We talk a great deal about the work that we and our partner organizations in Koh Lanta and Phuket do to assist the homeless dogs and cats in Thailand but there is one thing that we don't really have to worry about a great deal in Thailand and that is the raising or theft of animals for the sake of using them as food.
Now I have heard some very strong arguments about how if a dog is raised specifically for the purpose of consumption then it is folly to be opposed to the eating of this animal if one is not opposed to the eating of all animals. As much as I hate to admit it, these arguments make a lot of sense. Unless you are vegan, it is hypocritical to rally for the elimination of dog meat as a food source. However, there is a very real difference between a dog farm for meat and the horrific and inhumane method in which these animals are treated in China.
In the past few years there have been some horrific undercover videos that were taken at Chinese dog meat processing plants where the animals are crudely beaten to death and sometimes skinned alive. In many of these videos you can hear the dogs' cries of agony as they are skinned alive only to be rendered unconscious by the smack of a baton. They are not "put down" in a manner that is required of other animals such as pigs, cows, and chickens but rather it is simply a horrifically barbaric situation that would make anyone with a conscious outraged. I have intentionally not included any of these images because they are far too shocking.
The CSAPA is a rather powerful lobbying group that has lead the charge in getting legislation passed in order to prevent this barbaric practice and they also educate the public about the evils of animal cruelty for all species, but focus mainly on dogs. They have achieved great results in China and at least for now there seems to be a movement for the banning of dog meat as a food source and also the elimination of the annual Yulin dog meat festival, which is just such a horrific thing to even look at still images of for a dog lover like me.
The organization is well-funded and endorsed by multiple Chinese celebrities including Yao Ming. While the other names of supporters are meant to be famous people as well, I have to admit I don't have any idea who they are, but I presume those in Chinese communities do, and this is good because they have gotten the ball rolling on very real change in Chinese food culture. Of course just because something is made illegal doesn't mean that it is going to go away, China excels at doing things that are actually outlawed and even if there is a ban the practice will likely still be carried out, particularly in rural areas. It's all about baby steps though, and any change is a change in the right direction.
There are now a growing number of such organizations popping up all over major areas in China, and it is wonderful to see that the devotion of what began as just a few people, eventually garnered international attention and the eventual support of the Chinese government.
We hope that our efforts will eventually have a similar impact here in Thailand, which is why we align ourselves with other similar organizations, share information and marketing tactics, and even resources when we can. This is not a competition and we are all in the "game" for the same reason.
If you happen to live in China, I strongly suggest that you check out CSAPA and support them as much as possible. Or if you live anywhere, to find an animal welfare organization and give them as much support as you can.
If you would like to see how you can help out, or simply spread the word, please visit our website at
http://krabianimalwelfare.org
Krabi Animal Welfare is a charity run entirely by volunteers and are a registered non-profit organization in Thailand and the U.K.. We aim to relieve the pain and suffering of dogs and cats within Krabi Province.
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