As each winter arrives, dog and cat eating becomes more common in China than at any other time of the year. Many dogs and cats, strays and pets, will be trapped or stolen, slaughtered and eaten.
This winter, expanding our Friends or Food? campaign, Animals Asia launched a targeted anti-dog and cat eating campaign “Do not eat dogs and cats, be nice to your animal friends!” all across China.
The aim of the campaign was to promote people’s respect for animals and change their habit of eating cats and dogs. We devised an action plan with local animal welfare groups across the country implementing the campaign with us, and provided them with posters, leaflets and display boards to support their local events.
Working with the local groups, we set out suggestions and recommendations, some of which are listed below:
To do the road show downtown, distributing leaflets wearing dog or cat costumes, or have a small dog show in order to gain maximum attention and show people the benefits of having dogs as friends, not food.
To sign on to a letter from Animals Asia to media outlets requesting they do not broadcast dog and cat eating advertisements or news, and to distribute this letter to their local media outlets.
To cooperate with local schools, developing and presenting anti-dog and cat eating programmes, incorporating drawing or writing competitions about protecting animals.
To add our campaign plan, media letter and posters on their websites and also distribute to other local pet websites, asking for more people to join in the campaign.
We also added suggestions on how to approach illegal dog and cat slaughter locations in a legal way. We do not encourage people to do this, but we cannot avoid it or stop people if they want to take direct action, so for their reference, we have provided a list of all the legal ways to intervene.
Up to March 2010, the feedback is as follows:
All groups put our campaign plan, media letter and posters on their group’s website and distributed the information to other local pet websites.
We have provided 28 groups or individuals with our leaflets and posters – totaling:
32,890 leaflets
3,560 posters
700 DVD
33 groups joined us to sign on to the letter to the media, and sent letters to local media.
9 groups held public events to promote the anti-dog and cat-eating campaign
Nan Ning Stray Cat Rescue Forum held a cycle rally through the city wearing our poster on their backs. This generated a lot of interest and two local media followed the activity: Cycle rally
Nan Ning Stray Cat Rescue Forum volunteers promote the campaign vigourously through a cycle rally.
Shi Jia Zhuang Mi Ai Stray Cat Group drove 16 cars around the downtown area with prominent banners and posters. They also took the opportunity to do a little anti-fur promotion as the opportunity arose, burning fur on the street. Several media followed the activity: Activities Record - Anti dog and cat meat
Nan Shi Jia Zhuang Mi Ai Stray Cat Group use engine power to focus attention on their message.
Guang Yuan Small Animal Protection Center held a road show in the downtown area. Two media followed this event: Say no to eating dog and cat
Guang Yuan Small Animal Protection Center volunteers use banners and posters for mass impact.
Wu Han Stray Dog Rescue Center held a roadshow in the downtown area. Volunteers and members held a march through the centre of town carrying our posters:
Anti dog and cat eating campaign summary
Wu Han Stray Dog Rescue Center march through the downtown district before their roadshow.
Xi An Xi Jing Companion Animal Rescue Center distributed leaflets on the street: Outdoor activities for anti dog and cat meat promotion .
Zhang Zhou Small Animal Protection Center held its activity on New Year’s Day.
This campaign reached thousands of people, thanks to the co-operation and dedication of ordinary people in China – those who care about the welfare of animals and are committed to working for change in their own country. We cannot thank these individuals and groups enough – while we support their activities, they support us in return with local knowledge, grass-roots campaigns and raising awareness where it counts, on the ground, effecting real change.
