This is huge news for a country where over 10 million (Yes million) dogs and over 4 million cats are still killed for meat each year. China has drawn up guidelines to reclassify dogs as pets. This will help bring to an end the torture and slaughter of these animals every year.Every year we see a lot of condemnation of the dog meat festival in Yulin which happens every June. Reports over the last few years have shown that family dogs have been stolen, tortured, killed and cooked at this festival. It is estimated 15,000 beautiful dogs die at this festival every year. Hopefully this is the end. This could be a game-changing response to the coronavirus which has caused worldwide chaos. Just to be clear, there is no evidence to say dogs had anything to do with coronavirus, but the change comes along with others in China.China’s Ministry of Agriculture said “As far as dogs are concerned, along with the progress of human civilisation and the public concern and love for animal protection, dogs have been specialised to become companion animals, and internationally are not considered to be livestock, and they will not be regulated as livestock in China.” It’s important to note in all of this the practise of eating dog and cat meat in China isn’t actually that common, the majority of people have never done so and don’t want to. Over past number of years dog consumption has become increasingly unpopular in China with the city of Shenzhen recently banning dog and cat meat consumption. 10 million dogs is too many. We believe if 1 dog or cat is killed for its meat that is 1 too many. The number needs to be 0.China has also temporarily banned the breeding, trading and consumption of wildlife following the outbreak. This includes the horseshoe bat which is where the coronavirus is believed to have originated before being passed to humans via an intermediary species. China have also promised to revise the legislation to make the ban permanent.
More good news?
At least there’s one bit of good news for our pets that has come out of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s also the second bit of good news this month. Did you see our article last week on Lucy’s Law? If not you can see it HERE.
