International Fund for Animal Welfare: China dog cull looms as authorities urge owners to kill pets

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Wednesday, 09, Sep 2009 12:00

(Beijing – September 9, 2009) – Media reports from China indicate another citywide dog cull will begin tomorrow (Thur) with pet dogs not registered or vaccinated being killed, along with stray animals.

Residents in a district of Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, near Beijing, with dogs over one foot in height or whose pets are considered to be 'dangerous breeds' are being asked to kill their own dogs by tomorrow. Police will then form dog-beating squads to comb the district and kill any such remaining dogs. In this case, owners will then be fined for the killing.

While authorities are attributing the plan to recent dog-biting incidents in the area, the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) Asia Regional Director, Grace Gabriel, said:

"To pick this time to enforce the dog regulation, it is obvious that Qinhuangdao hopes to 'clean' the streets and put on a good show for China’s National Day on October 1. But, by inflicting cruelty on animals, the city is doing the exact opposite. Mass killing of dogs is going to generate outrage from people all over the world, damaging China’s image of a harmonious society."

Currently, China does not have any type of animal welfare law in place, which means that there is no legal recourse against the cruel treatment and killing of animals.

"The killing of dogs that have rightful owners is a violation of the basic rights of a Chinese citizen. Although China has no law to prevent cruelty to animals, its Constitution calls for the protection of personal property, which includes rightfully owned companion animals.

"This brutal killing of dogs further highlights the need for legislation that will ensure the humane treatment of all animals," says Gabriel.

Due to the lack of rabies prevention programmes, consistent dog population controls or responsible pet ownership education, city governments often resort to mass killing of dogs as a means to control dog populations and prevent rabies outbreaks. This May, the cull in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province was responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 dogs.

The central government is working with IFAW and other groups in China to draft national animal welfare legislation – the only way to ensure the humane treatment of animals for the long-term.

Gabriel added: "Qinhuangdao must stop the mass slaughter of dogs and attend to the root causes of overpopulation and rabies transmission. Above all else, this includes the need for vaccination and sterilisation.

"We are of course pleased that the draft of China’s first animal welfare legislation is near completion, but we fear it will be too late for the tens of thousands of dogs in Qinhuangdao."