Did you know they eat cats?

Although most of the country of China no longer sees cats as food, there are certain areas where they do.  They catch and kill cats to eat them.  Also, for some reason, they believe that if an animal is tortured while they are being killed, the meat tastes better.  Which makes for some horrific deaths.  


I am a vegetarian and I cannot see why anyone would want to eat any animal.  I feel sick thinking about cats being skinned alive and other inhumane practices.  There are some  more "westernized" citizens who feel that killing cats and eating them is a barbaric practice that should be stopped.  Recently, there have been some protests that are causing a culture clash.


The changing opinion is partially responsible to a more prosperous country where a middle class is emerging.  Those in the middle class have some extra money to feed a pet.  In China there are limits on dogs and size restrictions on dogs so having a cat is easier.  It is becoming socially unacceptable to eat cats.


Cat meat is not illegal to eat or sell.  It is perfectly legal to catch a cat, kill it and eat it.  You can even serve it in restaurants!  Many in China and other eastern countries see cats as food- comparable to how our society sees a cow or pig.  


“We are very angry because the cats are being skinned and then cooked alive. We must make them correct this uncivilized behavior,” said Wang Hongyao, who represented the group, China Small Animal Protection .

The newspaper, Chengdu Business Daily, recently reported people in Guangdong eat 10,000 cats a day.  The "cat snatchers" are typically formerly unemployed people who use large fishing nets and are paid $1.50 per cat.   Thousands are transported by train from other parts of the country-where they do not eat cats.  

Police are reluctant to charge the cat catchers with theft because many of the cats involved live outside and are not technically owned by humans, merely fed and nurtured. 

According to an online survey conducted by the website of Southern Metropolis Daily yesterday, 661 out of the 886 citizens who voted considered dining on cats "ruthless", while 207 said it was okay.

Almost 400 said they have never eaten cats, while 170 said they have or want to try.

Sources:
www.baltimoresun.com

www.chinasmack.com

www.chinapost.com

www.animalsasia.org 

www.china.org 

Indian Kashmir to Poison 100,000 Stray Dogs

RINAGAR — Officials in Indian-Kashmir have poisoned hundreds of dogs and aim to kill all 100,000 strays in the region's main city — saying the animals pose a risk to humans and make urban life unbearable.

With the world's highest rabies fatality rate, India has long struggled to control its millions of stray dogs, a problem exacerbated by rapidly growing cities and slums.

Animal rights activists vowed Thursday to go to court to stop the slaughter planned by Srinagar city, saying it is an illegal and cruel solution to a problem that could be addressed in other ways.

City officials, however, said they would press ahead.

"These dogs have become a big nuisance and they are threatening humans," said Dr. Riyaz Ahmad, the Srinagar city health officer who is organizing the killings.

"We have placed orders for the poison and then we will launch a large-scale drive. For the time being we are doing it with stocks we have," he told The Associated Press.

Ahmad said so far some 500 dogs have been killed. Asked if officials plan to kill all the city's strays — estimated at more than 100,000 — he said, "that's the target."

While officials have touted the program as an anti-rabies drive, Ahmad acknowledged that with only two deaths from 1,341 dog bites reported in Srinagar last year, it was more about appeasing the public.

"They should have done it earlier; these dogs have made our lives hell," said Shabir Ahmad, a construction worker.

"My son often asks when will I get these dogs killed because he is afraid to leave the house," said Muhammad Hayat Jeelani, a government worker.

Animal activists said they would try to stop the killings.

"We are going to file a suit against the municipal corporation if they go ahead with this, because this poisoning drive will be against the prevention of cruelty act," said Javaid Iqbal Shah, the deputy head of the Srinagar Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals.

Shah said the poison used, strychnine, was particularly cruel, causing terrible suffering to the dogs.

"It cripples the nervous system and then chokes the animal. It is not a good sight to see these animals die by the roadside. I have seen children cry when they pass by these dying dogs," he said.

The poison, which is left in garbage dumps in pieces of offal, also inadvertently kills other animals, like cows, Shah said.

Shah said he had proposed the city carry out a sterilization program instead but acknowledged that his organization had only managed to sterilize 400 dogs in the last two years.

India accounts for more than 60 percent of the estimated 35,000 annual global rabies deaths, according to the World Health Organization, and stray dogs are often blamed.

In some areas, dogs form feral packs that have attacked people. However, other strays are "community pets," semi-tame animals who are cared for and fed by residents.

Other Indian cities have struggled unsuccessfully to curb the stray problem.

India's high-tech hub of Bangalore called off a drive to slaughter strays last year following allegations that untrained workers were stoning, strangling and beating the dogs to death.

In New Delhi, one city councilor suggested shipping the country's strays to Korea, where dog meat is considered a delicacy.

Other health officials in Srinagar said the city was exaggerating the danger posed by the dogs and could better spend the money on treatment.

"The real problem is that hospitals are poorly equipped to deal with dog bites," said Dr. Saleem Khan, who runs a state rabies clinic in Srinagar.

Khan noted that only one out of five rabies vaccinations needed after a bite were paid for by the hospital. The rest had to be bought privately for about $8.50 — more than a week's wages for many — and with most victims poor children, that was nearly impossible, he said.

China has also grappled with rabies outbreaks that kill more than 2,000 people each year, prompting officials throughout that country to order periodic dog killings.

Site I found about China's Dog Trade *Graphic* Cruelty beyond belief the Olympic hosts are trying to hide

Cruelty beyond belief the Olympic hosts are trying to hide!

While billions tune into China’s "green" Games this August countless dogs will continue to endure horrendous suffering at the hands its most despicable trade. In a daring undercover probe we expose the horrors of China’s dog meat business, from shocking transport conditions to the brutal slaughter of dogs - many of them former pets - at roadside restaurants and processing factories. Our report and video log the sordid truth China doesn’t want you to see - please sign our petition calling for Chinese welfare legislation that would outlaw this vile trade.