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Truth behind dog and cat meat unveiled
July 2010
On June 26th, a friend of Naturewatch, Daniella Zhang, was invited to do a presentation at the China Awareness Campaign for Non-purebred Cats and Dogs press conference in the Beijing SOHO Plaza.
China Awareness Campaign for Non-purebred Cats and Dogs was formed to tackle the abuse and consumption of non-purebred cats and dogs in China; it aims to educate the public about the reality these animals face and increase public compassion and care.
Money raised by photo and writing competitions, sponsored by Swiss Animal Protection SAP and the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, fund investigations into the plight of animals used for human consumption.
One of these investigations is called Investigation of Non-Purebred Dogs in Guizhou, and its documentary film was shown at the conference, offering its audience an in-depth look at the flourishing dog meat business in Guizhou province, from dog slaughterhouses to dog meat restaurants.
"In China, cats and dogs are increasingly kept as companion animals, which is going to create conflict because when you develop a personal relationship with an animal, you consider it and respect it in a totally different way than with the animals we consume," said professor Dennis Turner from the Department of Zoology at the University of Zurich.
The process of slaughtering live dogs is graphically shown in the film, and viewers learn that dogs are struck with metal rods to induce fear. Blood then pumps around their body, supposedly creating a more delicious flavour once on the plate.
"With China's rapid social development, the status of disadvantaged groups in mankind has been raised. However, mongrel cats and dogs are still being abandoned, eaten or abused," said Chen Qian, chief program officer with the China Awareness Campaign for Non-pure Bred Cats and Dogs.
The documentary received warm commends from the guests and strong attention from the media.
In addition to the documentary, the afternoon was filled with music, presentations from people with varying animal welfare backgrounds, including Daniella Zhang, founder of Animal Protection of Journalists, and winners of the photographic and writing competition received their awards.
