Guest guest Posted September 3, 2007 Report Share Posted September 3, 2007 Dear everyone, a recent statement which was issued by Animals Asia regarding our " Friends or Food " campaign requires clarification. We are not suggesting that farm animals in intensive farming practices don't suffer - they do. One of the issues that we highlight points to the fact that animals raised historically in farming practices have generally evolved to adapt better to herd or flock situations. However, in reality as we all know, it is not so clear cut - and animals do suffer enormously today as a result of intensively confined conditions. Similarly, raising dogs and cats under these conditions compounds the trauma that they suffer in the live animal markets of Asia. Dogs, particularly, are so stressed in these situations that they attack each other in unrelenting bouts of aggression, which is as horrifying as witnessing the slaughter itself. Our fear is that if we introduce other farmed species within this issue of slaughtering dogs and cats for food, there will be more of a risk that legislators in Asia will call for " humane " slaughter for all - and then add companion animals to their official list of foods. Acknowledging that the word humane means little to slaughterhouse victims across the world, it would also be hard, if not impossible, to introduce humane raising and slaughter methods for dogs and cats. We know that in China especially - a country with no welfare legislation - that even if such legislation were introduced, the suffering would not end but would continue behind closed doors. Such legislation would also undermine the tireless work of groups across Asia who have successfully lobbied for the cessation of dog and cat eating in various countries. I believe that we have to heighten the case for companion animals whilst people in Asia are speaking increasingly loudly in their defence. In China the status for dogs and cats is changing fast - for the first time in the history of the country people from within, together with legislators, are now publicly calling for change, and this unprecedented action is also being watched very closely by the decision makers. Our point is that by focussing on dogs and cats - animals which are fast becoming recognised as our best friends/companions/helpers here in China as they are in the West - then we can work towards having them removed from the table and ultimately present that same argument of suffering for helping other animals within the food chain. Again, with sincere apologies for any offence caused, we recognise and abhor the reality that farm animals suffer horribly in today's industry and would not wish anyone to think otherwise. Best wishes, Jill Jill Robinson MBE Founder & CEO Animals Asia Foundation ANIMALS ASIA HAS A BRAND NEW WEBSITE! Find out more about the " China Bear Rescue " and " Friends.....or Food " http://www.animalsasia.org > Posted by: " Speciesism_will_end " > speciesism_will_end > <speciesism_will_end?Subject=%20Re%3AACTION-%20Contact%20An\ imals%20Asia%20and%20urge%20them%20to%20discontinue%20propagatin> > speciesism_will_end > <http://profiles./speciesism_will_end> > > > Sat Sep 1, 2007 7:12 am (PST) > > ACTION - Contact Animals Asia and urge them to discontinue > propagating attitudes that it is acceptable to exploit " farm " > animals. > > In a recent newsletter Animals Asia we were surprised to read the > unfortunate attitudes Animals Asia expressed about " farm " animals > in relation to ending dog and cat trade in Asia. They wrote : > > " Myth: Cats and dogs should not be treated any differently from > other " meat " animals. In fact there are fundamental differences > between common livestock and domestic animals. Unlike plant eating > cows and sheep, cats and dogs are carnivores with a natural > pecking order. Crammed in cages together, they fight desperately > and often viviously for survival anad disease is rampant. Also, no > country in the world has devised a humane method of slaughtering > dogs and cats - even the Hong Kong Government has said it does not > believe this can be achieved. " > > Animals Asia continue : > > " Meanwhile dogs and cats are packed into tiny cages and trucked > for days, often in stifling heat or bitter cold. They have no food > or access to water and are treated likes sacks of potatoes through > their miserable journey. " > > ACTION - Contact Animals Asia and urge them to discontinue > propagating attitudes that it is acceptable to exploit " farm " > animals and that somehow " farm " animal do not experience to the > same extent - pain, fear, depression, illness, stress as dogs or > cats and also that somehow their experience is lesser or more > acceptable. > > Please contact Animals Asia [ http://www.animalsasia.org > <http://www.animalsasia.org> ] [ email - info > <info%40animalsasia.org> ] about the attitudes expressed in > their recent newsletter (see above) and urge them to discontinue > propagating the idea that it is acceptable to exploit " farm " > animals and that they are somehow lesser than cats & dogs. The > attitude expressed claims that " farm " animals feel less pain or > stress and that their pain & stress is somehow more justified than > dogs and cats. > > Utilizing any non-human animals for our purposes is equally a > violation whether those animals are " favoured " animals in society, > like cats or dogs or " farm " animals who society has arbitrarily > decided can be killed and exploited. The unfortunate attitude > expressed by Animals Asia is a common held belief in society. > However, killing or harming any sentient being for our taste, > pleasure or for the " greater good " or for some other perceived > need or desire is unacceptable. > > Factory farmed animals experience disease, stress, depression, > cramming, transport without water & food etc and it doesn't matter > whether they are carnivores or not. They are forced to endure > these barbaric conditions. It is not unacceptable for *any* > sentient being. Just because society has personal relationships > with dogs and cats does not mean they are any more or any less > important than any other sentient being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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