New life for dogs in China?
Written by: Heba Imtiaz
Edited by: Micah Manabat
China has enacted new rules and regulations governing dogs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak. For instance, the Chinese national government’s proposed recommendations for reclassifying dogs from “livestock” to “companion animals.” Additionally, the government proposed that dogs should be kept on leashes whilst being outside.
Given that the COVID-19 is certainly connected to the consumption of wildlife meat, it would be prudent to prohibit the trade and eating of wild animals, such as dogs. Shenzhen made history by becoming the first Chinese city to prohibit the consumption of cats and dogs. This law has been impactful on China’s local economy, but it would also strengthen the country’s image, as dogs are beloved by people all over the world. Furthermore, many residents have formed deep bonds with these creatures, particularly during difficult times like the pandemic. In fact, Dr. Peter Li, China policy specialist at Humane Society International, says “This is the first time we’ve ever seen China’s national government explain that dogs are companion animals. Recognizing that dogs hold a special bond with humans is an essential first step towards eliminating the consumption and trade in dog meat. This could be a pivotal moment that provides encouragement for other cities across the country to follow Shenzhen’s lead to ban the eating of dogs and cats.”
The second legislation requires dog owners in China to abide by laws about keeping their pets on a leash in public and ensuring that their animals have a license before being carried outdoors. This rule went into effect on May 1st and was done in order to keep dogs from injuring people and to decrease the spread of contagious diseases. Due to this law, many people who were previously concerned about running into a dog, no longer have a reason to be.
With that being said, these adjustments may boost the country’s reputation, as well as the lives of dogs, dog owners, and dog lovers! Finally, we can see improvement in our community, and these developments are unquestionably positive.
Citations
https://aldf.org/article/china-reclassifies-dogs-from-livestock-to-companion-animals/
https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3130152/chinese-dog-owners-will-be-leashed-new-law