(CN-Macau) Dishes Wandering the Streets?

[Guest guest]

Dishes Wandering the Streets?

Macau CLOSER Magazine

May 2009

 

Local animal protection associations express concern over human consumption of

neighbourhood strays.

 

According to Wikipedia, the Chinese habit of eating dog meat dates back to the

Neolithic Age. It was a time when animal husbandry had just begun to develop,

and understandably, various ancient people considered the dog an edible member

of the domesticated fauna. But as humanity continued to evolve, dogs as well as

cats came to occupy a very different role in our daily lives. It is obvious that

nowadays they have become more of a companion than a delicacy. In Macau, we have

witnessed a steady rise in dog and cat ownership of late, and related industries

like pet shops and veterinary clinics have sprung up accordingly.

 

However, up until very recently, we would still hear about cases of stray cats

and dogs being seized in the neighbourhoods to satisfy some people's gluttonous

desires. Considered outrageous by many, these occurrences sparked enormous

reactions. Founder of the Abandoned Animals Protect Association of Macau (AAPAM)

Yoko expressed to CLOSER her group's concerns on the issue: " Some Chinese people

believe that cats and dogs have invigorating qualities as food or even medicine.

It is not uncommon to receive reports of cat and dog consumption here in Macau.

We believe there are even local restaurants that provide cat or dog dishes,

especially during the winter. " In fact, according to Yoko, as recently as two

days before our interview such a case was discovered in the Mong Ha Stadium

district. " A friend of ours was passing by a grocery shop and noticed a big bag

with something moving inside, " Yoko recalls. " Suspecting it might be an animal,

the friend questioned the shopkeeper, who answered overtly that it was indeed a

cat and that he wanted to kill it in order to have it cooked. Our friend was

shocked and told him that it was in fact illegal to eat cats or dogs in Macau.

Still, the shopkeeper would not give up the cat, so our friend decided to call

both AAPAM and Meow Space for help. Many concerned people arrived immediately,

trying to save the cat. " The incident dragged on for hours and ended in the

police station. " The cat was finally saved and is now kept under the care of the

IACM (Cultural and Municipal Affairs Bureau). This time we managed to save one,

but what about all the other cases? "

 

Founded in 2004, AAPAM is an organisation trying to deal with just this problem.

Managed by Yoko and Josephine, the association has resided in a factory building

near the Red Market since March of this year. " We give homes mostly to young

stray cats and dogs as well as wounded ones, " Yoko explains. " And we promise

never to give them up by animal euthanasia, as the government would for

instance. " Very well organised, the centre is currently home to 130 cats and 120

dogs, all rehabilitated from the street. Due to the limited capacity of the

place, all animals that enter the centre must undergo a neutering operation for

birth control, when they reach the suitable age. However, each of those

operations can cost as much as MOP 500 for a female cat, so the expenses add up

to

become quite heavy. " In the beginning, we had to pay for everything ourselves.

Now, for some time, the government has been helping us with a few thousand

patacas per month. Still, in order to establish this new centre here I had to

borrow money from my friends. " To fund the centre's operating costs, the AAPAM

proposes various adoption programmes for people interested in helping: " People

can come to our centre and apply to adopt a cat or a dog for their home, but we

also have a monthly adoption programme for those who cannot have an animal at

home due to limited space. " The programme involves paying MOP 88 per month and

allows the benefactors to come visit and take care of the pet whenever they

wish. Yoko admits that, since they moved, there has been an increase in the

number of people willing to help through the adoption programmes: " The

environment here is much better than at our old centre situated in the Inner

Harbour. The facilities are nicer; we have good space and sunlight from outside

now. So, naturally people are more willing to come and visit the animals. "

Indeed, the centre conscientiously divided into different areas by category of

animal: cats, dogs and even rabbits. Cats all live in the same area, while dogs

are kept in separate cages. A large area is designated as a daytime exercise

area for the dogs, allowing them time to play among themselves. Cleaning helpers

can be seen taking care of the animals constantly, and private areas are

available, as well, for visitors to play with their " adopted " cat or dog. Once

in the centre, one can feel that the animals are very friendly with visitors and

are generally in good health. Given these circumstances, it is easy to imagine

taking one of these lovely creatures home, but for Yoko, giving a home to these

animals should be anything but an impulsive act. As the slogan of AAPAM states,

" We believe that animal adoption is a life-long commitment. "

 

For further information about the adoption programmes of AAPAM, please visit

website: www.aapam.net

 

text and photos by Alice Kok

 

http://www.macaucloser.com/dishes_wondering_the_streets.html

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Meow Space

 

" Meow Space has evolved from a firm of designers into a shop with cats as its

theme and charity as one of its concerns, having done frequent volunteer

services in kitten care. Now Meow Space mainly sells creative products and

artistic works, with 30% of its profits set aside to pay for the desexing of

feral cats and dogs, or for other needs of charity. Meow Space has three ideals:

to promote the protection of life, support local artists, and provide an

environment for spiritual enhancement. Here the works of local artists are

displayed for sale, and during non-business hours space is available for

Buddhist activities aimed at spiritual enrichment. "

 

http://meowspace.mysinablog.com/