Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Another Barbaric and Inhumane Dog Culling Spree in China

I could say so much about this information that I am sharing with you today but I won't. I won't because it would sound like I was damning an entire culture and people which is not in my nature. However, for a country that wants to set itself up as a civilized, industrial nation that is marching into the future as a global competitor, this barbaric practice is beyond my wildest imagination. It will take the people China to stop this and I truly hope they do.

For quite a while I corresponded with an American missionary in China. Contrary to what the Chinese would like the rest of the world to believe, a majority of the country continues to be unlike what is portrayed in the media. Skinned dogs and cats hang in markets for purchase as food. Dogs are skinned alive (less blood produced to damage fur) for collars and cuffs on coats and jackets. When the Olympics were held in one of China's largest, and most modern cities, the government ordered all restaurants within ten miles of the Olympic village to take dog and cat meat off the menu in order to not offend Western sensibilities. Outside of the larger cities people squat and "go" in gutters provided just for that purpose. Human excrement floats in the rivers alongside boats holding tourists. And, yes, the residents were asked to kill their own animals or the government would do it for them. I wonder how many of the clubbed dogs during the last extermination event ended up skinned and hanging in the markets for sale - making a nice, family stew.

Click photo to see original article
Another dog cull is set to begin on September 10th in Qinhuangdao in the Hebei Province near Beijing in order to prevent the spread of rabies and reduce dog populations.
More “dog beating squads” will hit the streets to kill dogs that aren’t registered or vaccinated, whether they’re strays or not.

As if that’s not bad enough, dog owners are also being asked to kill their own dogs if they’re a “dangerous breed” or over one foot tall. If the owners don’t do it themselves, the dog beating squads will do it for them, and then proceed to issue the owners a fine.

"To pick this time to enforce the dog regulation, it is obvious that Qinhuangdao hopes to 'clean' the streets and put on a good show for China's National Day on October 1st. But, by inflicting cruelty on animals, the city is doing the exact opposite. Mass killing of dogs is going to generate outrage from people all over the world, damaging China's image of a harmonious society," said Grace Ge Gabriel, the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Asia Regional Director.

Animal lovers and animal rights groups are criticizing the Chinese government’s management tactics, along with other accounts of animal cruelty. However, since China currently has no animal welfare laws in place, there’s nothing that can be done legally to protect animals there.

The last cull in Hanzhong resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 dogs.

“Mass killing of dogs is ineffective in controlling rabies in the long-term. By choosing not to implement a sensible rabies vaccination program, Hanzhong government has failed to protect the health of its citizens. Furthermore, the brutal killing of dogs continues to highlight the need for legislation that will ensure the humane treatment of all animals,” said Gabriel about the last cull.

Peter Williams, Director of the World Society for Protection of Animals in China also pointed out that removing dogs could actually increase the spread of rabies by opening up an area for more animals to move into.

IFAW, the Humane Society International and ACTasia have all been working with the Chinese government to draft national animal welfare laws that would protect animals, in addition to calling for vaccination and sterilization to address overpopulation issues. 

17 comments:

Maxmom said...

Some wise person once said:
"You can judge a nation by how they treat their animals!"
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

Dexter said...

Just awful. It was hard even to read about it, but it is important for us to be aware of these things. I agree with Max.

Mango Momma

The 'splorin' Wolfies said...

i am aware of it, but i just can't bring myself to read it--not this morning, i am in a good mood right now

Yas said...

Yup, mommy read about it couple of months back and she was very very upset about it..Makes you realize who is more humane..

Cheers,
Maxx

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

How can people be so cruel and stupid!!! Mango is right, this is very hard to read, but it must be said.

Hugs, the OP Pack

KB said...

Oh my. That's truly heart-breaking. Such poor innocent animals...

^..^Corgidogmama said...

This is sickening and evil.
I felt bile rise up in my throat while reading this.
The only way we can get back at this nation is to stop buying anything that says made in China!

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

That's really awful! It makes me so mad and sad reading about it.

Unknown said...

This makes me mad, and sad and sick to my stomach. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

Ruby and Penny said...

Mom is sick to her stomach. She was afraid to come and read this.
Love Ruby & Penny

Emma Rose said...

This was very difficult to read. There are so many reasons for us to boycott China. This is the icing on the cake for me. From now on if it says "made in China" I will pass it by. If we could all do this it might get their attention. By writing about this horrific practice you have brought it to the attention of all your followers. Now we can tell others and so on. Even though it was hard to read I am grateful you shared it. Thank you.

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Some years ago, a R&D engineer that worked where Mom used to work made his furst trip there...

Suffice it to say, he didn't khare fur the food - nothing like choosing your entree like selekhting the fish from the khounter...

He soon learned fur return trips to khram his suitkhase with foods to kharry him over...

Tank woo fur sharing this sad aspekht of their 'khulture'

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Mimi said...

I couldn't even finish this aritcle. It tears me up!

Teddy Bear said...

This just breaks my heart! Some people!

Love,
Teddy Bear

Two French Bulldogs said...

Yikes..that is very sad
Benny & Lily

Sierra Rose said...

Hmmmmm....this is not just in China, but happening in various places all over the world.
It would be amazing though, if China was able to did set up a vaccination program, and pet guideline.
Our loved fuzzies are very lucky.

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

Euri said...

Mommy is sick to her stomach about this and would like to write about it. How could humans perform such an inhumane act? Perhaps if people spayed and neutered their dogs, so many doggies wouldn't have to be killed. Blame the humans, not the dogs. Mommy said there are some people she'd like to round up and kill....namely anyone that hurts a doggy.