Shenzhen becomes first Chinese city to ban eating dogs and cats

By MiNDFOOD

Shenzhen becomes first Chinese city to ban eating dogs and cats
Shenzhen has becomes the first city in China to ban the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat.

It comes after the Chinese government passed a law to ban the consumption and illegal trade of wild animals, which some experts believe to be the source of COVID-19.

Some of the earliest coronavirus infections were found in people who had exposure to a wildlife market in Wuhan that sold bats, civets, snakes and other animals.

Shenzhen has extended the wildlife consumption ban to include animals raised as pets, with the law set to come into effect on 1 May.

“Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan,” the city government said.

“This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilisation.”

According to Human Society International (HSI), thirty million dogs are killed a year across Asia for their meat.

While the move to ban consumption of wild animals in China has been praised, it comes as the Chinese government approved the use of bear bile to treat coronavirus patients.

Bear bile is a digestive fluid drained from living bears, a painful process for the animals.

There is no proof that it is effective against the coronavirus.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

You may also like

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login