FW: Dogs Hanzhong - update

[Guest guest]

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 of Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, stated that “the

Hanzhong case is not an isolated incident. More similar cases might emerge

and many have preceded it. It’s 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 rabies”.

 

Lu Jiahai, Professor of Epidemiology, Public Health Department, Chong Shan

University, emphasised the importance of public health education: “We 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 areas”.

  

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: “This

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.”

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

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