• In situations where the torture is not deliberate, the method of slaughter is still tragically cruel. Markets in China, reveal killing methods which leave both dogs and cats
  suffering a lingering, violent death as they are either bludgeoned over the head, stabbed in the neck or groin, hung, electrocuted or thrown conscious into drums of boiling water.
  
  
• There are numerous conflicting beliefs regarding dog eating, for example dogs are eaten in the summer months in Korea to cool the body down, whilst in China they are eaten in the winter to warm the body.
  
  
• In Korea, contrary to popular belief, dog eating is a relatively recent phenomenon and has never been a part of their culinary history. The fabrication of dog and cat meat as an age-old part of Korean cultural heritage is a marketing strategy by unscrupulous vendors who are exploiting an easy to produce commodity.
  
  
• Dogs are eaten in large numbers in China and Korea, and on a smaller scale in parts of Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Myanmar, the Asian portions of the former Soviet Union, Thailand and Vietnam. In many of these countries the practice is less than a few generations old.
  
  
• Cats are eaten in Southern China, Korea and some parts of Indonesia.
  
  
• ANIMAL PEOPLE estimates that 13-16 million dogs and 4 million cats are butchered each year for human consumption in Asia, as of 2003.
  
  
• It is estimated that as many as 30% of the dogs sold for food in Korea are stolen pets.
  
  
• Dog eating is illegal in Hong Kong, Korea and the Philippines and was banned in Taiwan in 2001.

• Culture and tradition should not be an excuse for cruelty. Just because a practice is part of a culture does not make it morally acceptable and many practices such as slavery, which were once seen as a basic right, are now widely accepted as barbaric.
  
  
• There is no scientific evidence to support claims that dog meat can improve blood flow and "chi", enhance male virility, promote kidney function and aid digestion. Dog meat is proven to be no more nutritious than that of pork or chicken.
  
  
• Recent research into rheumatoid arthritis has proven that cats are absolutely not effective in the treatment of arthritis.
  
  
• A great number of dogs seen in the markets have collars on - an indication that they may have once been someone's pet. The argument that there are two types of dog - 'pets' and 'meat', is redundant as pure breeds and pets are seen for sale as meat in the markets. It is also estimated that a large portion of the cats seen in the markets are also stolen pets.
  
  
• Arguments that a dog or cat is no different to a chicken, a cow or even a frog, fail to address the core fact that no government in the world has devised a way of killing dogs humanely for commercial purposes.
  
  
• A Hong Kong Government Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Veterinary representative has stated that dogs cannot be humanely raised and slaughtered for food.
  
  
• As carnivores, dogs and cats are inherently different in temperament and physiology to domestic livestock species more commonly raised intensively en-masse for food.
  
  
• Humans have historically never kept carnivores as livestock animals, partly because of the difficulty in raising them and perhaps also because of the increased risk of disease that can be transmitted from animal to human.
  
  
• Regulating the trade would provide only a superficial solution and give dog and cat eating a façade of respectability, whilst allowing the suffering to continue behind closed doors.
  
  Our position paper "Friends....or Food - Why Dogs and Cats Deserve Better", calls for the end of dog and cat consumption and is available for anyone to download and spread the word.

       Historically the practice of cat eating in China has been largely confined to Guangdong Province where cat meat is part of a famous traditional dish: "Tiger (cat), Phoenix (chicken), Dragon (snake)". Though it is hard to know exact figures, some estimates put the number of cats consumed per year in China at 4 million.

On field trips and investigations into the cat meat trade in Guangdong, our field officers witness literally hundreds of cages filled with sick and dying cats. Lifted by metal tongs around their necks, the cats are wrenched from their overcrowded cages and brutally slaughtered. It is common for restaurants in the province to have cages of live cats at the entrance, waiting to be chosen by the diner.

Whilst we recognise that cats do not fulfill as many varied roles as dogs are able to, they are undoubtedly valuable companion animals bringing much benefit, health and happiness to their owners. Cats, like dogs, cannot be raised and slaughtered humanely and they have earned a place by our sides, and in our laps!

Amidst all this bad news for dogs and cats, there is hope. Pet ownership is exploding in China, and research shows that pet owners disagree with dog and cat eating.

The demographics in China are changing rapidly. Traditionally, entire families would live together under one roof, but today the trend is for young Chinese to move out and set up their own homes, thus leaving the older generation to live alone. Many are buying pets for company. The advent of the one child family planning policy on the mainland has resulted in lots of lonely children and increasingly pet dogs are brought into the family for company.

Under communism, dog ownership was forbidden in urban areas since it was feared as a public health hazard and seen as a sign of a bourgeois, capitalist indulgence. Additionally, because of the lack of civic education concerning responsible pet ownership, rabies is (and continues to be) a big problem. In 2004 over 2,000 people died from rabies, a huge number which serves to make people afraid of dogs.

The license to keep a pet dog in the city was, until very recently, extortionate - around US$2,800 per year – to discourage people from keeping dogs. Today, the fee has been reduced, but is still extremely costly. Initial registration costs as much as US$1,235 a year in Guangzhou, for example. In Beijing, however, the fee has recently been cut from US$660 for initial registration to US$110, and the subsequent yearly fee is approximately US$60. But even the lower fee in Beijing is quite a lot of money when you consider that the average worker’s salary in China is just US$950 per year.

Despite the obstacles, pet ownership is continuing to grow rapidly. Estimates are that there are now over half a million registered dogs in Beijing, with many millions unregistered. Owning a dog has become a status symbol and it seems that in the long-term, the pet industry may be much more profitable than the meat dog industry. Wealthy young mainlanders lavish money on their pets, and pet shops and grooming salons are popping up all over the big cities. The situation for dogs in the countryside has, unfortunately, remained largely unchanged. Traditionally, there has been a very practical approach taken towards dogs, i.e. they guard your house and then they are eaten. However, the fact is that opinions for the whole country are made in the key cities, there is hope for the future.

With attitudes towards dogs in transition (“pampered pet”, “meat dog”, "pet dog", “street dog”, “rabied dog”), we believe that we have a window of opportunity to raise the profile of dogs and cats, showcasing them as our friends and helpers, in need of our love, respect and protection. Thus we are expanding our Dr. Dog programme, together with distributing our "Dr. Eddie: Friend or Food?" inspirational and educational film, which compels people to reconsider their attitude to dog and cat eating.

We are also aware that the new pet owner often has little information as to how to care for their pet. For this reason, we have created our own Animals Asia pet care leaflet that is being included in the "Dr. Eddie: Friend or Food?" Film Pack that is currently being distributed by the thousand, free of charge, across China.


PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS HERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION OR, IF YOU CHOOSE YOU MAY CONTACT ME BY CLICKING MY NAME ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS PETITION.