Sounds like fun... but remember the costs to transport the dog could run close to 8000 USD round-trip and there is no guarantee they won't change things and make it impossible for you to get your dog out of the country.
You must really love your dog... but if they are safe back at home in the US they'll thank you for keeping them there. Everyone I know that moved there dog to another country (including myself) said it put the dog through a huge amount of stress. The adjustment time for a dog in new environment is really intense and stressful and can last up to a year.
When I lived in the US before I worked in Computer Desktop support and was making about 40k (this was in 2000 and in Portland OR). Plenty of money... then I went into real estate buying houses working on them and selling them. Tough work.. but I cleared 60k a year. I have a BA in History.
The thing about China as a foreigner you have no real future there... you won't be building many skills that could transfer back to the USA. If you master Chinese language if you ever came back you might be able to land a job with a company that deals with China... but I think you would need a BA (not sure what you level of education is).
I don't think Kunming is that much cheaper than the US if you want to have a decent lifestyle. When we left my wife and I and dog (dog ate one 13.5kg bag of Orijen every month, which is 1100 RMB) were spending about 12,000 RMB per month. We did have a car and lived in a nicer development. Incidentally it was the only place where we were not robbed due to high level of security, but there were still trash fires often from neighboring areas.
In Chinese there is a saying 一分钱一分货 or You get what you pay for! (lit. one penny buys one penny goods).
I used to be angry alot about the US and all it's problems but after being in China for 10 years I found that the problems US has are small in comparison to China. And to put it bluntly the vast majority of Chinese people don't want you there... believe me this will wear you down.
Have a good reason to go, know that someday you will come back to the USA. And for goodness sakes don't go to just escape what you perceive as a less than perfect situation in your life in the US.
I completely disagree with you about quality of life between Kunming and the USA. I lived in China for 10 years and left a few months ago... quality of life in Central Oregon (Bend) is 10 times better than China. Clean air, food and water. Very safe and people are friendly. Where in the US do/did you live?
Sounds like misery for your dog. Not feeling safe to leave a certain area... I am sure you could keep her alive, but the quality of life is not so good. Have you considered the costs of flying her back and forth. Leaving with my 80 pound dobie and her crate was 33,000 RMB in total from Kunming to LAX.
I moved away largely because of the welfare of my dog. Now she roams the wilds of Central Oregon off leash every day!
The Box says goodbye
Posted byDirtbag greedy landlords... 贪得无厌