The dog and cat meat trade is just one of the many real atrocities that occur in the world that we wish would never become a reality. But no matter how much you wish it would go away, it won’t. . .Get educated, share that information, and take action. teeth What makes a lasting difference?
Having suffered from severe anxiety for as long as I can remember, dogs and other animals have always been a source of grounding, comfort, and unconditional love for me. Years before I was able to understand my own anxiety, my young mind deeply recognized and understood the amazing minds of these sentient beings.
Anyone who has spent time near animals will know this spirit for themselves. Because animals are incredibly intelligent, voiceless, self-aware beings, it is up to us humans to care for and protect them.
We have a voice, and we have a duty to exercise it. To speak out against injustice, to be the gatekeepers of this planet, to be the guardians of voiceless beings, and to be the champions of kindness.
It’s incredibly hard to hear about these atrocities, but for me it’s much harder to know it’s happening and do nothing about it.
When I first became aware of animal abuse in agriculture, I personally decided to become a vegetarian. Once I found out what was really going on, I could no longer support this industry.
share this do not have Not to impose my personal views on you, but to show how we can all act in support of what we believe. This is activism. As consumers, we vote with our wallets. We also embrace ethics by choosing what we stand for, support, and support in order to create positive and lasting change.
As a leader, as the founder of this online platform, as a teacher, and as a caring human being, I am a dedicated activist. I am committed to fighting against injustice, and that includes animals. In fact, my recent work revolves around animal activities, specifically dogs. Because there are so many dogs that need to be rescued.
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There are countless animal activist activists and organizations to support, but (of many) one that really touches my heart and makes my blood boil is the dog and cat meat trade. These animals endure unthinkably horrific cruelty.
Learning about it feels like a waking nightmare. I know it’s incredibly difficult to hear about these atrocities, but for me it’s much harder to know that it’s happening and do nothing about it.
Image:change.org
What is the dog and cat meat trade?
The dog and cat meat trade is an illegal industry that claims the lives of approximately 40 million dogs and cats each year. China is not alone in the meat industry, but China is one of the biggest perpetrators.It is estimated that 25,000 to 30,000 dogs are euthanized in China alone. every day.
These dogs are pets stolen from homes, abandoned dogs and puppies by cruel breeders who can’t sell them, and stray dogs taken from the streets.
To make matters worse, these dogs are crammed into small wire cages without food or water, transported long distances in the heat, and often Intentionally Some people believe that killing a dog in a state of extreme fear makes the dog’s meat even more potent.
This is difficult to write and read, but it is very important that the public knows the truth about what is going on. Exposing the truth is the only way to create lasting change.
We have a voice, and we have a duty to exercise it. To speak out against injustice, to be the gatekeepers of this planet, to be the guardians of voiceless beings, and to be the champions of kindness.
Strangely, 69% of China’s 1.4 billion people say they do not eat dog meat, and more than 50% say they want dog meat to be banned. So why does this unacceptable torture and killing of innocent animals continue?
In 2020, China declared dogs to be classified as pet animals. do not have livestock. However, there has been no improvement or change in the dog meat industry as dogs are still being slaughtered, dog meat is still being sold in public, and the Yulin Dog Meat Festival is still held every year.
Corruption in the police and government is said to be one of the reasons why such atrocities are tolerated. All of this is very tough, but there is also hope. All over the world, there are organizations on the ground fighting to save the lives of these dogs.
One such organization is chinese feet. They are very active on social media. Because they know how important it is to spread awareness. And that’s how we first found them. Their founder, Bianca Fox, kindly agreed to an interview with us to share a little more about her and her team’s heroic efforts on the ground in Yulin, China.
We spoke to people in China to learn more about their incredible cause
It’s an honor to talk and share about Paws of China. Founder Bianca Fox is a passionate and dedicated activist who has made such an impact. Her efforts and sacrifices are invaluable and we thank her for all she has done and continues to do to save dogs.
Photo credit: Chinese Feet
1. YA: What inspired you to become an animal activist?
PoC: I have always been sensitive to the plight of animal suffering. I believe that animals have souls and have the right to express their own lives. Sadly, many people are denied this right, especially in the livestock industry.
After delving into how animals are treated in food, fashion and entertainment around the world, I adopted a plant-based lifestyle and became involved in animal rights activism in London.
2. YA: When did you start Paws of China and why?
PoC: I first visited China in 2017 and witnessed firsthand the brutal dog meat trade. I was able to resonate with a Chinese activist named Liang. It all started when my brother and I started his GoFundMe page to save more dogs, and it slowly grew into a new shelter and 501(c)3 non-profit organization. did.
We were originally Plush Bear Shelter and recently changed our name to Paws of China.
3. YA: How did you first hear about Yulin Dog Meat Festival?
PoC: We first learned about China’s Yulin through the media and took part in a protest in front of the Chinese embassy in London 10 years ago to denounce the festival.
4. YA: How did you get involved in dog rescue activities through the Yulin Dog Meat Festival?
PoC: We went to the festival for the first time in 2022 and again this year. Yulin is on the other side of China, so it’s a huge mission to go to, but it’s very necessary.
5. YA: How many dogs and cats have you and your team rescued so far?
PoC: As of this writing, I have approximately 1,500 saved in total. In northern China, cat meat is not as commonly eaten as in southern China. We also rescued donkeys and camels from slaughter on the streets.
6. YA: What do you want people to know about the dog meat industry?
PoC: The dog meat industry is widespread, although Yulin is representative of the cruelty and lack of hygiene associated with this barbaric and unregulated industry. The slaughter of dogs and cats for food is a cruel commercial enterprise, with an estimated 10 million dogs and her four million cats killed each year. only in china To supply the demand for dog and cat meat.
7. YA: How can people get involved? What is the most impactful way people can help end the dog meat industry?
PoC: First of all, it’s important for people to share information and spread awareness, like in this interview. There are many posts showing the reality of trading that can be easily shared.
Second, people can email the Chinese embassy. Our website has email letter templates. “Get involved” section You can easily transfer all your information.
Third, we support activists on the ground who rescue and rehabilitate dogs from the dog meat trade. Our team in China is educating the Chinese public not only about the cruelty these poor animals endure, but also about the health risks to consumers who eat dogs.
We share it on Western social media to further incite international outrage and spread awareness even further. Showing reality is an important step for people to understand the truth behind these issues.
Progress is slow. There are simply no laws in place that would greatly help combat this, but we believe this can change.
8. YA: Is there anything else you would like to share?
PoC: This deal has been controversial for many years. People need to understand that we have only scratched the surface of the dog meat festival in Yulin, China. Because it is the most globally recognized visual manifestation of a much larger, year-round problem.
Although various organizations and individuals are working to end this problem, it remains a complex problem with no easy solutions. We believe it requires a long-term commitment, multiple approaches, continued awareness and exposure, education, perseverance, and collaboration with government and law enforcement.
Our approach has always been to raise awareness and show the reality of the dog meat trade, combined with our own efforts to rescue and rehabilitate dogs that have seen the worst of humanity.
Please help us end the dog and cat meat trade.
Each person can make a big difference in ending the dog and cat meat trade. From donating to heroic organizations like Paws of China to spreading the word on social media and in your community, to using your platform like we do to raise awareness and inspire others to take action. Until then.
You can also adopt dogs and cats rescued from the meat trade. Want to learn more about Paws of China and how you can get involved? Check out our website, follow us on social, or contact us directly via email. info@pawsofchina.org.
Exposing the truth is the only way to create lasting change.
If you practice yoga with usThen you may find that ahimsa, or nonviolence, is an important tenet of yoga. Ahimsa is the belief and act of non-harm in life. When we practice ahimsa, we practice compassion towards all beings.
However, ahimsa does not only mean peaceful non-violence. It’s about speaking up when you witness injustice. It’s about standing up for what’s right and being a voice for the voiceless animals who trust us to be their caretakers. We all have hearts and compassion, whether we practice yoga or have pets.
YouAligned would like to extend a huge thank you to Bianca for agreeing to this interview and to Paws of China for their heroic work on the ground in China. Every animal saved matters.
We hope this interview inspires many people to join this movement and help bring about lasting change for innocent animals around the world. You can take immediate action by sharing this article and helping spread the word.
