Dog and cat meat eaters hit back at animal rights group adverts

A leading animal rights group has been forced to revise a provocative advertising campaign in northeast China following a public outcry.

Since September, Animals Asia has been urging people across the mainland to stop eating cats and dogs by using a head-turning poster series that shows the animals sandwiched between a pair of chopsticks.

The images are accompanied by a simple message: "Be healthy. Say NO to cat and dog meat."

The advertisements caused a considerable stir and the campaign was hailed as a success by the advocacy group after the images went viral.

However, the campaign faced a backlash in northeastern China, where locals defended their right to eat dog and cat meat as one of their traditions.

In Shenyang - where the consumption of dog meat is widespread - posters in the city's metro system had to be revised following complaints from commuters.

"They think we should not put up the advertisements because eating dogs is a so-called 'tradition,'" said Carrot Chen, Animals Asia cat and dog welfare deputy manager. "We want to spread the message that tradition is not an excuse for cruelty."