Chinese Dog Slaughter

This falls under the heading of one of those conflicts I mentioned here. I'm not an animal rights activist and the Chinese have always viewed dogs quite differently than Americans - more like cattle, perhaps.

However, we don't deliberately torture our cattle in the US. The Chinese really do have a long way to go when it comes to becoming a more civilized culture in a certain sense. That whole, we've been around forever, adding and making fireworks crap only goes so far.

"Millions of dogs (in China) are hanged, beaten with sticks and butchered while they are still alive," it said in a press release.

Up to 10 million dogs are slaughtered every year in China, many killed slowly and cruelly to supposedly enhance the meat's flavour, according to animal rights groups.

Comments

[ViVi]

I could do without the graphic.

[abigail]

Um, yeah just nasty. Meanwhile my canine "baby" is sacked out on the sofa watching the news. I think I may vomit....

[Susan]

I saw a special on TV a few years ago and it made me sick as hell. Its one of those things you do not want to think about so I BLOCKED IT OUT OF MY MIND, til now.
Now, I will have to block it again. Those people are like savages. They make me sick.
Damn them.

[moonpie]

I'm sickened beyond description. That's barbaric.

[Kelley]

Dan, can you please take down the picture and provide a link instead? Very upsetting for those who have maybe lost their family pets recently or for the animal lover in most of us here. Thanks!

[Donna]

I just want to say that anyone who hurts any animal in any Kingdom in any way, shape or form will have a high price to pay, after all folks as we all know GOD don't like ugly.

[molly]

Looks like not every dog has his year in China !

Simply outrageous !

[chrys]

Even while we were in Korea this was sadly true. We bought our household goods in a package deal, which included a beautiful large golden Akita. "Puppy ah" would follow us on our 1 1/2 mile walk to work each day - attack all other dogs on the way and be waiting for us at the post gate as we made our trek home ("status of forces" - no car permitted). One day upon arriving home after not having our dog with us - we found "Puppy ah" on a short chain behind our compound wall (we lived on the economy - no place on post for married couples in 1977). The chain was attached to a doghouse that had Korean writing on it. Our landlord had protected our dog for us due to the spring "dog hunting season."

[splashtc]

A few years ago there was a shipment of fur lined boots sent to us stores. They were immediately taken off the shelves when it was discovered it was dog fur! I think we need to stop eating animals and just limit it to fish and fowl.

[annie]

Do you think that 'other' countries are the only ones who hurt animals in their quest for food? A farmer's wife once told me that after the cows have given birth to their calves (which they have to keep doing in order to produce the milk we drink), they cry (moo moo (you know the sound)) for ages afterwards because they get their calves taken from them, and sent for slaughter so as to produce veal. These cows have emotionally bonded with their babies, and it is very cruel. We have a lot to answer for in out treatment of animals.

[a..incanada]

Disgusting!! Anyone who can torture a defenseless animal, will do it to people as well. Their day will come!

[ViVi]

Not that my vote counts, but I really wish you would take the picture down or put it below the fold. It's unpleasant to cycle through your stories and have to look at it. Just one reader's opinion.

[bella]

Yuk, Dan, can we take the picture down? I AM an animal rights advocate and do rescue. It is sickening, but I know it happens. Different cultures.

[justthefactspls]

Anyone bothering to do a followup of the food preparation procedures here? Veal, pigs etc.?

[iwabwu]

I can't think of any places where animals aren't used for food. Can anyone think of one place that doesn't slaughter animals for food or vanity?

[Lone Pony]

The article says: "France's Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) appealed to Chinese President Hu Jintao to put an end to the cruel slaughter of dogs, which it blasted as an affront."

Maybe they should start with their own French-controlled island of Réunion, where dogs are used as shark bait:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1019_051019_dog_shark.html

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/innews/dogbait2005.html

As for calves being taken from the cows: "after the cows have given birth to their calves...they cry (moo moo (you know the sound)) for ages afterwards because they get their calves taken from them... These cows have emotionally bonded with their babies, and it is very cruel."

I was raised on a ranch and my husband was a rancher. I also worked on a Dairy when I was a teen. The cows bawl some, but mainly because their bag is swollen from lack of sucking. Dairy farmers ALWAYS remove the calf from the cow, but unlike beef cattle, they milk the cow and relieve the pressure. They forget the calves soon.

The farmers/ranchers I've been associated with treat their animals well. Its their living and in their best interest to do so. I must speak up for the American rancher...besides I love a good, rare steak.

[annie]

Well, Lone Pony, that may be your take on what happens when the calves are taken from their mums, but I am only telling you what I was told by a farmer's wife here in UK, and maybe she was a bit more sensitive to the feelings of these animals!!

[Lone Pony]

Annie, I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. What I'm saying is that I believe animals are for our use (meat, eggs, milk, etc.)and while doing so, we should treat them as humanely as we can. Also, I've raised these animals myself and the cows aren't upset for very long.

[dnichols]

I am glad to see Dan post this. I was so upset when I saw it on Drudge last
night that I started to email Dan about this to get his opinion. I had no idea this was going on in China and other Asian countries, and apparently it has been going on for quite a while. Just like the whaling in Japan for food, I cannot understand it at all.

This has totally changed everything I think about these countries and their people. I cannot relate to these cultures at all. There are things that go on here that I do not agree with either, but this story is a horror story. I heard today that Vietnam has a rat problem now because they have eaten most of their cats.

I think I will think twice before I buy made in China or Japan again.

[justathought]

After having to put our 10 year old dog down 2 days before Christmas and the heart ache that we still feel, I too would like to see the picture removed or covered so that I can read the posts with out having to see the pic.

[abigail]

I can't think of any places where animals aren't used for food. Can anyone think of one place that doesn't slaughter animals for food or vanity?

Posted by: iwabwu | Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 06:21 PM

IMO, I think for most of us in the US who have doggies/cats as pets this upsets us. Yes, people raise animals as a way of feeding themsleves, literally, or for sale to buy food to put on the table. For myself however, I don't think I could eat an animal that is considered a family pet. I don't even think that if the last thing on earth to eat was my pets I could do it, no, I take that back--I know I could not do it and I certainly would not subject my child to that knowing we would die anyway. If I had a cow or a pig I probably could not seperate the "reason" for slaugher from falling in love with an animal, so I don't. Right now I feel fairly guilty for that bacon cheeseburger I had for supper, but I did not have to kill a family pet to have that good meal. Rambling some more, the folks I know that hunt have "hunting dogs" and family dogs. For some reason (one person in particular) thinks that the hunting dogs don't deserve the love and respect as the house dogs. The hunting dogs are fed and watered and have shelter, but they are not played with or allowed in the house. I'm dumbfounded by this reasoning, but I am ignorant to all of this. Years ago a friend took me to a certain restaurant and they had the beef on hooks and I had to leave. I love a great burger or steak , but I'd rather not think about it. No, Dan will probably not take the picture off--I think the picture is probably what caught most of our attention...

[abigail]

Thanks for reducing the picture Dan.

[truthbetold]

I won't look at that picture....too upsetting and I guess the same could be said about us who slaughter cows and chickens etc which some people consider the same and just as important as dogs........but it is hard to compare the two when my other four legged "daughter" is such a part of our family...............can't they find something else to eat? just gross

[ViVi]

Thanks Dan.

[Gloria Petter]

Just finished a news story about the ghastly techniques the Chinese use to kill their dogs for food- or skin them alive to preserve the pelt. What can we do???Well take a look at all the products that we buy that are made in China, and resolve to stop buying them until China stops this horrific torture of man's best friend. And let the retailers know why we are doing this. Boycott Chinese goods!!!!

[maryam]

i.... cannot believe it!!!!!! how can they do this to animals i love dogs!!!! i am at the moment in tears! please keep me posted

[nancy]

NO ANIMAL IN HISTORY SHOULD BE SLAUGHTERED HOW WOULD U GUYS LIKE IT IF U WERE HUNG BY UR FEET AND HAVE UR NECK SLIT AND JUST DIE SLOWLY IN AGONY. NOT TO FUN EH?!...SORIE. IM REALLY AGAINST ANIMAL SLAUGHERING. WE CAN SO LIVE WITHOUT MEAT. GAH! SLAUGTERING MAKES ME SO MAD!

[whitney clark]

i think its wrong to eat animals.i have been a vegetarian for almost 3 years now and i am an animal rights activist. i live in el dorado so let me know if there is anything i can do to help out. thanks

[whitney]

IMAGINE BEING BORN IN A SMALL WIRE ENCLOSURE AND NOT KNOWING THAT YOU WOULD NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO GROW UP AN LIVE A NORMAL LIFE. WHEN ANIMALS ARE KILLED IN FRONT OF OTHER ANIAMLS, THEY FEEL THE PAIN AND THE LOSS TO. IF YOU SLAUGHTER AN ANIMAL, YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A MURDERER! YOU SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR KILLING AN INNOCENT, HARMLESS, HELPLESS, ANIMAL. THEY ARE LIVING THINGS TO! THE ONLY REASON WE KILL ANIMALS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE EASIEST THING TO TORTURE AND THEY DONT COMPLAIN LIKE HUMANS DO. THAT STILL DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD KILL THEM. WHY IS IT NOT ILLEGAL TO CUT A SHEEPS THROAT, SLICE A COWS TENDONS, OR CUT OFF A CHICKENS BEAK, BUT IF SOMEONE HITS A DOG OR CAT, THEY ARE SENT TO JAIL FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY? NO MATTER WHAT THE ANIMAL OR THE REASON, ITS STILL CRUEL!!!! STOP THIS ABUSE NOW!

[Person]

I agree this is not right. But you can't look down on a culture because they've done that. I asked a chinese guy and he said they will eat whatever flies in the sky swims in the water walks the land but they will not eat people. You can't not judge them because they live in different surroundings. In western families the dog is condsider a pet. Its only been seen as that. But in eastern families when your poor and have nothing to eat do you just die? You may not like it but no ones forcing you to like it just respect it and understand it.

[Joe]

The statement "we don't deliberately torture our cattle in the US" is incorrect. The production of veal in the US is very cruel. The calves are kept in small dark stalls their entire lives. They never see the light of day, and the stall is designed so they can't even turn around. This is done to make the meat more tender. The European Union doesn't use veal crates because they are cruel, but they are standard practice in the USA.

Adult cattle are usually fed grain, which gives them terribly painful gas. That's why feedlots are so loud. The cows are mooing/moaning because they are in pain. A cow's digestive tract is designed to eat grass, not corn. Not only does this cause the cow to live its entire life in pain, it is a major contributor to global warming. The poultry industry also treats animals in a very cruel manner. And what about foie gras? Perhaps we should stop buying products made in the US because of the cruelty of the beef and poultry industry.

Americans are very ethnocentric. We are very good at pointing fingers and criticizing other cultures, but we virtually ignore the dark parts of our own history and culture. We live in a society so rich that even our poor can afford to own a pet dog. However, in many countries, pets are a luxury most people can't afford. To expect such cultures to view cats and dogs as pets is just ignorant. Sure, it is cruel to torture a dog to improve the meat, but it is also cruel to torture a calf. Dogs hold a special place in our culture, but not every culture is the same. Hindus believe cows are sacred animals, but Americans torture them before eating them. Cruelty is cruelty.

[drmelissa]

wow joe great comment. was thinkin the same thing. people think we dont torture pets right here in america is just plain pullin the wool over they're eyes. turn your focus on something you can help, right here in america. its a well known fact that a lot of shampoos and detergents and all types of household items are tested in the eyes of bunnies and cats to see if they sting. Chicks are ground up live in a huge blender to make dog food. Dogs and bunnies and rats and other animals are all tortuered to find cures for humans in medicine and technology. We like to say we love animals, but its very clear were the majority of us stick them on the food chain. we already turn a blind eye to animal torture, because its too inconveniant not to. And im sure if times get tight enough to acually cause a major famine, fido will become a food source over other humans. God i hope that day never comes. but people who say theyd rather starve.. well they probobly havent gone over 2 days without food.. more likely 2 hours.

[Nikki]

I think it is wrong to harm any animal no matter what country you are in. Cruelty to animals is illegal in america and i think it should be illegal in other countries too. It is cruel to think that people are being so harsh to the animals and that we can not really do anything about it.Just imagine if you were a dog and you were used as live bait for sharks which you could tell would swallow you whole. This is wrong and they should know that it is. There is no reason that you have to use live bait to attrack sharks. There are other conventional ways to attrack sharks. This is just like taking a humans life only it is an animal.

[Kelev]

Humans make me sick. Those wanting the picture removed are nothing but supporters of the murderous, brutal Chinese cruelty to dogs BY not wanting to look, WITNESS - then speak and demand justice for these creatures. What whimps - stand by and let dogs be tortured. Grow up and help the animals.