Animals Asia’s renowned animal therapy programme Dr Dog launched in Guangxi province, home of Yulin city, bringing relief to the disabled and the elderly. 

In the first two months, the new team of canine therapists and their volunteer guardians have made five visits bringing relief, cheer and comfort to 137 people, including the elderly and children with special needs.

Animals Asia Cat and Dog Welfare Director Irene Feng said:

“Dr Dog has proven that it can make a real difference to how the lonely and marginalised in society feel on a human level. This meaningful programme provides comfort, companionship and a ray of light to people in need.

“But the programme also has a key ambassadorial role proving to communities that cats and dogs are our very best friends and valued members of our communities, not food.”

Guangxi province has become notorious in recent years thanks to the now unofficial Yulin Lychee and Dog Meat Festival.

However, dog meat eating continues year round all across the country in China and Animals Asia is committed to working on the ground, 365 days a year in every province in order to end the cruelty.

Animals Asia’s Dr Dog programme began in Hong Kong in 1991 and has since directly helped over 500,000 people in need.

Success and high demand has seen the programme spread to mainland China, Taiwan, the Philippines, India, Japan and Malaysia.

Animals Asia Founder and CEO, Jill Robinson said:

“Dr Dog has been so successful because it is a positive example of the innate value and positive contribution of dogs to our lives. It works because it doesn’t criticise people, instead it shows a whole new possibility: that dogs can enrich our lives and be valued members of our communities. Once that connection is made, eating dog meat becomes unthinkable.”

Despite an estimated 10 million dogs being slaughtered every year for the meat trade, long-term investigations by Animals Asia revealed that the majority of animals are stolen rather than farmed. 

The charity’s 2015 report concluded: “In China there is no large-scale, intensive ‘meat dog’ breeding. Most dogs that end up on the dining table are in fact much-loved domestic dogs stolen from their owners, or captured stray dogs.”

Animals Asia is at the heart of a national movement against dog meat cruelty in China having provided support to over 150 animal welfare charities, around 60% of the country’s total. 

The charity has also engaged government officials in every single province in the country advising them on co-operation with local groups, and humane stray population management to improve the lives of cats and dogs.

You can help end the dog meat trade in China. Stand shoulder to shoulder with the brave Chinese activists on the frontline, fighting the dog and cat meat trade, every single day.

Together we can end this cruelty. Sign the petition.

Animals Asia’s Cat and Dog Welfare work in Guangxi province is carried out by Ya Dong Consulting, a consultancy enterprise wholly owned and advised by Animals Asia.

 

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