Help dogs in China

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

 

We have heard that the Beijing authorities, from 7th November, have

started entering people's homes - they can remove and destroy any dog

that is a 'dangerous' or 'big' breed - their list includes Golden

Retrievers, Collies and Cocker Spaniels. Even licensed animals who fall

into these categories are not exempt - their licences will not be

renewed. People who love their dogs are being forced to give up their

cherished companions, or banish them to the countryside. Dogs are

currently being destroyed inhumanely all over China, on the grounds of

rabies control. In July this year, over 55,000 dogs were killed within a

week in southern China after three cases of human rabies were reported.

Methods used for killing included electrocution, beating to death,

poisoning and strangulation. It is admirable that Beijing is trying to

enforce dog management policies to

solve issues such as dog bites, rabies and environmental pollution -

however, their inhumane and irrational methods are not going to improve

the situation. The Beijing authorities have made a direct connection

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

not appear to have any supporting evidence, as many of the breeds on

their list are not seen as dangerous in other parts of the world. Also,

any large dog is supposedly a danger, which is totally unscientific. As

the host city of the 2008 Olympics, the negative image created

internationally by the November mass confiscation and killing in Beijing

should be taken into account.We plead for the Beijing government to

immediately end the current confiscation of big dogs and to implement

the following actions:

 

1. Amend the current list of dangerous breeds on a scientific basis;

2. Cancel height restrictions for licences;

3. Promote responsible dog ownership - most stray animals in Beijing are

pets who have been abandoned;

4. Follow WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines to deal with

rabies. WHO has stated that mass destruction of dogs alone is not

effective for rabies control - a sustained mass dog vaccination campaign

is the most effective measure. Improving the quality of rabies vaccines

would also make a big difference;

5. Implement scientific and humane dog management policies to deal with

stray populations.

 

Yours sincerely,

Katerina and Maria Nika

Animal advocates from Greece