Guest guest Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Dear Pei, This looks like a very major achievement that could be a tipping point in China¹s way of relating to dogs! Congratulations to you and to all the groups in China who are doing such spectacular work to help the animals there! All the best, Sharon Sharon St. Joan Editor International Community Bird and Wildlife Writer Best Friends Network Best Friends Animal Society http://network.bestfriends.org/international sharonsj > ACTAsia for Animals [info] > Friday, July 24, 2009 9:18 PM > john > Dogs Hanzhong - update > > UPDATE > July 2009 > > Dear John, > I'm happy to share with you the very promising outcome of an urgent rabies > meeting we held with high Chinese officials last month, following the > gruesome dog cullings in Hanzhong. Although it unfortunately won't help the > thousands of dogs that have already been killed, I regard it as a positive > step to prevent future killings in other parts of China. Our next lobby > activity is to send out the book with guidelines on humane rabies control > that follow from the meeting, to the relevant authorities who are managing > this issue across China. I hope we can count on your further support in this > campaign, as we -and the dogs in danger- can't do without you! > With warm regards, > Pei F. Su > Executive Director > ACTAsia for Animals > > Chinese experts and officials oppose dog culling in Hanzhong > > Forum discusses more effective alternatives to eliminate rabies > In response to the Hanzhong dog culling, ACTAsia for Animals immediately > took the lead in organising a forum in Beijing to discuss scientific and > humane alternatives of rabies prevention and control in the country. > Attendees included authorities from the Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of > Agriculture and the Centre for Animal Disease Control (CADC), officials from > regional animal disease control centres, academics from related fields and > animal welfare groups. Although dog culling has been common throughout China > for decades, this is the first time that animal welfare groups have > discussed this issue with relevant authorities and academics in a public > setting. > The most positive and important outcome was that all attendees opposed to > dog culling and agreed that the only effective way of eliminating rabies in > dogs is through mass vaccination programmes. > Vaccination and public education instead of culling > The attendees, central government officials and academics alike, were > shocked by the gruesome footage on the indiscriminate killing of dogs in > Hanzhong. > Jia You Lin, Representative of the CPPCC National Committee, and former > Director of Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, stated that ³the > Hanzhong case is not an isolated incident. More similar cases might emerge > and many have preceded it. It¹s brutal and cruel. It is not difficult to > control dogs, and there are many successful models from other countries. > Good legislation and enforcement of vaccination are the fundamental > solutions to control rabies². > > Lu Jiahai, Professor of Epidemiology, Public Health Department, Chong Shan > University, emphasised the importance of public health education: ³We have > to inform the public on a large scale on why rabies occurs and how to > prevent it. Information should be played on CCTV again and again. We have to > provide free rabies vaccinations and promote vaccinations, especially in > rural areas². > > Growing opposition within China > The culling in Hanzhong has led to mass outrage within China from the public > and dog owners who witnessed their dogs being slaughtered. Local animal > welfare groups and the media posted the news widely. > > Zhu Peikang, Council Chairman of the China Medical Foundation, stated: ³This > forum is of great significance. Now, more and more people have dogs, humans > and animals should peacefully co-exist. We hope to do more promotion and > approach relevant departments with a scientific solution to achieve a > harmonious co-existence between humans and animals.² > Next steps > Following our support to local groups at the scene, calling upon supporters > to pressurise the government, and organising this forum, ACTAsia will > continue to campaign for humane rabies control in China, and we will > continue to fight the dog culls. We are working with local animal welfare > groups on this issue - please support us to continue the fight against cruel > dog massacres in China. > ACTAsia thanks the co-organisers the China Medical Foundation, the China > Medical Rescue Association, and the Capital Animal Welfare Association. > Experts from the field of science, governmental institutions and animal > welfare groups are acknowledged for their valuable cooperation and input. We > are also grateful to HSI for co-sponsoring this event. > photos © www.pubchn.com > If you don't want to receive further updates, please send an e-mail to > info. > For further information on our work, visit our website at www.actasia.org. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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