The Chinese government, under pressure from animal rights activists worldwide and various foodstuffs scandals, is now "considering" banning man's best friends from being eaten in public places such as restaurants and canteens (Chinese legal experts will submit proposals for a ban on eating dogs and cats in April). However there is ample criticism from some quarters:
Song Ziyan, a journalist in Yanbian city of northeast China's Jilin Province, is of the Korean ethnic group, which regards dog meat as a delicacy. "Eating dog meat is the custom of Koreans. We cook it for respected guests," Song told Xinhua. "We raise dogs for eating and don't eat pets."
Jeebus! I would not want to be one of those pets in my next life! I have to warn you, I have posted some distressing pics below to underline this insanity.
Dog, which is known as "fragrant meat", has been eaten in China for thousands of years, initially as a medicinal tonic. I do know that it has been part of their culture forever but this inhumane practice should not exist in 2010 even though there are quite a few that suggest that it would destroy their culinary traditions. After all, we have stopped burning witches to the stake some time ago as my French professor was fond of saying (though he reserved most of his angst to the ones who were responsible for burning Joan of Arc).
I have read that in some northern provinces dog stew is extremely popular as a way of warming the blood. I read that one of the most popular Cantonese dish is called "dragon duel with tiger", a popular specialty in Cantonese restaurants is known as "Dragon duels with the Tiger," which is a stew of cat and snake with assorted spices.
It is estimated that up to 10 million dogs are slaughtered every year in China, many deliberately slowly and cruelly in the belief that "torture equals taste", while all suffer the stress and pain of being farmed in concentrated numbers before being killed in a variety of ways which rarely ensure a quick and humane death.
First they round up the dogs:
then skin them:
and after butchering them, they are hung on hooks for the prospective buyers:
I did see pics of dog and cats stews but for us pootie lovers it's just too much to stomach.
The focus of contention is a legislative proposal to outlaw the eating of dogs and cats and jail those who do so for up to 15 days. Fines would also be imposed – 5,000 yuan ($735) for individuals and 10,000 to 500,000 yuan ($1,470 to $73,529) for businesses.
It is the first time in China that a draft law on animal rights has been presented to the government. The legislation was drafted by a team of Chinese experts who consulted with the U.S.-based International Fund for Animal Welfare and Britain's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
I wouldn't hold my breath since it can often take years to approve draft legislation (witness the slowness of food safety regulations after the melamine scandals.)
It is worth noting that consumption of dog meat has been linked to the transmission of rabies to humans with two reported cases in China, one in Vietnam, and two deaths reported in the Philippines as per WIKI, but I would posit that there are much more unreported cases of deaths by the authorities media as on the one hand, Xin Chunying, the deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the NPC has publicly expressed doubts that any new animal rights laws are needed and on the other, it is not going to stop people eating pets in their own homes. If China is serious about banning dogs & cats from being eaten then it should institute a general ban nationwide with stiff penalties given to those who continue this barbaric abhorrent practice.
A popular restaurant chain in the capital of Guangdong that goes by the name "Sunshine Fragrant Meat" is well-known for its dog casserole dish. The South China Morning Post reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il ordered this dish through a hotel concierge during his visit to the city in 2006.
All I can say is that if China really wants to join the modern world, there are some habits that need changing. During the Olympics the consumption of dog & cat meat was banned though it didn't stop the rural communities to offer it in many eateries. The ban was quickly lifted once the majority of visitors left the country. Defiant restaurateurs such as the manager of the Caiji Dog Meat Restaurant (yes, it does exist) in Guangzhou is on record for saying on the Global Times newspaper (English edition) that "the proposed law is totally infeasible here, because eating dogs and cats has been part of the Guandong culture for so long." He adds "I don't believe the draft could be passed, nor would I change the way we operate our restaurant."
Not everyone in China goes along with eating dogs. With the advent of China's new "bourgeoisie" dogs are becoming increasingly popular pets with its wealthier citizens. I heard from a friend today who said to me, "well we eat the most intelligent animal, namely the pig, so who are we to criticize the Chinese?". He had a point, and it is well taken.
Along with better living standards and awareness, China is gradually breaking with bad practices and customs. Foot binding, if you remember, was "compulsory" a century ago. So it is natural that some sympathy and awareness would spread to animal rights and animal protection as is shown in the pic below:
Perhaps we'll have to wait until 2018 which will mark the next Year of the Dog, which is a fitting symbol for the cultural differences that have to be bridged between China and the rest of the world.