China Culls Dogs, Threatens Owners

Sept. 10 The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) reports that today, in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province near Beijing, all dogs not vaccinated and registered will be killed along with all stray dogs.  Yesterday Chinese officials  advised citizens in this area to kill their own dogs or police squads would come to beat them to death.  And any dogs over one foot high or those considered to be “dangerous dogs” will also be killed if owners don’t do it first.  Owners will then be fined for non-compliance.

Grace Ge Gabriel, IFAW’s Asia Regional Director, says that the Chinese are using local reports of dog bites as an excuse to clean the streets for China’s National Day October 1.  There is no legal recourse.  Developments earlier this year on the heels of the first major massacre of around 30,000 dogs was reported here Foreign Report – China Pet News in July.

“The killing of dogs that have rightful owners is a violation of the basic rights of a Chinese citizen,” says Gabriel. “Although China has no law to prevent cruelty to animals, its Constitution calls for the protection of personal property, which includes rightfully owned companion animals.”

Gabriel states that while IFAW is pleased the draft of China’s first animal welfare legislation is nearly completed, she believes it will be too late to save the tens of thousands of dogs of Qinhuangdao.  Read on…