I recently received a video in which cats and dogs were not only handled in a terrible manner, but also stripped alive for their fur, before being killed or simply left to die. It is quite a common practice in China, in order to reduce costs and to minimize damage to the pelt.
The animal is knocked on the head repeatedly, and then skinned alive. Very often the animal is conscious throughout the whole process, facing a terrible, painful and slow death. It has been argued that China's treatment of animals is just part of their culture, but no religion or culture can justify inflicting pain and suffering in such a manner.
We ask the Chinese government to urgently introduce comprehensive legislation to protect China's animals from being subject to abusive and cruel practices, and, together with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, address the need for humane treatment of all animals, including those in domestic households, agriculture, food markets and fur farms.
We also urge the above bodies to effectively introduce and promote educational programmes within schools in order to guide Chinese children from early school years onwards, as well as the general public, about the rights of animals, their welfare and their environmental importance. If the country is prepared to make business with the whole world, it should be prepared to treat its animals better, as well as its people and the environment as a whole.
We can raise awareness and effectively do something. Whatever goes on in China, which is so difficult to understand, must stop. China has to start respecting life, and the rest of the world working on making it more humane.
