China Reclassifies Dogs As Pets In New Guidelines

Ever since the coronavirus outbreak hit the world, the infamous wet markets of Wuhan have been the hot topic of discussion for wildlife trade and its relationship with pandemics. This time China was under the radar and then began the nationwide crackdown on the wildlife trade. Animal activists who have been campaigning for greater protection of dogs, were delighted when China’s agricultural
ministry removed dogs from the national list of livestock, and consequently re-classified dogs as pets in the National Catalogue of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources list.

Animals Asia, a Hong Kong based animal welfare charity has often worked closely with the Chinese authorities to amend animal welfare laws. Jill Robinson, the founder and CEO of Animals Asia in her
statement said, “It’s wonderful to see dogs recognised so positively by the administration in their description. Now, dogs are used for more diverse, from pet companionship, police search and rescue, accompanying the blind and so on, and their relationship with humans is closer that in the past.” While the move to crack down on restaurants, markets and slaughterhouses that sell or serve dog meat has welcomed. The real crack down that all conversationalist would love to witness would be on the controversial and cruel annual dog meat festival in Yulin city which is set to commence on June 21. Certainly, Reclassification does not explicitly ban the consumption of dogs or raising them for meat, which may put the trade in an unregulated grey area. According to data of Humane Society International, 10 million dogs and 4 million cats are killed for meat in China. On the contrary, the new directory added 16 new species to the livestock list, including reindeer, alpacas, pheasants, ostriches and foxes.

While the world calls out for a full shutdown of the illicit wildlife trade in China accompanied with stringent regulations over the animal livestock industry,  China continues to use deceiving policies to foster illegal trade and increase public health dangers.

Read: China Places Permanent Ban on Consumption of Wild Animals in Attempt to Curb Coronavirus

Read More: Covid19: Shenzen becomes the first Chinese city to ban dog and cat meat