“IF FOWLS, pigs, dogs and swine are properly bred without missing their proper seasons, there will be meat for septuagenarians.” So said Mencius, a revered Confucian philosopher who lived more than 2,300 years ago. Since then dog meat—prized both for its earthy flavour and for its purported medicinal benefits—has been a minor but regular part of the diet in many regions of China. But for the second straight year, a dog-meat festival in southern China, timed to coincide with the summer solstice, is coming under attack.
A big concern is that the dogs are not properly bred. Campaigners say many of the animals to be consumed in the city of Yulin in Guangxi region are either strays or stolen pets, and are treated abominably. Those objecting to the festival include Chinese who have learned to love dogs at the end of a leash rather than on a skewer. They belong to a new middle class that has fallen in love with pets. Urban households now own more than 30m dogs and cats.
Animal activists say at least 10,000 dogs will be slaughtered at the Yulin festival (and served with the...Continue reading
No comments:
Post a Comment