This story makes me feel a little more proud of the human race.
— Kenn Bell
For China, it was a risky act of historical proportions. And it successfully saved hundreds of dogs’ lives.
In a rare show of public activism in China, over 200 internet savvy animal rights activists waylaid a truck and rescued 520 dogs en route to a slaughter house.
Alerted on their microblog networks by a fellow activist who forced the truck to stop, the activists rushed to the Tongzhou section of Beijing-Harbin expressway and blocked the vehicle from moving for over 15 hours.
After seeing the blog, hundreds of animal activists began arriving at the scene with mineral water and food. Some celebrities and foreigners were also rumored to have participated.
Their presence jammed the highway temporarily and forced police to shut down a nearby exit. The “seize” ended after police brought about a compromise where an environmental conservation foundation agreed to buy the dogs for approximately 115,000 yuan (USD 17,606).
The animal activists were almost not successful in their deed however, as police found the truck did have all the necessary paperwork, including animal quarantines and immunizations for the dogs. Plus the fact that the sale of dog meat is legal in China.
After all the commotion died down though, the angry truck driver stated, “I transported dogs as (I would) pigs, cows and sheep. China does not ban the consumption of dog meat.“ He also said the dogs were purchased from breeders and not stolen.
Qin Xiaona, director of the Capital Animal Welfare Association (CAWA), who rushed to the scene, called the move “a brave act,” adding that “society should encourage such moves, despite their risks.”
Zhu Feng, a volunteer and a veterinarian who works in an animal hospital and saw the dogs, said that most of the dogs were in serious condition.
And despite the continuing demand for dog meat, it seems more and more Chinese are increasingly turning to pet care with dogs emerging as favorites.
Thank God! I applaude their efforts and hope they continue! I also agree with Ken Bell!
Hooray for the activists! They risked themselves but it was well worth it. Hopefully this trend to stop eating dogs will grow and it’ll become a thing of the past.
This makes me physically sick to my stomach to think of could have happened had they not been rescued.
So glad these have been saved but they are only a few of thousands who will continue to suffer an horrific end to their very sad lives. It has to be stopped and now
These animals were treated no differently than the cows, chickens and pigs that we torture and eat in the states. If activists here were to do the same thing to a truck with pigs, they would be crazy animal rights lunatics. Why do we call some animals pets, and others dinner?
Because Dogs were created by humans. They are our companions, our protectors, our comforters, our family. They are the only animal on this planet that has made a sacred alliance with us.
I find your answer quite lacking, honestly. They were domesticated and developed into breeds not more or less than cattle and swine. Pigs intelligence is almost greater than dogs, and yet they are still on a different scale. We raise have not only domesticated chickens but debeak them and confine them in ways so far from their natural environments that it’s sickening… Dolphins and horses and birds all can create that same sacred alliance…so again why do we elevate and put dogs on a pedestal in comparison to all those lovely creatures?
Because they are elevated. This isn’t a Vegan site, it’s a dog site. So on this site and in the minds of most, they will remain elevated. But hell, I run the site so I’m biased. Thanks for the conversation!
The cruel acts imposed on other animals are still horrible. These dogs were rescued and some of them will find loving families to take care of them. Just because we are happy that the dogs were saved doesn’t mean that we are accepting any of the other injustices that happen every day to millions of other animals. In the end, your answer is the one that is “quite lacking,” we shouldn’t be forced to pick one species to save, people are working every day to give any and every animal a voice. Also, who made intelligence a standard in choosing which animal gets slaughtered, personally, I think its completely unrelated. At the end of the day you have to look at this as a victory, there are so little of them and you shouldn’t be trying to take it away from everyone else.
Well done to the activists – I am a vegetarian and so against eating all our furry friends, however, as has been said, dogs are our companions, they lay down their lives for us and give us unconditional love and loyalty, which makes it so much worse !
No animal, whether dog, cat, chicken, pig, turkey, deserves less consideration for their comfort and well-being. Yes, we domesticated dogs BUT we are stewards of this planet and MUST treat ALL animals with compassion.
Way to go!
I just WISH we would hold up a food-animal transport vehicle here in the states.
I cant believe this happens in any part of the world. I cant even stand to see the neglect and abuse for animals in my small town in Iowa. Thank god for the activists that saved these dogs! But the truth is that there are still millions upon millions that are still getting treated with such abuse. Animals are my friends, our companions, they are not meals or just something to look at. They are to be loved just like any other creature that god has created on this earth. I hope to god that things only get better from here. Anybody protecting animals rights keep it up and god bless you, u r angels:)
I was looking for an image of a dog for a note I posted one day and came across HORRIFIC pictures of our beloved companions being cooked. It makes me sick to my stomach and unbelievably sad even now thinking about it. Thank you to the activists that saved these beautiful creatures that YES, were created by man to help us work, protect us, SAVE us, and be our companions. We can only hope that all humans around the world will realize this and respect these wonderful animals.
How disturbing that people would eat dog meat, and meat from dogs with parvo and distemper!!! That is not healthy for same reason we don’t eat cow, pig meat with diseases. The video made me want to dry seeing those sad faces and the one who had a litter of puppies. What kind of breeders would sell high quality dogs for meat production!
My husband was in China and saw the slaughter of dogs in a market first hand. He said it was the most horrible thing and had to step away. But returned to take pictures to document it. Even though the got really upset for him taking the picture. I’m so glad the were able to save these dogs. But yes no animal deserves to be treated in an cruel and inhumane way.
THE WORLD HAS GOT TO DO EVERYTHING QUICKLY TO STOP FOREVER THIS BARBARIC, CRUEL & EVIL TRADE….. NO ANIMAL DESERVES TO BE TREATED IN THIS WAY & THEN EATEN..
PLEASE PLEASE SIGN & KEEP FORWARDING TO EVERYONE, DEAR GOD I PRAY THAT ONE DAY & VERY SOON THIS WILL STOP !!
they shoule deball then human over there!!now I want them out of the us!! rotten people any way!!!
WHY DO THESE ASIAN COUNTRIES STILL EAT DOGS AND SKIN THEM ALIVE FOR THEIR FUR? WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO COME OUT OF THE DARK AGES? I AM SO GLAD THESE PEOPLE WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING FOR THESE POOR DOGS, BUT SADLY THIS WON’T BE THE END OF IT!! OUR COUNTRY IS GUILTY OF HORRIBLE CRUELTY TO ALL THE FARM ANIMALS THAT END UP ON OUR TABLES!! IT IS ALSO GUILTY OF TERRIBLE CRUELTY TO OUR PETS!! BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE ARE NOT EATING DOGS AND CATS..YET!! WILL THIS WORLD EVER LEARN TO HAVE RESPECT AND REGARD FOR THE ANIMALS OF THE EARTH??
HI CJUSTPEACHY
WELL THOUGHT OUT MAIL ! THIS WHOLE BARBARIC BUSINESS HAS GOT TO BE STOPPED, WHEN & HOW SOON ? MAKING MORE & MORE PEOPLE AWARE OF WHAT GOES ON, IF PEOPLE CAN BEAR TO LOOK……BREAKS MY HEART
hopefully they will all see them as animals to be loved its time all animals got a better deal
really sad ..
GGod Bless those activists….I hope they keep it up. Maybe some owners will show up and shed light on this illegal trade as well…Horrible traditions.
so glad those dogs are safe, hope more and more dogs will be saved like this
I might get heat for this but china is a terrible country for animal rights, so many many abuses. They need to come into the 21st century in a big way. It’s not just the dogs, they have no respect for life, period.
I have fighting this cause for over 30 years now. I hope I live long enough to see it all end one day. Bless those brave people involved in saving some of these poor dogs.