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Eating dogs and cats–which is an age-old delicacy in China–could soon be against the law.
It’s the nation’s first law against such animal abuse. Currently, dog and cat meat is viewed as promoting bodily warmth. But if the law passes, people who eat either animal could face fines of up to $730 or 15 days in jail. Organizations involved the practice would face fines up to 100-times as much.
“I support this proposal. Whether you judge this as a question of food security or emotions, there is absolutely no necessity in China for people to eat dogs and cats,” said Zeng Li, the founder of the Lucky Cats shelter in Beijing. “Beijing’s dog restaurants get their meat mainly from vagrant and stolen dogs. In the suburbs, dogs are hung and slaughtered in front of buyers.”
The law has been in the draft stage for over a year and will be submitted to higher authorities come April. But draft legislation can take years to approve. Drafters at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have been consulting for more than a year with Britain’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the US-based International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Raising cats and dogs for meat remains widespread in China. You’ll often see it advertised as “fragrant meat,” a euphemism for dog. Cat meat is more popular in southern China where activists block trucks carrying thousands of cats to meat markets.
Ending the culinary tradition is going to be difficult even it is passed in to law, as it dates back thousands of years. Dog meat was once considered a medicinal tonic.
“We are proposing that all dog and cat eating should be banned because it is causing many social problems,” said Chang Jiwen, a law professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who heads the drafting team.
The economic impact of this law would be small as China’s affluent don’t partake in the delicacy. In fact, such traditions have received much scrutiny from affluent, pet-loving, urban middle class. And online petitions against dog and cat consumption have attracted tens of thousands of signatures.
As a vegetarian, this begs the question of why stop at just cats and dogs? What’s the real difference between eating a cow or eating your dog? I’m just saying.
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Source: Physorg
If it happened in America, It had to be reported. against our laws. I won’t believe it -It’ use to be bad then a young autistic lady came about and she started changing things for farmers, Temple Grandin
http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2009/08/we-salute-temple-grandin-a-hero-for-animals/
Please watch the movie on youtube.
The problem is that groups will take old pictures and redo them and say it happens here.
If so, they got the picture, they should report it and believe me it will make the news. I would want the news source,too.
It’s possible because some people just are sick,and that would be outright cruelty. However,
Its just not a practice here, we believe in,We condone killing humanly.. .
On a farm that can keep it’s animals because they are wealthy?
Pot Belly Pigs are great pets also
We kill Pigs for food for its energy because they eat from the land,like cows,chickens,turkeys,sheep&deer, they are raised for consumption..
Cats and dogs eat meat,they are our pets.we don’t eat meat eaters..
China is also a Communist country, with too,many people and poverty. The people that work in the actual making the products are lucky to find a roof over their head.
Every country has poor people and NOWAY is dealing with real life issues He said he has mouths to feed.they are first.
Plus if you didn’t pay attention to the fact that these animals are living on the street. If we can’t feed them they die,
Before they die from starvation they are going to take bites of human flesh,an innocent little girl/boy.
They can get rabies,and other diseases too and become carriers.
Why does anyone have to agree with you?
Are you a Dictator.?
What happens,if people don’t have money to take care of those animals ?
They end up in the streets,Is it better they die of starvation?
because the only people that can somewhat accept,your proclamation are the Rich and the middle class,
So are you saying that the Poor don’t deserve to live.?
You forget we Humans are apart of the living chain, too. We are a magnificent creatures.
You only think the ones that agree with you are alright,
Close your eyes,close your ears,close your heart-You didn’t see NOWAY has to feed family,
He can’t open his heart to animals because his decision like most humans,and even animals is their family
.He is dealing with a REAL situation
Sounds like the rich and middle class are catching on -But the problems are
Elderly-they have certain beliefs,give them Luck,keeps them warm in the winter,and fortifies their bodies with healthy stuff. used in certain recipes for certain occasions,and if your poor,you can find it in the street for free or eat it in a restaurant for a nominal fee
Poverty -the poor eat this (in fact they started eating cats during WWII because the Japanese,devastated their homes and lives causing turmoil,grief’and poverty)
the cats and dogs that are being killed are the ones that live in the streets,People that are poor can’t afford to keep them as pets.
I’m beginning to think they are similar to deer, they will also die of starvation.
Also like you said they view these animals as food not pets(Its all how we perceive things) We don’t eat meat eater’s,We eat vegetarian animal and vegetables,they get their energy from the sun and water and glucose, remember biology,thats how we get their energy by eating cows,pigs,chickens,sheep,Turkeys,rabbits&Deer
Maybe we can introduce them to that theory.Plus show them all the wonderful things a cat’s and dog’s as pets
So we are fining people that are poor &700.00 plus dollars?
So they have to go to jailed in a Communist country (I’de take my chances at Gitmo)
What about the elderly? If they steal for food,You want them in jail in China??
You have to understand we are complicated creatures,Animals our pets remind us of babies and children that are uncomplicated.
We don’t live like these people do, nor see or believe life to be the way they do..
Just like are our shock from another group of people the also kill animals cruelly the Muslims,,as well as, they kill humans so savagely as these law’s that are in their Koran
The problem is how do we Live in peace with everybody?? answer We can’t,we can’t agree with all, nor force them to agree with us,even if you know you are right. can’t be done, uck-uh no way NO!!
-at the same token there are lots of people that agree with you. are you to say all humans are bad…Hmm
Except for the ones that agree with you -birds of a feather….
Dogs and cats eat meat,are our pets.
Cats aren’t too cruel.Once they bite into the bird they send a toxin into the birds system and and it die’s,then they eat.So, killing snakes and mice are horrific to you,
Dogs and cats were bred to be pets,not for consumption. They again are meat eaters we don’t eat meat eaters., In America we eat animals that eat from the land -hmmm -Maybe we should start eating vegans,vegetarians. etc… get rid of Peeta Just kidding, you’d be too soft and gushy, yuck!!
Consider this the people that are going to be fined for doing this are Elderly and poor in a Communist Country those people can’t pay fine’s -Jail time in a Commi Jail not comfortable,I’d rather take my chances at Gitmo.
Unless you are rich or middle class cats and dogs are pets -the marjority of the cats and dogs are where peeta wants them in the streets or in the forests -these are the dogs and cats that are being eaten.
How about asking neighboring countries to help. If China allows to adopt these pets –
next how about sending Deer and elk, teach them how to hunt them for food, or maybe we can send them vegan’s..Just saying (alright just kidding) 🙂
Cats and dogs were breed to be domesticated -Just because you approve of your diet of No meat, sorry that is your opine not mine -In fact not enough hard evidence and not all scientists or Doctors back your claim of not eating animal protein -plus we have 2 eye teeth that are carnivore teeth,are used for tearing and shredding like when we eat spare rib’s or steaks they are there for a reason. I’m also worried about those people in China that are going to be fined -that isn’t an answer -You said that the middle class and rich are accepting this -They aren’t exactly nice over there,it’s a communist country the People that want to eat this still are Poor $700. plus dollars or their currency or time in Jail if they can’t pay, this isn’t a Americanized Liberal Jail system, Plus lots of the elderly can’t abandon their beliefs.Some believe that eating cats are Good Luck, they started eating cat during WWII because of Japan devastating their country and poverty. If that many people are killing cats and dogs these animals are being slain because they are living in the streets doesn’t that tell you that they are overpopulated with feral cats and dogs.Like the Pope said today Climate control,Poverty and stop killing humans
I can think if two very valid points as to why this is really wrong. First of all its eating another carnivore. Thats not how nature works and theres a reason why. Nature is never wrong irtnever makes mistakes. Leave it to fucking humans to screw things up. Second of all this wouldnt be as big an is if it werent for the WAY tgese animals were killed. These neadrathals have no respect for the animal or its body and they torture it to death. If they raised them well and with love and killed them quick and swiftly there isnt anything wrong with that ( except for the whole eating another carnivore part) its just plain discusting but hey, i heard they eat rats too.
I didn’t even get through comment one! Chinese people are sick!!!! Sorry- the way they tortured these poor loving animals (cats and dogs) are inexcusable (don’t care they are fuc–k starving or not) I have no empathy for any humane being that could treat a loving innocent animals(with nerve,pain, and feelings, just like humane being has is beyond me. Are they (Chinese that stupid that they don’t relize they are living feeling souls that have done nothing wrong but want to love you???
Raise a pig, pigs are smarter than dogs and are actually cleaner naturally than dogs. they comfort people, follow you, learn their name and commands. Just because you've never bothered to get to know a pig doens't mean they are stupid.
seriously??? BAN DOGS and CATS??? The economy is suffering as it is and now you people want to ban people from eating their own preferences. People keeps on banning eating that and those, seriously! I don’t give a fly about cats and dogs heck why give special treatment to abundant animals such as horses, cats, chickens, dogs, etc… These animals aren’t scarce, heck I think taking them off the street and cooking them is better than let them go loose bitin people, taking a dump wherever they want, and tearing garbage bags. I’ve got mouths to feed not dogs so unless you guys have a gazillion dollars to finance animal shelters and their food then go ahead BAN all you want but that isn’t the case now is it? For every animal you don’t eat I EAT THREE
You are one sick person. I know this is 3 yrs later. but my god I hope you are gone!!! Eat cats and dogs and torture is fine- you sick fu–k!
I am so glad to see this. To know that any animal is hung up and slaughtered in front of diners is the most horrific thought. How is it that anyone could condone this? Now on to dog and cat furs and scalping in the streets. Torture of ANY being is not to be tolerated and just breaks my heart.
It’s not the eating of animals that bothers me but I must know that they have not been cruelly treated before their death. I have not eaten meat since I was nine. I think this ban is a good thing.
IBEH – it’s sophist thinking that a dog or a cat is equivalent to a cockroach, millipede or spider that you can extend if you want to equate a human being as being no different than a dog or a cat. It’s exactly the same reasoning, and it’s your reasoning.
You can also use that same reasoning to view a plague of locusts over-running a countryside destroying resources in the same way as the human species which has had exponential growth rates since 1800. In the case of locusts, what would be the intelligent entirely unemotional solution to the problem?
But if a dog or a cat is no different than a spider or a cockroach, and that is prevalent thinking, what will be done?
just an FYI. most animals are incredibly tasty, but this is the fallacy of your undoing. It’s all fine and dandy until you see dogs roaming your neighborhood tearing through your garbage and attacking bystanders. what do you think happens to pets that are put down?
They are thrown away to rot. yep, animals indeed rot when they die, whether they are flat on the highway or dead from malnutrition, They rot.
I say, waste not, want not and eat the fuzzy bastards.
You animal EATING folks in the Easternized world are even MORE ridiculous …
Bart, I think you hit everything (nails, points, etc.) on the head with that one (if we eat other animals, why not dogs/cats).
P.E.T.A.
People Eating Tasty Animals
A cow is more delicious than a dog. Besides, I don’t name or play fetch with my hamburgers.
I think this is great start and excellent for China’s image.
For many years I have seen horrifying photos of dogs and cats crammed into small cages in open-air markets where they are slaughtered not only in front of the public, but in front of each other as well. There is not one animal protection law or animal cruelty law in China, so there is no regulation as to how the dogs and cats are slaughtered.
Dogs, cats, and rabbits are also commonly slaughtered for their fur in China. Cat fur is indistinguishable from rabbit fur, especially when dyed for fur trim, and is commonly sold as rabbit fur here in the USA.
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/What-is-that-they-re-wearing_FurBooklet.pdf
Any fur item worth less that $150.00 being imported into the US does not have to be labeled as to the animal it originated from, and if Americans won’t buy/ or it is illegal to sell something that says “Cat” fur, then the Chinese are all to happy to label it as “rabbit”. It is only a different word in English to them. And in no way is all the fur trim imported from China DNA tested to assure it is not dog or cat.
Which begs the question: Now that the USA has begun to import meat from China, which we used to not do, how do we know that small parts of chicken imported from China is actually chicken, and not rabbit or cat? Do I think this is happening? I think the possibility is strong.
The cruelty and brutality toward animals slaughtered in the United States for fur or food is equally cruel.
I could say that the fur farms in China are worse because I have seen footage of a China Raccoon Dog being skinned completely alive, (they just chop off it’s feet and peel it), and thrown on the dead pile blinking it’s eyes. The only fur left on it’s body is it’s eyelashes.
However, The Washington Post had an article, “They Die Piece by Piece”, documenting live cattle, skinned, hooves cut off with clippers, hanging in the slaughterhouse suspended by one chained leg, and their eyes rolling around watching everything, so I cannot say China is worse.
As for the vegetarian question, For me, my vegetarianism is a boycott. Money is power, and a way of channeling your energy. I work hard to make my money, so why spend it on practices that I don’t support? I became vegetarian in 1986 and never regretted it. I will be 50 this year. You should see how young my skin looks. ^__^
Okay, I’m a vegan, and I find the consumption of any animal (and especially the ones I have personal relationships with) a sad thing.
But let’s look at this rationally and without our Western-Affluence goggles on for a moment.
The affluent and middle class in China looks down on the consumption of dogs and cats. So we’re talking about the poor people here. In China, the poor aren’t like American poor. They live in bone-grinding poverty.
The government is telling them it’s illegal to eat dogs and cats. So my question is…what are they supposed to eat instead? This isn’t like telling Americans, who never have anything even close to a “need” for animal protein not to eat meat. This is like walking up to a hut full of starving people and saying, “Yeah, you know this food that you’ve been using to stay alive? Eat it again and we’ll throw you in a hard labor prison.”
I’m just saying…THINK with a larger scope when evaluating these “victories.”
I think it would be AWESOME if Asian nations all stopped consuming canine and feline flesh. But my first concern is that this is an obvious attempt to starve out the poorest people who live under an oppressive communist regime.
Dog meat is expensive in china, they have lots of other meat to eat. I don't agree with this law but just wantedt o point out the "But what else can they eat?" reasoning is not sound. Chinese poor eat more vegetables and simple meats like cow and chicken.
D. – dogs are clearly not on the same level as us on the food chain as evinced by the fact that we eat them (in china and other countries, at least).
The real difference is that dogs and cats are typically kept as pets, but cows are not. Dogs and cats happen to be cuter and furrier, essentially.
A friend of mine’s mother in the countryside hat pet cows? Should we therefore not eat those?
The only two answers are:
a) eat everything except humans, we are the top of the food chain and every other animal is fair game.
b) become a vegetarian as you disapprove of eating animals at any level.
Any other distinctions drawn are arbitrary distinctions based on whether my mum once had one as a pet etc.
I have no problem with anybody eating any particular meat and I don’t see eating cats and dogs as any different than eating cows and pigs here in the US.
The actual problem I have with China’s practice of eating these animals – and with all animal care in China – is the complete lack of humane treatment. China has NO animal welfare laws. These animals are treated worse than anything I’ve ever read/seen/expereinced. The way they are slaughtered is nothing like the way animals are slaughter in other countries. Even in the US – where our ‘food animals’ are still treated below par – the animals are at least killed prior to being skinned, or throw into boiling oil, or having limbs hacked off… This is not the case in China. Live animals are treated with the same concern as an orange or apple with regards to just cutting right into it. It’s disturbing to say the absolute least on the matter.
If China would take as much initiative toward becoming a ‘force’ in humane animal treatment as they have in commercial/political endevours I believe the world at large would look upon anything they choose to eat in a much better light and this whole situation of trying to force them to avoid eating animals they have sustained their people on for thousands of years would not be an issue at all.
Chinese proverb: The government wants a law-thats fine.The people will do what they want. I wish the government luck. The cops won’t enforce it (except for show)
Dog is ok, but a little bland. I’ve heard cat is disgusting. I’ll try it one day to find out. Panda is probably delicious, but difficult to obtain. I don’t want to eat babies or live monkeys brains. Each to his own taste,said the dog licking his balls.
There is no difference between eating a cow and a dog. Both are perfectly legitimate food sources.
In a world where industrial food production has reduced the world to getting over 80% of its food production comes from 4 animal species and 12 crops it is clearly time to keep food diversity front and forward and not get caught up in animal protest industry hate memes.
It’s a big world with a lot of cultures.
We need ecology not emotion.
Some of the comments here and at the original source surely must have been posted for shock value. Alternatively, they are an accurate reflection of why we still do not treat other humans with dignity and respect – we haven’t evolved enough as a species, and until we attain that there is little hope of not killing other animals because “we like steak”.
Good ! Now let us ban eating cows and pigs.
Give a good wine and cook fifi right with rice and corn and I’m chowing baby!
I agree, what IS the difference if you eat a cat vs. a cow? I say, eat whichever you like. I’m a lover of both cats and dogs but its not my place to get in the way of over 1000 years of cultural practice. Maybe it tastes good?
I do very much agree with the very final statement that there isn’t much difference between eating cats and dog compared to eating cows… It’s just that we’re not used to thinking of cats and dogs as anything other than pets. I personally couldn’t eat them, but forgive me for being ignorant if I’m wrong here but isn’t the cow supposed to be sacred in India and therefore not eaten there, too?
It’s certainly something that, I feel, only those accepting of other ways of life would be able to accept, but due to the alleged poor handling of cats and dogs for the meat market (such as stealing them etc) is obviously something that anyone would object to…
If reared specifically for meat and treated properly like cows are in the UK I would have no problem with it (even being a cat lover myself)
Like someone else noted, why is killing lambs, dires, goats, cows, pigs, rabbits and all other “traditionally accepted” as food animals different?
I believe if any everage person would visit a regular meat factory aka slaughterhouse, where they “immobilize” animals for meat and take their skin off would have the same protesting feeling.
Everyone like to eat meat, but not everyone wants to know details on how it’s made avaialble.
I suspect 95% of people would not kill any animal for food, if they had other food available.
I have heard rumors that certain percentage of people turns vegetarians after visiting meat factory.
I eat meat, but I feel bad about it. I try to choose something else when there is choice. I think people in general should find other solution for food.
That would be evolution.
These are not the times when we need to kill to survive, not for 99% of us who reads this.
In China in fact it might be the case, so I put zero blame on them.
It's not the case. China is, food wise, as industrialized as the west.
The last paragraph “As a vegetarian, this begs the question of why stop at just cats and dogs? What’s the real difference between eating a cow or eating your dog? I’m just saying.” brings an interesting question. Though I would consider it from the other perspective.
Why stop at just eating cows when other meats are apparently equally healthy for you?
I understand their is a social norm against it. But otherwise is there a reason not to eat cats and dogs in a culture where it is the norm to eat such meats as dogs and cats?
Looking at this from the standpoint of we already eat cows/sheep/etc., I can’t why is it unacceptable to eat dogs and cats? Because we domesticate them? It’s possible for pigs to be domesticated; and yet we still eat those.
In fact, I almost dare anybody to find an argument against eating cats and dogs besides vegetarianism and sentimental bull* on humanities behalf. Note that I’m neither vegetarian, nor do I presently eat felines or canines (living in Australia, it’s kind of illegal), however, I can’t see any reasonable, logical reason why we don’t.
I THINK IT’S A GOOD BEGINNING AND THE LAW SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COCKROACHES, SPIDERS, MILLIPEDES AND SO ON.
THIS WILL MAKE THE WORLD (CHINA)A LESS IRRITATING PLACE.
If you can eat a cow, I see no reason why you can’t eat a dog or a cat. They are all just 4 legged animals that our body can convert to energy. It should be all or nothing…either eating ANY animal is a sin OR eating EVERY animal should be OK.
Here kitty kitty.
While I respect your opinion and right to eat what you see fit, I have a problem with someone telling me or others what they can and cannot eat on a broad scale.
I respect animals on the level that I do not condone undue cruelty, and thus have avoided certain establishments due to exposed practices of their suppliers, however, I’m an omnivore both by nature and choice.
This is mostly in response to the closing comments that you threw in as a final shot. To respond to the question I imagine you didn’t really want answered, there is no difference aside from emotional attachment.
This begs another question however. If those animals aren’t to be used for the food they were raised to be, who’s going to care for them?
"I have a problem with someone telling me or others what they can and cannot eat on a broad scale."
When your eating habits are supporting an industry that is destroying the environment we all live in it's no longer just your problem. If you are eating naturally raised Organic animals and not the chemically induced factory farm animals I'd agree but if you eat out or eat meat from a regular supermarket you are killing other people. I know no one wants to hear it but it's true. And yes I know the arguement that vegetables are also grown badly and animals die for the production of the vegetables but if you do the math and the research the meat industry is MUCH more harmful than the vegetable, in my opinion it's about doing as little damage as you can while still living in our world.
"If those animals aren't to be used for the food they were raised to be, who's going to care for them?"
There's a big difference between raising a cow properly and the way we do it.
Some people even eat baby lambs or goats, piglets and calves that are still suckling from their mothers…. perhaps there will be fines for these atrocities one day.
The difference between dogs and cows is that dogs are on a parallel place on the food chain as us (as we both have canines and have the body chemistry to eat meat). The food chain has the meat eaters eating the plant eaters. That is the difference. Don’t fight nature.
Right… because omnivores are totally unnatural… meat eaters eat meat all the time. Don't fight nature.
It’s not much, but it is a start. Maybe this will finally start ensuring humane treatment to man and animal alike in the world.