Veterinarians in Yulin, China are learning that dogs feel pain and fear
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FROM

ACTAsia
October 2018

[Please also read Teaching Veterinarians Animal Welfare In Latin America...]

Most people in China don’t know that animals are sentient—that animals feel physical pain and mental anguish. But once we explain to Chinese veterinarians, they begin to treat dogs with more respect. And this is where education starts.”

The literal translation of 'animal' in Chinese is 'moving object.' Centuries of this kind of thinking is what ACTAsia is transforming.

Thousands of dogs are transported into the poorer, rural parts of China to be eaten every year, with a spike over the Summer Solstice. Superstition rules that eating dog meat over the longest days will promote good health, but the influx of dogs actually causes a rise in cases of rabies and other diseases.

China's veterinarians
Practise makes perfect—it's best to begin by learning techniques on artificial body-parts.

teaching compassion
Just as important as technique is welfare, an integral part of all our Train the Trainer sessions.

The difficult road into poorer parts of China has been slow but steady for ACTAsia’s team. After almost ten years of working with VFC, our Train the Trainer programme is starting to trigger a change in attitude. By introducing new concepts of compassion along with practical solutions to local professionals, we’re also beginning to reach local communities.

“The concept of animal welfare was unheard of in this poorer region,” explains Elaine Ong, Senior Veterinarian for Train the Trainer. “There are so many cruel practices which are routine here. People kill and butcher dogs for a living, and their children think nothing of it. But it’s just down to a lack of understanding. Most people in China don’t know that animals are sentient – that animals feel physical pain and mental anguish. But once we explain to Chinese veterinarians, they begin to treat dogs with more respect. And this is where education starts.”

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