(CN) ParknShop stops selling dog meat on mainland after boycott threats

[Guest guest]

Saturday, August 10, 2002

South China Morning Post

http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZJ5ZW1H4D.html

by VICTORIA BUTTON

 

Supermarket chain ParknShop has decided to stop selling dog meat

for human consumption in its mainland branches after coming under fire from

animal rights activists and customers.

 

The sale of dog meat - revealed in the Sunday Morning Post last week -

prompted threats of consumer boycotts of the Hong Kong-based chain by

horrified shoppers, including Hong Kong actress Gigi Fu Ming-hin.

 

 

A ParknShop spokeswoman said dog meat was considered a delicacy by

some mainlanders and had been sold on a seasonal basis in winter in the

chain's southern China stores in accordance with demand.

 

However, she said that as a regional food retailer, the chain took the

opinions and demands of all its customers into consideration.

 

" We appreciate that some people have strong feelings on this issue and

we have listened to these various opinions carefully. After a thorough

review of the situation, we have responded to customers' comments and have

decided not to stock this product, " she said.

 

Animals Asia Foundation founder Jill Robinson welcomed the decision,

saying the group had received dozens of calls from Hong Kong residents

supporting its stance against the slaughter of dogs.

 

" That's very good news . . . we hope this will set a precedent for

other supermarkets on the mainland to follow, " she said.

 

The foundation and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals had opposed the sale of dog meat, arguing that dogs have closer ties

to humans than other animals slaughtered for consumption.

 

The foundation met ParknShop executives last week and showed them

gruesome photographs of the cruelty investigators had witnessed in markets

where dogs were slaughtered.

 

One dog Ms Robinson rescued was about to be plunged live into boiling

water, a process normally done to loosen the pelt after the dog is killed.

 

ParknShop previously said it sourced its dog meat from reliable and

licensed sources, but failed to name them.

 

Fu, who owns five dogs and has written a book on pet care, also

welcomed the retailer's decision to stop selling dog meat on the mainland,

even though, unlike Hong Kong, it is legal there.

 

" It's like eating your family members. Dogs are man's best friend.

They work hard and they are loyal. They can do a lot of good things for

society, " she said. " We have a lot of food instead of dog meat. We're not in

a war or in a disaster. "