Dogs and cats to be taken off menus in China
Pet lovers in China push law that would land people in jail for eating dogs and cats.
By Bryan NelsonTue, Jan 26 2010 at 4:57 PM EST
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DOG FOOD: Over 10 million dogs and 4 million cats are murdered every year for their meat or fur. (Photo: ZUMA Press) The practice of eating dog and cat meat — an age-old delicacy in parts of Asia — could be banned as legal experts consider the first law in China against animal abuse and cruelty, reports The Guardian. If passed, violators could be charged with fines of up to 5,000 yuan ($730 U.S.) and up to 15 days in jail.
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The culinary tradition dates back thousands of years, but China's growing affluent, pet-loving middle class is increasingly critical of the practice. Online petitions against dog and cat consumption have attracted tens of thousands of signatures, and protests have arisen at markets where the animals are bought and sold.
Penalties proposed under the new law are steeper for businesses or organizations that promote the practice of eating man's best friend, with potential fines of up to 500,000 yuan.
For many international animal rights groups, the proposed legislation is long overdue. Without stiff enforcement, cruelty to animals and the raising of cat and dog meat for dinner tables is likely to remain widespread in China regardless of the growing consciousness over animal welfare.
"We need something more than moral pressure," 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."
Dog meat, often euphemized as "fragrant meat" on restaurant menus, can be found throughout China. The label helps ease the minds of those who understand the fondness for dogs as pets coexists with a taste for canine meat, much in the same way that "veal" or "mutton" are used in the United States to mask the reality of consuming calves or baby lambs.
Over 10 million dogs and 4 million cats are murdered every year for their meat or fur, according to livestock and poultry slaughtering administration departments in China. Eating both animals has long been viewed as promoting bodily warmth by practitioners of traditional medicine, though today the animals are often simply consumed for sustenance.
The report warned that the law is still being fiercely debated, and it could be modified or diluted during the drafting stages. Furthermore, draft legislation can take years to be approved in China.
Even so, once passed the proposed law should at least set a new precedent for animal rights in a country where endangered species are frequent menu items and antiquated, unfounded and superstitious medicinal practices are commonplace.
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Comments
Stephan
10/09/2010 14:48 PM
It makes me sick and want to hurt this kind of people
i love animals and i could seriously hurt this kind of people
MNN User
08/25/2010 23:12 PM
but dont restrict what kind of animal can be used as food.
Meat Eater
Today 18:34 PM
Since the beginning of human existence we have eaten animals, animals have eaten animals, insects have eaten animals. It's nature's design that all living things are susceptible to being consumed... including vegetarians. I'll take mine medium rare please!
Seriously though, let's stop the cruelty. We can no longer allow lions to chase down defenseless gazelles and ravage them until their guts fall out or to allow a shark or whale to bite those cute little seals in half. What are we.... More
bluestar123
08/03/2010 07:06 AM
Vegatain. Aways have been, always will be.
I'm a seriouse protester in animal slaughter, continusely sending spam and hate-mail to those cruel people.
I hope this stops soon, very much so.
Curtis
10/03/2010 17:18 PM
Okay, being a Vegitarian is fine, but Spamming their emails and stuff? Your just as bad as the bible thumpers who push their religion on everyone they see. If you want to be taken seriously then dont be a dipshit coward spamming emails like its going to make a difference or something. I belive in eating every animal. I make it my ******* JOB to eat any meat I can. Seeing as I dissagree with you maybe I should go all in your face about my belifes and spam your email you piece of ****.
editec
07/28/2010 15:47 PM
Better still, why not send out for some Chinese?
While it's not New York, there must be at least a few good Chinese resturants in China.
Eeb
07/22/2010 11:00 AM
I don't eat cats and dogs. I would not pass at the opportunity if I were in china, though. I think the last thing poor peasants in china need is a law further restricting their diet.
beanni
07/22/2010 03:32 AM
how is eating a dog or a cat any different to eating a chicken, a cow, a sheep, a fish, a turkey? they've all been domesticated, they can all be kept as pets. i don't think there's anything wrong with it. as long as the animal is treated humanely, killed humanely, and respected and appreciated, just like every other animal, intended for food or not, should be. i don't think that dogs and cats should have "special protection" just because they're "cute" and "man's best friend". if we eat one.... More
Guest
08/07/2010 16:14 PM
they are not treated humanely, they are not killed humanely, and they are not appreciated and restected. i sure would like to see you get put up in a cage being all scared knowing tthat you'll be eaten. get your head out of your ***. who cares if its no different then eating other animals, thats why people are tyring to make a difference. STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
littlemissarmy@hotmail.com
09/03/2010 17:26 PM
how many cows and pigs and chickens that are slughtered are treated to a last meal and good before death
search about sluaghter houses and u can see a cow being skinned alive
we r not humane about how we slaughter so how the hell r we to9 tell anyone about cruel
u wont want to eat any meat
just cause it looks pretty in the store was pretty as it did not die very nice
so before u say that look at what canada does in a slaughter house
and just cause we call.... More
littlemissarmy@hotmail.com
09/03/2010 17:26 PM
how many cows and pigs and chickens that are slughtered are treated to a last meal and good before death
search about sluaghter houses and u can see a cow being skinned alive
we r not humane about how we slaughter so how the hell r we to9 tell anyone about cruel
u wont want to eat any meat
just cause it looks pretty in the store was pretty as it did not die very nice
so before u say that look at what canada does in a slaughter house
and just cause we call.... More
Guest
08/07/2010 16:14 PM
they are not treated humanely, they are not killed humanely, and they are not appreciated and restected. i sure would like to see you get put up in a cage being all scared knowing tthat you'll be eaten. get your head out of your ***. who cares if its no different then eating other animals, thats why people are tyring to make a difference. STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Rin
07/21/2010 18:11 PM
I could see if the person previously stated that dogs/cats aren't smarter than pigs, but chickens and cows are pretty dense. But that is neither here nor there.
Who the **** eats an animal because it's 'smart' or 'dumb?' Dogs and cats are just not supposed to be food. Otherwise they never would have domesticated way back when people still lived in caves. They would've been eaten. =\ Cats are the same. No one raises dogs and cats for livestock. Cows, chickens and pigs have been for a very.... More
Lindsay
07/14/2010 02:07 AM
How can those men in the photo be ok with that.... those dogs are so sad and afraid.... how can anyone be ok with that? I have never eaten meat and never will, it is never ok for any living thing to be treated this way. Meat eating is the most wasteful thing humans are doing today, it is so stupid and unnecessary and selfish and cruel!
Guest
07/14/2010 00:14 AM
Why? cats and dogs are no smarter than cows, chickens, and especially pigs. It is just another source of meat. Imagine if they made eating beef illegal in America...
Anonnymoose
07/14/2010 00:10 AM
I have cats, and I have had dogs. I consider them to be on the same level as my own children would be (if I had them). However, who are we (North Americans) to decide what countries get to eat which meats? For the Chinese, cat and dog are a traditional food. As is goose liver pate for the french. Do you people now how cruel goose liver pate is? Or in the North American fast food mecca, has anyone ever seen what KFC does to get its chicken? Instead of punishing an entire people for their.... More
Erin
07/14/2010 12:25 PM
It's not American's who are telling them what's wrong and what's right when it comes to meat eating. The Chinese introduced a new animal cruelty law which would prohibit the consumption of cats and dogs and other domesticable animals. It's the Chinese who are making the law and changing their own culture--NOT Americans.
Jake
07/13/2010 15:53 PM
Being a dog or cat does not automatically make an animal a pet. People keep pigs as pets, yet still eat bacon. The only reason you people are so offended at the idea of eating dogs or cats is because you never have, and probably have only seen them portrayed as pets.
Eating dogs and cats should not be against the law and isn't murder as this article claims. Murder is when one human kills another; if you're a vegetarian, you shouldn't even be posting on this page, because you would.... More
TNKV
07/12/2010 18:34 PM
Nasty mean people
Jimmy
Today 23:12 PM
According to Hindu's we (average American ) are all evil and depraved untouchable ghouls for eating cows. According to Muslims and Jews, we are all going to hell and are untouchable ghouls for eating pigs. According to Christians we are all doomed because Eve ate an apple. Somewhere there is some obscure cult pissed at the vegetarians for the yearly "cabbage holocaust". As long as they are not eating YOUR personal pets, stop bitching.
Remember, you probably committing some cultural.... More
beanni
07/22/2010 03:38 AM
it wasn't necessarily an apple. the type of fruit that Eve ate was never specified. just a random fact...
Joseph
08/04/2010 15:52 PM
stop crying of this at that! in the "christian world" it is widely accepted that it was an apple. if it wasn't an apple then pick what ever fruit you want and the statement still stands! if you don't like what someone else is doing, look in the mirror and you will probably see that you don't like there action as it mirrors something in your self you don't like. when you live in a glass house don't throw rock.....
Airaloske
Today 20:54 PM
I was always under the assumption that the term "mutton" was used for the meat of a grow-up sheep. Whenever I see lamb packaged at a supermarket it is always labeled as "lamb." Maybe it is a regional thing?
nikkibot
07/14/2010 03:00 AM
A lamb is a young sheep under 12 months. Lamb is normally slaughtered around 4 to 12 months. Mutton is the meat of an older sheep and is tougher with a much stronger flavor.
cordie
07/07/2010 17:40 PM
eating animals is getting lower and lower on my list. they are each and all so special and wonderful.
ashly89
02/03/2010 22:31 PM
There pets not food.... we dont eat our pets dogs and cats are meant to be family animals not something you order off a menu in some little gook hole in the wall
Ben
01/31/2010 19:59 PM
Instead of taking them off the menu, how about just enforcing humane raising practices. Not just with dogs and cats, but all food animals, cows, pigs, chickens, etc. Its something that really needs to be done State-side, too.
I'm a dog person, I have a puppy, and will be getting more, and would never dream of eating one of my dogs. But they are my pets, they are my friends. If an animal is raised for the explicit purpose of food, then it isn't given a name, isn't raised with tender lovin.... More
zachary
01/28/2010 05:28 AM
well, i am a lifelong vegetarian, so right from the start i am not telling you to eat dogs & cats.
the point is, why do we think it's acceptable to eat any animals?
pigs are even considered to be more intelligent than cats and dogs...
most of the animals in the world we would never consider eating, so why do we eat cows, pigs, lamb, etc
i can't go into it here, but this is a great video of a lady who studied this issue for her PhD.
.... More
Jonathan
07/14/2010 03:12 AM
Because, dear friend. We are animals. And animals eat other animals. Thus is the food chain. Food is fuel for the body. Everything living thing is food eventually. Even humans. Worm food. So get off your vegetarian high horse, please. If I wanted your evaluation of my diet, I would ask you for it.
Peter Wang
01/26/2010 23:10 PM
I've eaten dog meat a few times last year when I was in China. It taste just like any other meat but its just not as gamey. In china unlike the US, there are dogs running around all over the place. I once ate a whole puppy by myself. Yummy!!
Aussie
07/11/2010 18:39 PM
And some Dales Steak Seasoning they taste like a 10 dollar New York Strip!
Carol Vella
01/26/2010 21:27 PM
OMG Dahh. I can not believe the inhumanity of some. This is just so wrong on so many levels.....STOP THE MADNESS
john649
01/26/2010 20:59 PM
This is a great start but only the beginning. Millions of chinese care about their pets just as americans do. Lets hope they continue to protest until this horrific practice is banned completely.
