered β€” could I use code to make a difference?

🏠 Our Two Cats

A few months later, our family grew by two:

  • One abandoned at a clinic
  • One found tangled in a plastic string next to a trash bin

Now they’re healthy and spoiled, sleeping next to my keyboard or on the balcony.

Every time I watch them nap peacefully, I know β€” this is worth it.

πŸ’‘ From Rescue to PawHaven

Over the years, we rescued more animals, but always faced the same problems:

  • πŸ“ Didn’t know who nearby could help
  • πŸ“· No easy way to record or share rescue info
  • πŸ’¬ Everything relied on private chats or social media

So I built PawHaven πŸ• β€” β€œa safe haven for paws”.

On PawHaven, you can:

  • πŸ“Έ Upload photos of rescued animals
  • πŸ“ Mark their location
  • πŸ“– Record rescue stories
  • 🀝 Connect with volunteers, vets, and rescuers nearby

A space where kindness travels faster.

πŸ’» The Technical Side

PawHaven is a React + Node.js (NestJS) full-stack open-source project.

  • βš™οΈ Frontend – React + TypeScript + pnpm monorepo
  • 🧩 Backend – NestJS microservices
  • πŸš€ Deployment – Azure Kubernetes + GitHub Actions CI/CD

Developers can learn practical full-stack practices β€” from monorepo design and RPC communication to CI/CD and cloud deployment.

Where code meets compassion.

🌈 In the End

No funding, no ads β€” just a small dream from a developer who loves animals.

If you believe technology can make the world a little better:

🌟 Check out PawHaven

Give it a Star ⭐️, share it, or contribute a PR.

Sometimes, a single line of code can help save a life 🐢🐱

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