Dogs in Asia – a wretched existence

The Dog Trade in Asia

The trade in dog meat in Asia is booming – the meat from millions of dogs is part of restaurant menus across the continent. It is a brutal business, with animals deliberately maltreated and killed in the most appalling ways.

Several Asian countries have a long tradition of eating cats and dogs. In Vietnam, Korea and parts of China, dog meat is believed to be healthy. Until recently only small amounts were eaten, but in recent years, consumption has risen sharply. Demand is currently so high that intensive fattening is taking place in some kennels.

The traditional ways of keeping and slaughtering dogs in Asia also cause incomprehensible suffering. Consequently, the slaughter of dogs and cats has been banned in Hong Kong since 1950, and the animal protection laws in The Philippines and Taiwan introduced similar bans in 1998 and 2003 respectively.

Estimates put the number of dogs slaughtered each year in China at around 20 million. As a result of the country’s rapid economic growth, dogs are now mass-market products, and government subsidies for private dog fattening facilities are driving this trend. There are currently around 100 dog farms in China, and the number is rising. Plans have already been drawn up for one new farm with some 10,000 dogs.

A bloody tradition -- In the past, dog meat was seen as a luxury in China and unaffordable for the majority of the population. It was eaten almost exclusively in winter, as it was thought to warm the body from within. But living standards are improving rapidly, and dog meat is more and more a part of the middle class diet throughout the year. Among younger Chinese, dog meat has a trendy reputation.

Animal suffering as a cure-all? -- The belief that dog meat is healthy and increases potency is still common, and it is sometimes used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, its effects have never been proven. One thing is certain, though – the animals suffer and die in the cruellest circumstances.

The dogs are crammed into tiny stacked cages and often transported for several days without food or water. VIER PFOTEN’s latest research in China has revealed that dog meat can be bought at most large markets. The conditions are shocking: the dogs have bloodied, broken snouts, and they are beaten to death or strangled.

This barbaric slaughter is deliberate – the mistaken belief that the animals’ painful death improves the taste and potency of the meat (due to increased adrenalin levels) is still widespread. The dogs are beaten repeatedly on the head and snout until they die an agonising death.

Opposition to animal cruelty also exists in China – Chinese animal welfare campaigners often free dogs, storm restaurants and stop animal transporters. But legislation would put a stop to the suffering of millions of dogs. Countries such as Taiwan and The Philippines have already set a good example, but China still needs animal protection legislation which includes a ban on the consumption and slaughter of cats and dogs.