Meet the dogs that enjoyed 10,000 tummy tickles to help end China’s dog meat and bear bile industries.

Over the three days of China’s biggest charity industry fair, crowds consistently gathered round Animals Asia’s exhibit.

More than 10,000 felt compelled to stop and learn about Animals Asia’s programmes such as the animal welfare awareness-raising work Dr Dog and Professor Paws at the Charity exhibition in Shenzhen.

The volunteer therapy animals received lots of love and, as a result, Animals Asia were duly crowned the event’s “Best Exhibitor” despite competition from 3,000 other charities.

Both dogs were canine therapists, who have helped tens of thousands of people around China learn about the value of dogs and cats through visits to schools, hospitals, orphanages and public places.

This grassroots work is a major part of Animals Asia efforts to demonstrate the importance of dogs to communities and advocate against the dog meat industry.

Animals Asia Cat and Dog Welfare Director, Irene Feng said:

“It was amazing how many people we were able to reach at the event. Often the crowds round the exhibit were so big that there were jams down the aisles — it seemed like everyone was stopping for a photograph with our four-legged volunteers. The dogs loved it too — they were so spoiled by all the attention.”

Curious visitors from children to the elderly were told how dogs could bring joy and company to people in need: that they could be “doctors” to heal hearts and minds, or “professors” to teach the public about animal welfare.

Animals Asia founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE said:

“These programmes have been going on for decades now and have had a huge impact on people all over the country — just like they did at the expo. The meat industry in China is well publicised, but less well known is the growing number of companion animals in China. People love dogs and they went out of their way to come and see our animal ambassadors.”

Animals Asia’s Dr Dog programme has been running since 1991. In 2015, 8,132 students in China and Hong Kong made friends with the cuddly canines of the Professor Paws programme in schools, while over 100,000 people were reached by the programme’s public education message.  

In the same year, more than 14,000 adults and children enjoyed the companionship of Dr Dog therapy animals.

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