ACTAsia News update

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ACTAsia News Alert

Update on mass confiscation and killing of dogs in Beijing

 

On 11th November at 11am thousands of dog owners and residents of

Beijing gathered in front of Beijing Zoo to sign a petition calling

for the protection of dogs in Beijing. This is the first ever public

gathering for the protection of humankind’s best friend in China, and

was brought about by the recent action by the Beijing authorities of

confiscating and killing pet dogs who are over 35cm in height or

listed as one of 41 dangerous breeds. Homes with unlicensed dogs or

more than one dog were also given the same treatment.

 

The Beijing authorities have made a direct connection between the

size of a dog and the danger it poses to humans. This decision has

created panic among dog owners, and they fear the killing of an

innocent family member without any real justification.

 

According to the officials, this drastic crackdown is due to the

increase of rabies in 2006. However, the Chinese Small Animal

Protection Society points out that the dogs currently being targeted

by the Beijing authorities have in fact the lowest opportunity to

spread rabies, because the owners regularly have their dogs

vaccinated against the disease.

 

Professor Zu, an epidemiologist, states: “The majority of the 318

rabies deaths in September 2006 were not in big cities like Beijing,

Shanghai, or Kongzhou, but in rural provinces of China. Most

villagers in these areas do not know that dogs should be vaccinated,

and are unaware that they should be given treatment if bitten or

scratched by a dog. This is why promoting mass vaccinations,

improving the quality of rabies vaccines, public education and

keeping rural animals out of urban areas are much more effective

methods of preventing rabies than a mass killing of pet dogs.”

 

Once again ACTAsia urges the Beijing authorities to amend their

current list of dangerous breeds, cancel height restrictions for

licences and follow WHO recommendations on implementing mass

vaccination of dogs to effectively control rabies.

 

For more information please click www.actasia.org

 

 

 

 

News links:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/11/

AR2006111100388.html

 

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsPhotoPresentation.aspx?

type=worldNews & imageID=2006-11-11T092451Z_01_PEK157833_RTRUKOP_0_PICTURE

1.xml

 

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsPhotoPresentation.aspx?

type=worldNews & imageID=2006-11-11T092451Z_01_PEK157833_RTRUKOP_0_PICTURE

0.xml

 

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsPhotoPresentation.aspx?

type=worldNews & imageID=2006-11-11T092451Z_01_PEK157833_RTRUKOP_0_PICTURE

2.xml

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6139046.stm