Good news for dogs in China but far from a happy ending!

[Guest guest]

Dear AAPN members

 

Happy New Year! Thank you very much for everyone's hard work for

animals in 2006.

We wish everyone have a fantastic year in 2007.

 

Good news for dogs in China but far from a happy ending!

 

Thanks to the collective efforts of ACTAsia for Animals, other animal

welfare groups and thousands of supporters all over the world, the

confiscation of dogs by the Beijing authorities has ended. Chinese

President Hu Jingtao called for a halt to the crackdown after massive

local and international protests, and negative media coverage of the

issue.

 

Two events in China show that this is an issue that greatly concerns

its citizens. Dog owners and animal protection groups held the

country’s first ever public gathering for the protection of animals

in China. Also, a Beijing newspaper held a forum to discuss the

issue, and published the debate – this is rare in China, especially

in the case of animal issues. This is encouraging for animals in

China – however, nothing has really changed yet.

 

We are deeply relieved that the dog crackdown in Beijing has not been

as extensive as was intended, but this does not mean that the animals

are now safe. The same action can occur again at any time, and not

just in Beijing – other provinces have similar legislation. The

current Beijing Dog Keeping Regulation is still in place. It does not

allow the keeping of 41 ‘dangerous’ breeds, any dogs with a height of

over 35cm, and more than one dog per household in major Beijing areas.

 

 

Therefore, we still need to keep campaigning for an amendment of the

current Beijing dog keeping regulations.

 

There is no scientific basis for a theory on a direct connection

between the size of a dog and the danger it poses to humans

Many of the current breeds on the Beijing ‘dangerous’ dog list are

not seen as dangerous in other parts of the world, and there is no

evidence that they are dangerous.

Breeding establishments and pet shops need to be regulated and a

licensing system should be introduced, with appropriate penalties for

contravening regulations.

Our ultimate aim is the adoption of national animal welfare

legislation in China to promote respect for animals’ lives and to

prevent cruelty to animals.

Please keep on supporting our campaign to introduce animal welfare

legislation in China, and sign our petition at http://www.actasia.org/

Takeaction.html: it sure does make a difference!

 

 

Thank you

 

ACTAsia would like to thank Care2, Kinship, Best Friends Animal

Society, China Small Animal Protection Society, Beijing Animal Rescue

Centre, EPGEA and China Companion Animal Protection Network for

working with us on this issue.

 

In addition, many individuals have spent their precious personal time

to help us to circulate news and collect information.

 

We also thank the people who have signed the petition, and sent us

warm and kind messages of support on the Beijing anti-dog culling

campaign.

 

Please also visit our web site with regards to this issue.

 

http://www.actasia.org/GoodnewsBeijing.html

http://www.actasia.org/Takeaction.html

 

 

ACTAsia For Animals

www.actasia.org