Shenzhen’s move to ban eating cats and dogs welcomed by animal rights activists
- From May 1 wild land animals and pets must not be consumed
- Too many loopholes may let wildlife traders continue, says conservationist
Animal rights groups have welcomed a ban on eating cats and dogs in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen but say more should be done to enforce the laws and close loopholes.
The new law applies to all wild-caught and captive-bred wild land animals, as well as animals that are raised for display, laboratory research and as pets, according to the regulation passed on March 31.
On the list approved for consumption are pigs, cattle, goats, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons and quail. People are allowed to eat other livestock and poultry raised for the purpose of consumption. The eating of aquatic animals is not banned under the new rule.
The authorities will compensate business owners who breed and raise animals for losses caused by the new law.
The Shenzhen move was dubbed “the strictest in history” by Chinese state media. Consumers of protected wildlife will be fined five to 30 times the value of the animals, while businesses owners will be fined three to 10 times their illicit income. The illegal acts will be recorded on China’s social credit system.