China: call to protect pets from slaughter during coronavirus lockdowns after string of horrific incidents saw cats and dogs killed
- Since the pandemic outbreak pets belonging to Covid-19 patients and close contacts have been forcefully killed by local governments
- A member of the National People’s Congress says China has legions of pets but a lack of regulations protecting them during the pandemic
A delegate at China’s top political advisory body has urged the authorities to ensure appropriate and “harmless treatment” of companion pets during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chen Wei, a member of the National People’s Congress, said China has legions of pet animals, but due to the lack of regulations on how to deal with them when a coronavirus outbreak happens, many social problems emerge, news portal The Paper reported.
Statistics show that by 2019, more than 60 million people across the mainland had pet cats or dogs, the report said.
“Local governments should promulgate effective and humane quarantine regulations for pets,” said Chen, who is the vice-president of Quzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Hospital in Zhejiang, eastern China.
“These rules will not only be a part of the comprehensive epidemic prevention campaign, but also will demonstrate the authorities’ humanistic care for local residents and the respect for every single life.”
She said the current Animal Epidemic Prevention Law and Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases both stipulate that wild animals and captive birds and livestock should be slaughtered during an epidemic. The laws do not target companion animals like cats and dogs, said Chen.