[Also read Coronavirus: the deadly consequences of our exploitation of animals? AND When is wildlife not wildlife?]
Asian culture is new to pet ownership so ACTAsia uses education to help people meet their responsibilities. We start teaching children about the needs of pets in Grade 1, as it is an ideal way to introduce them to animal sentience.
Our Caring for Life Education programme also teaches people the potential dangers of manipulating and exploiting nature for commercial profit.
This viral outbreak underlines the message that forcing nature into unnatural circumstances for human gain is ultimately always a bad idea.
Last weekend, our web news on Coronavirus offered some insight into the role that exploiting wild animals for commercial profit has played in the spread of Coronavirus. But news moves fast, and now we must respond again as a needless backlash against companion animals is reported to take hold in Asia.
We all know the dangers of fake news, and commenting on events as they
unfold means walking a fine line - for all of us. It's hard to establish the
truth once news is reported second/third/fourth hand - or worse - so we must
defer to the experts before we jump to any conclusions.
The news is rife with terrible stories of companion animals on the receiving
end of abuse and neglect, resulting from suspicion that dogs and cats can
spread Coronavirus to humans. Despite reassurance from the World Health
Organisation (WHO) stating that dogs and cats have their own
species-specific versions of Coronavirus that cannot be transmitted to any
other species (see poster above), the fear appears to be growing. Troubling
reports range from government culls of dogs and cats, to pet owners throwing
animals to their deaths from tower blocks. Agents from around the world are
asking us if the stories and supporting images are true.
To the best of our knowledge and research on the ground, we can say that we have not found 'official' culling of dogs by the Government. However, in some cities, local communities are calling residents to restrict the movement of companion dogs, and there is some opposition to keeping pets at all. Such scares and negative attitudes towards companion animals are common when there is an outbreak of disease. Reports and footage support claims that some pets were left home along for what was intended to be a short period over New Year, but turned out to be much longer due to restrictions placed on movement across China. Some dogs and cats have reportedly been released from apartments by force while their owners have been unable to return home. Through these responses, we can say with certainty that pet ownership is a relatively new concept in Asia, so the responsibilities that come with pets are not yet fully understood by most of society.
It is because Asian culture is new to pet-ownership that ACTAsia uses education to help people meet their responsibilities. We start teaching children about the needs of pets in Grade 1, as it’s an ideal way to introduce them to animal sentience. It helps them develop compassion at a time when they are starting to develop their own values. But these concepts are in their infancy across much of Asia, and many societies have a long way to go.
Live animals are kept caged until a customer places an order for meat.
Carcasses and animal remains are kept in close proximity (see lower right
corner).
Our Caring for Life Education programme also teaches people the potential
dangers of manipulating and exploiting nature for commercial profit. We
encourage the public to think about the origins of the goods and services
they consume and the impact they have on our planet, including meat,
wildlife products and animal fur, technology, toys, holidays, plastic and
much more.
Tragically, there are always people on every continent who abuse animals
through commercial exploitation or for sadistic pleasure, and sadly it is
likely that Coronavirus is being used as an opportunity and excuse for some
such abuse. But please be reassured that these cases are by far the
exception, not the norm.
At ACTAsia, we work with children and adults to help them develop compassion
and critical thinking. We encourage them to become responsible guardians for
our planet, sympathetic towards each other, considerate consumers and
compassionate pet owners.
We're in no doubt that a permanent ban should be placed on live animal
markets and intensively farmed animals across Asia, whether wildlife,
fur-bearing animals, dogs, cats or other pets, birds or fish. Our reasons
extend far beyond the dangers of Coronavirus. But this viral outbreak
underlines the message that forcing nature into unnatural circumstances for
human gain is ultimately always a bad idea. We must take action to ensure
this is never allowed to happen again.
Return to: Animal Rights/Vegan Activist Strategies