Chinese Dogs Rescued from Dog Meat Trade

This story was shared on my Facebook page and I am quite happy for the outcome of this as it shows how some Chinese are starting to stand up against their old traditions.


Source

The 150 activists have pooled nearly $8000 to free the dogs. It is unfortunate that they had to buy all these dogs' freedom but it just shows that there is a community of dog lovers and rescuers in China willing to do this.

Unfortunately, this news also contained insights from a dog-meat trader named Fan Xiantao, the person who runs the major dog-meat stores and restaurants in China.

Your thoughts?

It's just disgusting that China even consumes dog and cat meat. Dogs shouldn't be viewed as livestock. They are pets. Love those people who saved those dogs.

I love the fact that they saved all those dogs and I hope they're able to find good homes for all of them. In Korea a dogmeat festival was called off by protesters because the younger generation of Koreans see dogs as family members and companions, and they want the custom of eating dog meat to stay in the past.

I hope someday the practice of eating domestic animals like dogs and cats disappears forever.

(07-24-2012, 02:33 PM)mora2000 Wrote: It's just disgusting that China even consumes dog and cat meat. Dogs shouldn't be viewed as livestock. They are pets. Love those people who saved those dogs.

While it is not illegal in China to eat dogs or any animal not on the endangered species list, it is anything but common. Had been to China myself, never once saw any out of ordinary animals on the menu at varies restaurants. Plenty of dog owners walking their dogs on the streets.

Quick Google list of meat in Chinese diet also only had these results - pork, chicken, fish, beef. Of course there are also lamb and ducks, but they are already less common.

Not saying eating dogs doesn't exist there. It is just extremely uncommon, and it is easy to understand that dogs eat meat, thus making it uncommon and uneconomical to raise carnivore for food.

However, from my point of view, nobody has the right to judge what animal is "normal" for eating, what is not. Hindu can't eat beef, Jews and Muslims can't eat pork. Does it give them the right to yell at me for eating steak and BBQ ribs?

One time when I worked at a summer camp where there were some international kids. One Hindu kid said to me with a serous face "You killed fish!" when I was fishing. That was new. Nothing mentioned Hindu can't eat fish, but I guess it's his own personal view. I love my aquarium fish, but they are different species. I eat plenty of fish myself throughout my entire life, since I was a baby. I don't see it is "cruelty" to eat fish or fishing. Still, I respected this little kid, and I dumped all the fish back to the lake. Just because I am the one have an open mind, and I don't want to offend people with different point of view.

Honestly, I think people should have more open mind on this issue. Everyone has different culture background, and personal views. What is normal might not be normal to someone from another place or even from the same place. What is the true difference between other domesticated animals and these "traditional pets" such as dogs and cats?

Perhaps once day we can have artificial meat made from Startrek type of "food replicator". Then we can all call it even.
Until then, I do not believe even vegetarians have the right to call anyone out. It's their choice, fine, but they can't tell others how they should live their lives.

The above is just my personal opinion. Feel free to express yours.