Man Bites Dog

March 26, 2001 Beijing, China

Perhaps it was best said by Nancy McNelly: "If something can be eaten, then some creature, somewhere will be willing to eat it."

Even today, there are countries in southeast Asia that still cling to their archaic traditions of eating dogs—a practice that largely owes its popularity to a time when impoverished nations were forced to eat anything to survive.

But the social and political climate has since changed, and in fact, now it's modern commercialism that may finally bring about some change.

On the verge of a successful 2008 Olympic bid, last week Beijing suffered serious accusations made by the Swiss group SOS St. Bernard Dogs International, alleging that—even under government supervision—dogs are being farmed for human consumption by 17 major Chinese distributors, often "tortured to stimulate adrenaline... which is supposed to make their meat tastier."

The St. Bernard, much-revered in Northern Europe for its legendary benevolence and life-saving valor, is the preferred breeding-stock of Asian slaughterhouses due to the breed's rapid growth and easy manageability.

The St. Bernard, national dog of Switzerland

Representative Eleonara Moser of SOS has requested that the International Olympic Committee deny China's bid to host the multi-billion dollar event, on the grounds of these humane violations.  China currently has no animal cruelty laws.

The IOC's decision is to be announced in July, 2001.  The current shortlist of host cities includes Beijing, Istanbul, Osaka, Paris and Toronto.

It is the expectation of many animal rights groups that the IOC's impression may be used as a significant leverage, by which the Chinese government will be encouraged to take decisive steps to end the breeding of dogs as food.

Several Asian governments, such as Hong Kong, the Philippines and Taiwan, have recently outlawed the practice.

How can you help?
(And put away your checkbooks, it's a lot easier than that)

• Sign an e-petition that will be sent to the United Nations. Click here.
  Sponsor: Phoenix Animal Charitable Trust
  (12063 signatures as of March 26, 2001)
  

• Learn more.  A great place to start is the Canis Max website.
  

• Dog-Lovers of China, please contact your local animal protection society to find out what's being done.
  

• Do you know of any other links or ideas?  Please suggest them to us, so that we may publish them.

UPDATE from Reuters News March 28, 2001

§§§

^Articles