China's Dog Population

Has anybody seen what they're doing in China? Not only the new one-dog policy, but then beating the dogs that they do find with pipes. I can't believe that anybody could do such a thing!!

It's unfortunate what measures people feel they need to resort to when they have no resources available to take care of a problem correctly. It's a lot different there, where they're competing for food with the dogs in some places. Are Chinese methods draconian? For sure. But, maybe it can be looked at another way: at least they don't discriminate solely against animals. Their human rights record is so atrocious it's not a wonder they pick on animals, too. I won't name the parallel I'm drawing in my head, but: think serial killers.

When someone feels weak, they feel the need to find someone even weaker to pick on. Now, this is obviously not applicable to all Chinese. They have an amazing up-and-coming middle class living in "free trade zones" along the South China Sea, but there are still countless millions living in abject poverty being displaced from their homes and thrown to the curb by their loving government. Would you expect any better for those poor dogs, cats, etc?

Have been to China, I can say with some experience that the average person doesn't know any better than what's around them. They're learning quickly, and I have a feeling that once they begin to address their human rights, their pet's rights will follow.

[chris]

China has some of the worst treatment towards all animals... not just dogs. I mean, from skinning almost every kind of furry animal alive (dogs, cats, raccoons, raccoon dogs, etc) to dipping them in tar... it's horrible. What's an American to do? Even our treatment towards animals is repulsive.

I am Chinese but I guess you people are right. Still, go to peta and watch videos about animal abuse in America. Every country has animal abuse. I'm not proud of China, but China's not the only country.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's pretty horrible for dogs and cats in the American rural south. Some shelters kill up to 50-60 animals per week. Quite a few use gas chambers - those in use are mostly grandfathered-in older machines that cause pro-longed suffering. Many people are too ignorant or poor to spay and neuter. One sees many dead dogs and cats on highways and city streets. Local animal lovers are doing the best they can,but it's way more than an uphill battle. I do a lot of posting for these shelters and as an inevitable result have adopted a sweet dog and beautiful kitten from Georgia.

Major American big cities, like New York and LA also have high kill rates for unwanted pets.

And the NFL may well take back Michael Vick who not only fought dogs but also electrocuted dogs who wouldn't fight well. That's as bad as anything in China

Wow, that's awful! You seem to know a lot about this.

I'm on many Yahoo rescue lists and similar boards. Here is one southern shelter that puts down 50-60 dogs and cats a week.

Fortunately they use lethal injection but that doesn't stop healthy frightened animals from being terrified when their moment comes - they seem to know.

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/romefloydcohumsoc.html

To see the animals who will almost all die this Wednesday, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the link: "Click here for a list of pets at this shelter ". A few may be saved but most don't make it out; one sees new faces every week. Most are less than two years old.

This is part of a "letter from a shelter manager" is going around right now:

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down". First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. "

Cool!