Page 15 - Animals Asia Review 2015

Cat and Dog Welfare

Changing attitudes in China
China now has more than
150

In 2015, almost 2 million Chinese citizens signed a petition
calling on the government to outlaw the dog and cat
animal welfare groups
meat industry.
compared with just 30 in
2006. Animals Asia works
These calls were further supported by 30 representatives of the
with most of these groups.
National People’s Congress who called for amendments to food
safety laws to exclude the use of dogs and cats.
‘I’ve worked in animal welfare in China

for over a decade and while day-to-day
The younger generation is driving the opposition to animal
cruelty, and in recent years a number of local groups run
change can seem slow, when I look
by passionate young people have emerged. These groups
back, we’ve come such a long way.
are changing attitudes at a community level, as well as
campaigning for animal protection laws and rescuing thousands The tide of public feeling is turning and
of cats and dogs from the meat trade.
attitudes towards animals are changing

Animals Asia supports these groups with funding, training and fast with dogand cat ownership at an
by supplying a formal platform for dialogue with the authorities ’
through our China Companion Animal Symposiums.
all-time high.

irene feng
Director of Cat and Dog Welfare, China
it’s no festival

In June 2015, the eyes of the world once again fell on Yulin,

China – a beautiful city with a dark stain, its annual dog
meat festival.

We continued to expand our global campaign to urge the dog
meat traders to end the annual “celebration”. At end 2015,
over 149,000 people had signed our letter to the traders.

The number of dogs slaughtered has fallen dramatically since
pressure from the public started in 2013. Activists estimate
that in 2015 under 2,000 dogs were killed. In previous years

it’s estimated that over 10,000 dogs were slaughtered at the
event. But even one is one dog too many.

We’re doing all we can to stop the slaughter and we’re seeing Widespread protests saw fewer diners at the dog meat
real progress. Our campaign – It's No Festival – continues
into 2016.
festival in 2015, but we won't stop until it ends for good.

Stressed and terriied dogs – many of them stolen pets – are transported to Yulin in shocking conditions.

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