This is too degrading for the human race and too cruel for the millions of cats needlessly and brutally slaughtered for their flesh and fur. Fortunately it is not just people like me who detest the cat and dog meat trade (three times as many dogs are killed in the trade). Yes, we must respect cultural differences of course but this is plain animal cruelty on a grand scale. These animals are brutally held and slaughtered in breach of all accepted animal welfare principles and laws. You don’t have to over analyse this trade. If it feels wrong it is wrong and the Chinese el al know it.

Cat horrors. Chinese meat festival. Something out of a horror movie. Photo in public domain.

It pleases me to report that a US Congressional committee has passed legislation which urges China and other Asian countries such as Vietnam to outlaw the cat and dog meat trade. They also urge these countries to enforce existing laws against the trade. Lack of enforcement is almost a state sponsored crime. It is unforgivable and smacks of corruption.

Legislation labelled HR 401 has been passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The call to end this obnoxious trade is on human health and animal cruelty grounds. The 64,000 dollar question is, will it do any good? And you know what, it won’t but it is still nice to know that there are people in authority who are dealing with this evil trade. The global veterinary community also object strongly to it: Dog and cat meat trade press release from global veterinary community

The animal cruelty issues are legendary. We all know about them. Apparently, and unsurprisingly, people involved in the dogs meat industry are at increased risk of contracting zoonotic diseases from dog saliva. I’d call it karma myself. That is the human health reason for stopping the trade. This a weak point. The much more powerful reason is animal welfare.

People fighting to stop the cat and dog meat trade say that many government officials…are working to end the dog and cat meat trade, reports News18.com.

Cat meat is officially banned in Vietnam but you would not believe it as it is available in speciality restaurants. It is called ‘little tiger’. I wish a big tiger made meals of these people. That would please me even more.

The figure in the title comes from the Humane Society International and Animals Asia Foundation. The source of the article is News18.com.