Dog and Cat Abuse in China

Millions of stray dogs and cats live on China's streets. Some are abandoned pets, left to fend for themselves after being dumped by their owners. Many are strays born on the streets.

There are many animal lovers in China, and dogs and cats are often kept as family pets. Yet government authorities organise brutal killing campaigns in an attempt to reduce stray dog and cat populations.

Life for dogs and cats in China is dangerous. Animals Asia has rescued many dogs, cats, puppies and kittens who have suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of people who see them as 'pests' — such as puppy abuse, when the dog pictured below was scalded with boiling water and thrown from a high rise building. And kitten abuse, with a disabled kitten abandoned on the streets.

Animals Asia has also seen instances of dog abuse, where hot oil is thrown over stray dogs. And even cases of puppies being buried alive.

And these are not the only dangers they face...

About the Dog & Cat Meat Trade in Asia

It's estimated that in China alone,10 million dogs and 4 million cats, are slaughtered for their meat each year.

Dog and cat eating in China is nowhere near as commonplace or widespread as it is often made out to be. But nevertheless, it's still a huge cause for concern due to the tortuous transport and inhumane slaughter methods suffered by these each and every one of these innocent dogs and cats.

Dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes, many of them family pets still wearing their collars, are snatched from the streets and forced into tiny cages. Many suffer broken limbs as they are transported vast distances, without food or water, to meat markets.

You can help end this horror. A gift from you today could help Asia's most desperate animals from unimaginable abuse. Will you help?

Dog and Cat Meat Markets in China

When the truck loads of terrified dogs and cats finally arrive at China's notorious meat markets, sometimes following days of travel, many are injured or suffering with broken limbs. All are dehydrated and exhausted. And some don't even survive the trip. But their suffering has only just begun...

Once at the meat markets, the petrified cats and dogs are forced to watch in terror as other dogs and cats are bludgeoned to death in front of them. Sometimes dogs and cats are thrown still alive into boiling water to remove their skins. The abuse and cruelty suffered by dogs and cats here is beyond belief, and Animals Asia's specialist dog and cat welfare team in China is working hard to end this horror.

Incredibly, other than food hygiene and safety laws to protect humans, there are no laws in China around the slaughter of animals. This abuse is legal.

'Dog Meat Farms' in China

The dog meat industry has long claimed that it farms dogs for their meat, boasting more than 100 registered 'dog meat farms'.

But in 2015, a four-year undercover investigation by Animals Asia into the Chinese dog meat trade exposed these claims as false. None of its registered 'farms' had more than 30 dogs on-site and such small scale operations cannot possibly meet such a demand.

Some dog meat farms had even been registered under multiple names to manipulate figures, and cover-up the widespread dog and cat thefts which sustains this dirty industry.

The report's findings sent shockwaves of fear through the hearts of dog guardians and animal lovers across China, and it proved to authorities that most 'meat dogs' are in fact pets, snatched from the streets, with no proof of origin or vaccination history as required by law.

Attitudes to Dog and Cat Meat in China

All year round, Animals Asia is fighting the dog and cat abuse. And our approach is working. After many years of high-profile public awareness campaigns about the cruelty, criminality, and health risks with dog and cat meat, people in China are increasingly turning their backs on it. Even Chinese authorities are disassociating themselves with the trade and preventing restaurants from advertising dog meat.

As dog and cat companionship becomes more common, there are more and more people, particularly the younger generation, turning their backs on this cruelty. In 2016, nine million people in China signed an online vote for proposed legislation to end cat and dog meat eating.

Not only that, but there are now over 150 grassroots groups in China responsible for numerous dog and cat rescues every year. A decade ago, there was only one grassroots animal activist group.

Animals Asia is Helping Dogs and Cats

In the last 2 years, Animals Asia has investigated and reported 1,039 dog and cat meat restaurants in 52 cities across China. As a result, over 100 restaurants have been ordered to stop selling dog meat, or to close altogether due to illegality in their business dealings. And these small victories soon amount to thousands of dogs and cats being spared the brutal capture and killing, suffered by so many.

We also help with the rescue of dogs and cats saved from abuse, and the dog and cat meat trade, like the dog pictured, saved from a dog snatcher.

We're fighting dog and cat abuse all year round...

• Conduct undercover investigations of restaurants, live animal markets and slaughterhouses.
• Fund local grassroots groups fighting the dog and cat meat trade on the ground in China.
• Put pressure on authorities to investigate dog meat traders, and strengthen enforcement.
• Fund spay and neuter programs to reduce stray cat and dog populations humanely.
• Run high-profile public awareness and behaviour change campaigns.
• Coordinate community outreach to show people young and old, that dogs and cats are friends... not food.

You Can Help Stop Dog and Cat Abuse

Feeling outraged? So are we. But your support can help to end this abuse, and fight this vicious cruelty to dogs and cats all year round...

We all have the power to make a difference. Any gift from you, large or small, brings us a step closer to ending this cruelty. Donate now.