Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson tells how dogs are helping the young, old and sick in China and in doing so helping end the dog meat trade.

TEDx talks are heard all around the world. They represent a platform for debate, exchange and the proliferation of ideas that can change our world.

In Xi'an, China, Jill Robinson MBE gave a talk with exactly this goal in mind. She told a packed auditorium exactly why China’s dog meat industry is so wrong and must end.

Jill Robinson said:

“It was a privilege to speak at TEDxXi'an. The audience was made up of so many influential people who were extremely receptive to the presentation and what it conveyed. Once people have extended their compassion to dogs, it is a natural extension to question how we treat all animals. For many, a love of dogs is the first step on the journey to a wholly compassionate lifestyle.”

Since being released in mid-October, the talk has been shared widely on Chinese social media.

During the speech Jill said:

“I think it is important to reflect how much dogs help us around the world and how much they live and lose their lives to help us as a species. With that in mind we should be looking at these animals and reflecting: as intelligent as they are, as much as they have the capacity to feel pain, as much as they have the capacity to feel emotions every bit as profound as the emotions that we feel – shouldn’t we start looking at other species with whom we share our lives?

“How is it that one intelligent species finds it’s way into our hearts while another intelligent species finds its’ way into our freezer?

“So let’s celebrate the one life of this amazing species: dogs – our very best friend. But let’s not forget the one life of all animals around us that deserve our love, our care and our respect.”

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