Animal Lovers Protest Slaugther of Cats

Shameful Slaughter of Cats Protest

By GILLIAN WONG, Associated Press Writer AP - Friday, December 19, 2008

BEIJING - A southern Chinese province must stop the “shameful” and “cruel slaughter” of cats for food, a group of more than 40 animal lovers in Beijing said Thursday as they unfurled banners in a tearful protest.

Thousands of cats across the country have been caught in the past week by traders and transported to Guangdong province to be killed for food, said the protesters gathered at the Guangdong government’s office in Beijing.

“We are very angry because the cats are being skinned and then cooked alive. We must make them correct this uncivilized behavior,” said Wang Hongyao, who represented the group in submitting a letter to the Guangdong office.

The protesters urged the provincial government to crack down on cat traders and restaurants that serve cat meat, although no law says it is illegal to eat cats. It has long been common for cats and dogs to be eaten in some parts of China and in some other Asian countries.

The demonstrators held up banners saying “Cooking cats alive! Shame on Guangdong!” and “Resolutely oppose cruel slaughter” as they met with a representative of the Guangdong office.

Calls to the Guangdong provincial office in Beijing rang unanswered, while the government news office in the province refused to comment.

The protest was apparently in response to Chinese media reports in recent days that carried pictures of furry felines peering out through bamboo crates and metal cages, apparently en route to Guangzhou, Guangdong’s capital. Other pictures show cats being skinned in restaurant kitchens.

About 5,000 cats were sent from Nanjing to Guangzhou, while cats from Shanghai, Hangzhou and other places were also being rounded up, the Chengdu Business Daily reported last week. The paper said people in
Guangdong eat 10,000 cats a day.

No reason was given for the increased media coverage, or if there has been an increase in cat meat consumption.

Many of the protesters in Beijing were retirees who said they have been caring for strays cats. The protesters said they believed that some street cats in Beijing, “especially the fat ones,” have disappeared and were likely nabbed by cat meat dealers.

“These cats, they are like our children,” said Cui Qingzhen, a 56-year-old woman who said she has been feeding street cats for six years. “We can’t let these people do this to them.”

The demonstrators also noted that a virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, is suspected to have been spread to humans by civet cats, mongoose-like animals considered a delicacy in southern China.

SARS was first reported in Guangdong in November 2002 and killed 774 people worldwide before subsiding in July 2003. In 2004, Guangdong banned the raising, selling, killing and eating of civet cats.

“Haven’t they learned from SARS that some animals just shouldn’t be eaten by humans?” Cui said. “Ask the Guangdong people: What else must they eat?”

Associated Press researcher Xi Yue contributed to the report.

Please note that although I am thankful that the senseless killing and slaughter of cats has caught Chinese media attention it is sad to note that only 40 Chinese people were present at the protest. If this were happening in America the number would be into the multiple of thousands. However, it is a start.

Even sadder is the inability of the Chinese people to comprehend that there are other sources for cheap protein, many of which are easy to obtain and raise such as farm-raised fish, poultry, and milk products produced from goats and cows. Not to mention vegetable proteins such as beans and rice.

A government program to encourage the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs would help keep the overpopulation of these animals at a minimum. Humane methods of euthanasia can be employed. And a national program to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies would help the overall health of the Chinese people and its pets.

Starved Horses owned by Veterinarians!

Starving Horses Owned by Vets!

The Surrey SPCA was called in to deal with a dead horse on December 8, 2008. The emaciated animal collapsed after being forced to pull a car from a ditch. More shocking still was the discovery of five more horses in varying degrees of starvation inside the barn. Yet, the Langley, British Columbia farm (where the horses were housed) was hiding an even more sinister fact: it was the home of two veterinarians, Mark Morohn and Carol Schoyen.

Animal Protection Officer, Shawn Eccles, remarked on the preposterous notion that anyone in their right mind frame would use an animal in this condition to pull a vehicle out of ditch, “That’s outrageous … to take a look at the animal itself they believe that animal has the health to do this. I’m stunned. Stunned.

British Columbia CTV News discovered that the veterinarian’s practice has changed ownership. When asked to comment on this situation Dr. Jeff Grognet, President of the BC Veterinary Medical Association stated, “Veterinarians, in my mind, would be held at a higher standard of care. They can pull a license pending the investigation. In our situation, we have to investigate and reach a conclusion before we can look at suspending a license.”

In the meantime these unfortunate horses have a hope for a brighter and healthier future. The public support and offers for foster homes have been pouring in. And it is obvious that these noble thoroughbreds have captured the hearts of shelter works and the public.

Click here to sign the online petition to have Mark Morohn’s and Carol Schoyen’s license to practice veterinary medicine revoked.

The video of the downed horse forced to pull an automobile out of a ditch by its owners can be viewed below. The horse was in such a severe state of starvation and weakness it had to be euthanized.

Another Wonderful Deed by the Hays County Police

Missy died en route to an emergency vet clinic in New Braunfels, Texas

“I really don’t care about your damn dog!” statement made by San Marcos police officer Paul Stephens

At about midnight on August 5, 2008 Michael Gonzalez and Krystal Hernandez were racing their choking tea- cup poodle Missy to the New Braunfels animal emergency clinic when they were pulled over and detained by San Marcos police officer Paul Stephens.

Because Michael Gonzalez was visibly upset officer Stephens actually asked him “what are you on?” Then proceeded to want to know what was wrong with the man! Obviously Officer Stephens has never loved a dog. The final blow is when Stephens callously says, “It’s just a dog. You can buy another one. Relax.”

Officer Stephens not only had no understanding or compassion for the plight of the dog but his cold, callous attitude came over loud and clear on the raw video tape of the scene.

This attitude that animals are just property—and nothing more—is so prevalent in this good ol’ boy state of Texas. This is the same Hays County police department that so kindly checked on the dog chained up for the rest of its life with no chance of parole. These cops have no place representing the public who pays their salaries. At the very least, they certainly need to take a few courses on how to be compassionate.

For handling this situation in this manner officer Stephens received an oral reprimand from Police Chief Howard Williams.

The Houston Chronicle story makes it sound like poor officer Stephens is now the victim because he has received death threats. The San Marcos Mayor, Susan Narvaiz, steps up to the plate and states that the threats against the officer are “extremely unfortunate.” “Without question, the situation was not handled very well by Officer Stephens. But the characterization of the story has led to death threats against the officer and his family,” Narvaiz said.

And to top it all off the department pulls the Iraq war vet card, as if this will somehow raise Stephen’s reputation in the public eye. No dice. Not for me. The video footage does not lie, this officer is cold, cruel, and harsh.

I for one do not blame Gonzalez and Hernandez for filing a complaint against the San Marcos Police Department. This situation should never have happened.

The comments posted below the Houston Chronicle story appear to side with this officer’s handling of the situation. It is apparent to me that none of these people watched the raw video footage of the event and heard the way officer Stephens addressed Mr. Gonzalez.

Here’s one comment posted below the story:

It is just a dog. And an irritating poodle to boot. I nominated the officer for Peace Officer of the Year.

I only hope that this department will treat humans and their pets more kindly in the future.

Read more and watch the raw video from the traffic stop

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