Will China Ban Dog Meat? Updates On The Long-standing Battle

Quick Summary

• While some parts of China still practice dog meat trade, many citizens are exhibiting a growing acceptance for phasing out this way of life.
• Legislation has been proposed to ban the consumption of dog and cat meat in China, carrying penalties such as fines and jail time. 
• Animal rights activists in China are growing in number, but face opposition from traditionalists who view it as part of Chinese culture.
• Shenzhen became the first city in China to permanently ban the sale and consumption of dog meat in 2020, setting a precedent for other cities. The ban recognized dogs and cats as companion animals and aimed to address the illegal trade of protected wildlife.

The summer solstice came and went on June 21, marking the beginning of the grim practice of slaughtering numerous dogs and cats for their meat in the city of Yulin, located in southern China. This festival has drawn the ire of the world at large for more than a decade now, and for good reason. I wouldn’t look at a person the same once I find out that he or she has consumed dog meat, much less if that person did so annually or more frequently, and actually enjoyed it! I imagine you wouldn’t either. But the question remains: will China ban dogmeat? There has been good headway made in more progressive cities like Shenzhen, but as for the rest of the country, the jury’s still out.

But while the practice of dog meat consumption still occurs in mainland China, it would seem that change is on the horizon and fast approaching. A recent survey showed that Yulin residents who are actually against implementing a ban on this brutal trade are vastly outnumbered by respondents who showed no objection to a ban on dog and cat meat trade. This comes amid a growing number of Chinese experts becoming more vocal about this practice, and China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issuing an official statement that dogs are not “livestock” to be consumed.

Legislation seeking to outlaw the eating of dog and cat meat has been presented to the Chinese government. Those who consume the meat would be jailed for up to 15 days, and there would be a fine of 5,000 yuan ($735) for individuals and 10,000 to 500,000 yuan ($1,470 to $73,529) for businesses.

This is the first time in Chinese history that an animal rights law has been proposed, according to ABC News.

The legislation was drafted by researchers in the Law Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a Chinese government think tank. They consulted with the U.S.-based International Fund for Animal Welfare and Britain’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A battle is growing between animal-rights activists who oppose the eating of dog and cat meat, and traditionalists who insist it is an important part of the Chinese culture. Dog lovers are so common and every pet dog so valued in the modern day that industries for dog grooming and other pet care needs continued to boom even throughout the pandemic, so the idea of eating dog meat is just unthinkable for many.

A similar controversy has been occuring in South Korea, where opposition to eating dogs is also on the rise.

Proponents of the ban cite the inhumane way in which the dogs and cats are killed. Chang Jiwen, the researcher who was the chief drafter of the initiative, told the China Daily, “Opposition to animal abuse is the legacy of time-honored Chinese culture.”

According to the China Daily, the main opposition to the ban is from ethnic minority regions of China, which have long histories of eating dog. In Pei county of eastern Jiangsu Province, the cooking of dog meat is on the province’s cultural heritage list.

Fan Xiantao, the president of the local cultivation guild, said the eating of dogs in that area could be traced back more than 2,000 years. A commenter on the Chinese website Jinhu BBS wrote, “The petting of dogs belongs to Western culture, and we are entitled to maintain our own food habits.”

As of January 28, more than 178,000 people have voted in an online poll on Sohu, a popular Chinese website. About 57 percent of the votes support the ban while 40 percent are against it.

According to ABC News, the consumption of dog meat became popular in China “when a Chinese emperor in ancient times developed a taste for stewed dog with soft-shell turtle. At present, it is especially in demand as a hot pot dish during the winter season due to the widespread belief that eating dog meat can help one feel warmer.”

These parts of China also refer to dog meat as “fragrant meat”. This is a euphemism that is derived from an old saying that ‘no immortal can purify his mind when the fragrance of dog meat lingers.’”

On its website, the Animals Asia Foundation, a Hong Kong-based animal welfare charity, writes that over 10 million dogs and 4 million cats are sold in China for consumption every year. The animals are slaughtered in a slow and cruel way in the belief that “torture equals taste,” according to the charity.

Those supporting the ban should not get their hopes up yet. The China Daily reported that the draft legislation is not on the agenda of the National People’s Congress, which begins its annual session in March.

Shenzhen leads China in banning dog meat

In 2020, significant developments occurred in Shenzhen, China. Firstly, Shenzhen became the first city in China to impose a ban on the sale and consumption of dog meat^[1]. 

This groundbreaking decision, praised by animal welfare organization Humane Society International, marked a significant milestone in the fight against the dog meat trade in mainland China. Additionally, the ban extended to include cats, wildlife, and other companion animals. The legislation also aimed to address the illegal trade of protected wild animals.

Unlike the temporary ban on wildlife markets and consumption imposed by the national government, Shenzhen’s ban is permanent and covers the consumption, breeding, and sale of various wildlife species intended for human consumption. Violations of the ban can result in heavy fines, with penalties of up to 150,000 yuan. It is worth noting that while the ban was initially prompted by the coronavirus outbreak, it also recognized the special bond between humans and dogs and cats, classifying them as companion animals. The spokesperson for the Shenzhen government emphasized that this ban aligns with the practices observed in developed countries, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, reflecting the demand and spirit of human civilization.

To reinforce the ban, the law specifies the permissible species for consumption, notably excluding dogs and cats while including animals like pigs, cattle, sheep, rabbits, and chickens. As a result, as of May 1, the sale of cats and dogs for human consumption is prohibited in Shenzhen’s restaurants and stores, and the sale of live cats and dogs for consumption is banned in markets. Dr. Peter Li, a China policy specialist from Humane Society International, welcomed this news, highlighting its potential to inspire other cities to follow suit.

The dog meat trade in China is infamous for its cruelty and contributes to the tragic deaths of an estimated 10 million dogs and 4 million cats each year. Many of these companion animals are stolen from people’s homes or taken from the streets and transported to slaughterhouses and restaurants across the country. Although the majority of Chinese citizens do not consume dog or cat meat, and there is significant opposition to the trade, especially among younger generations, it is crucial to address the health risks associated with the trade and the immense suffering endured by the animals. It is important to note that this issue is unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ban in Shenzhen includes several key provisions, such as the prohibition of consuming state-protected wild animals, terrestrial wild animals taken from the wild, captive bred and farmed terrestrial wild species, “pet” animals like cats and dogs, and animals farmed for medicinal purposes. Violators of the ban can face fines ranging from 100,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan, depending on the value of the illegal activity.

Yulin’s Dog Meat “Festival” Still Pushed Through in 2023 Amid Growing Opposition

The controversial Yulin dog meat “festival” pushed through once again in 2023 for the thirteenth year running – the so-called “Lychee and dog meat festival” that begins every June 21 in Yulin and other parts of South China only came about in 2010, as a marketing endeavor initiated by dog meat traders in 2010 to boost sales. Prior to 2010, Yulin had no history of commercial cat or dog meat sales.

The Average Yulin Resident Wants No Part of Annual Animal Cruelty Festival

A survey commissioned by Vshine, the Chinese partner group of Humane Society International (HSI), and conducted by Suzhou Zhongyan Science and Technology Inc, provides valuable insights into the views of Yulin residents regarding the ban on the cruel cat and dog meat trade. The survey results shed light on the sentiments surrounding China’s dog meat trade and its impact on companion animals, while also addressing the issue of cat and dog meat consumption itself, as well as other forms of animal cruelty.

The survey findings indicate that a significant majority of Yulin residents (70%) believe that a ban on cat and dog meat trade would have little to no impact on their lives, suggesting a growing awareness and acceptance of the need for change. Remarkably, less than 20% of respondents oppose such a ban, while 81% expressed no objection when asked if Yulin should follow the example of cities like Shenzhen, which implemented a ban in 2020, showcasing a positive shift in public opinion.

These survey results, supported by Humane Society International and other animal welfare groups, aim to demonstrate the widespread support for taking action to end the dog and cat meat trade in Yulin. The data reveals that a majority of Yulin residents (73%) consume dog or cat meat only occasionally, reflecting a diminishing demand for these products. Furthermore, it is important to highlight that a significant proportion (67%) of those who consume dog meat do so in restaurants or locations outside their homes, emphasizing that dog meat is not a typical dietary choice within households.

Dissenting Voices In China Are Growing Louder

Dr. Peter Li, a China policy specialist at Humane Society International, strongly advocates for the cessation of the brutal slaughter of dogs and cats in Yulin, considering it an act of animal cruelty and a source of national discord. He highlights the survey results as evidence of the public’s acceptance of government intervention to eliminate the dog and cat meat trade and urges the Yulin authorities to enforce existing laws to crack down on the notorious Yulin dog meat festival. Dr. Li further emphasizes that ending the trade in dog and cat meat is not only crucial for animal welfare but also essential to protect public health, as these hotspots facilitate the movement of wild animals with unknown disease and vaccination statuses, posing a risk to China’s efforts to control rabies.

While the Yulin dog meat festival gains attention, it is essential to recognize that it represents only a fraction of China’s year-round dog and cat meat trade. Thousands of stolen pets and stray animals are subjected to brutal slaughter for human consumption across the country. Despite positive progress in cities like Shenzhen and Zhuhai, where bans on dog and cat meat consumption have been enacted, the Yulin authorities have yet to take strong measures to address the trade, which heavily relies on criminal activities. 

Consumption of dog meat is prohibited in many of China’s neighbors, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. However, despite these bans, it is estimated that millions of dogs are still consumed for their meat across Asia each year. It is the sincere hope of the Humane Society International and other Animal Welfare Groups that the example set by Shenzhen and Zhuhai will reflect a global recognition of the need to protect companion animals and combat animal cruelty.