Animal Defenders Aust. Press Release

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ANIMAL DEFENDERS AUSTRALIA

PRESS RELEASE

 

October 28, 2003

 

Plight of companion animals

in China ignored

 

With the visit of China's Prime Minister Hu Jintao last week it was

announced that Australia has ushered in a new era of economic co-operation

with China however there was no mention in the media of China's

appalling

animal welfare record.

An issue that most divides East from West most is probably the status of

companion animals in society, and their treatment.

In China dog farming is becoming big business with dog meat breeding

reckoned to be three times as profitable as poultry and fours times as

profitable as pigs. But like chickens and pigs dogs in China are bred

for

eating and kept in small cages with little room to move.

What would ordinary, concerned Australians have to say about China and

other

parts of Asia's thriving dog meat industry?

" This is not an argument about cultural East versus West differences.

This

is an argument about knowing what is right and what is wrong, " Claudette

Vaughan, founder of the Melbourne based animal rights group Animal

Defenders

Australia said.

" It is monstrous what is happening in China and other parts of Asia to

companion animals.

" It is our most urgent task to provide international pressure on

countries

that have abandoned their duty to treat man's best friend with the love

and

respect they deserve.

" The plight of dog meat animals is pitiful.

" Dogs are kept in small concrete cages with less than three square

metres of

space for their entire short lives. "

Recent reports from animal welfarists working within China have told

Animal

Defenders the slaughter and skinning of dogs is done in full view of the

cages.

" The dog meat is stewed with turtle, vacuum packed and exported around

China

and the rest of the world. The skins are sold to clothing manufacturers, "

Vaughan said.

With the spotlight on China in the lead up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic

Games

and China's increasing role as an economic partner of Australia, decent

Australians have a chance to flex their muscle and push for an abolition

of

dog farming in China.

 

For details contact: Claudette Vaughan, Animal Defenders Australia.

03 9387-2353 Mobile: 0422 178 741

 

 

 

 

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