Shenzhen Becomes First City In China To Ban Dog and Cat Meat
Campaigners have welcomed the “watershed moment”, as Shenzhen’s move becomes the latest crackdown on eating animals in China.
Shenzhen has become the first city in China to ban the consumption of dog and cat meat.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese authorities recently approved a ban on the trade and consumption of wildlife across the country. Now, Shenzhen’s new law has gone further and also includes a ban on the consumption of animals raised as pets.
The new law comes into effect in Shenzhen on 1 May, with the threat of hefty fines for anyone who consumes or sells prohibited animals after that time.
“Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan,” the Shenzhen city government said, as Reuters reports.
“This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization.”
Peter Li, China policy expert for Humane Society International (HSI), welcomed Shenzhen's new law, explaining that
"this really could be a watershed moment in efforts to end this brutal trade that kills an estimated 10 million dogs and 4 million cats in China every year.
HSI estimates that 30 million dogs are killed for their meat across Asia every year, with 10 million of those in China.
Shenzhen's new proposal reflects the changing attitudes towards dog and cat meat consumption across China. A recent poll found that 69.5 percent of Chinese citizens have never eaten dog meat, and more than half think that the dog meat trade should be completely banned.
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