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日本語China halts dog cull after international uproar
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Yarmouth Port, MA
The crackdown started in Beijing at the end of October. In response IFAW
(International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org) and other groups organized letter
writing campaigns to various Beijing authorities (police department, mayor’s
office, and Olympic Organizing Committee) as well as international bodies based
outside of China (Chinese Embassies and International Olympic Committee). The
mass of letters, which came from around the world, including one letter which
was signed by 60,000 animal lovers from across China, created the pressure for
the police to stop the crackdown. This announcement was confirmed to IFAW by the
Beijing Police Bureau.
“IFAW applauds the decision by President Hu Jintao to stop the crackdown. It shows that the President understands the special bond people feel with their companion animals and that crackdowns targeting dogs is counterproductive to achieving societal harmony,” said Grace Ge Gabriel, IFAW Asia Director, who was invited to visit the police dog pound, “IFAW now hopes the Chinese government will take the next step and work on reforming Beijing’s dog regulations so that responsible dog ownership will be promoted and Beijing can welcome the 2008 Olympics with a humane regulation that is scientifically based.”
The Beijing crackdown involved confiscating dogs which were either unlicensed or over 35cm tall. IFAW has urged the police to return the owned dogs to their rightful homes, with penalties to irresponsible owners. In addition, IFAW has pledged to support Chinese authorities in introducing amendments to the Beijing Dog Regulation to make it more humane and realistic for dog owners to comply with. IFAW’s suggested changes include:
“IFAW applauds the decision by President Hu Jintao to stop the crackdown. It shows that the President understands the special bond people feel with their companion animals and that crackdowns targeting dogs is counterproductive to achieving societal harmony,” said Grace Ge Gabriel, IFAW Asia Director, who was invited to visit the police dog pound, “IFAW now hopes the Chinese government will take the next step and work on reforming Beijing’s dog regulations so that responsible dog ownership will be promoted and Beijing can welcome the 2008 Olympics with a humane regulation that is scientifically based.”
The Beijing crackdown involved confiscating dogs which were either unlicensed or over 35cm tall. IFAW has urged the police to return the owned dogs to their rightful homes, with penalties to irresponsible owners. In addition, IFAW has pledged to support Chinese authorities in introducing amendments to the Beijing Dog Regulation to make it more humane and realistic for dog owners to comply with. IFAW’s suggested changes include:
- Eliminate the size limit of 35cm: The size limit has no scientific base. A dog’s temperament can not be judged by its size. The size limit also makes the regulation difficult to enforce.
- Regulate the behavior of people, not dogs.
- Regulate commercial breeding and markets: Uncontrolled breeding for trade is the main cause of the dog over population problem.
IFAW also urges the Chinese government to start promulgating national legislation for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
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