Submission to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

PO Box 642
TAURANGA
NEW ZEALAND

This submission is made on behalf of the global Petition asking for an end to the export, breeding and slaughter of Western Breed dogs to the Far East and for the classification of same as not for human consumption. The Petition represents some 4,100,000 people in over 40 countries.

The Petition was initiated in April 2000 when news that China was importing Saint Bernards, Great Danes and Tibetan Mastiffs for the purpose of breeding for human consumption was reported by Associated Press.

The Petitioners believe they have the right to protect those animals bred solely as domestic companion animals from being put into the livestock chain.

The 21st Century has dawned upon an emerging global society. Alongside the globalisation of markets and capital we see increased respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights. We are exercising those rights in asking the FOA UN to classify those animals which are an integral part of the nuclear family.

Authorities agree that the dog was the first of man’s domesticated animals. The partnership of man and dog has long been shown in paintings and other art forms and in writing. The Romans used dogs for military purposes, some as attack dogs and some as messengers.

Throughout the years dogs have been bred in the West for many reasons, such as for hunting, for herding, and for guarding. They have never been bred as livestock.

People have been amply repaid for this long partnership and rapport with the dog. Care and love have been exchanged for loyalty, companionship, and fun.

A newspaper report from the Beijing Youth Daily - September 16, 1999 states:

“Good news, new food for the dinner table before National Day. With the improvement in living standards, people’s diet is changing. Dog meat is becoming a favourite. Male Great Dane, St Bernard, Tibetan Mastiff are chosen to be imported by Beijing HongDing Breeding and Development Company to create a new generation of meat dogs”.

A web site titled “99 Key Project Seeking Overseas Investment and Cooperation” asks for foreign funding to set up the dog farms.

A report from the Cox News Service quotes an interview with a dog farmer who states:"

“When China opens the dog-meat market and dog breeding industry, it will gradually become like raising cows and sheep. As people spend more and their dietary habits change, industrialization of dog breeding will not take as long as domestication of cows and sheep. The decision to use Saint Bernards was arrived at after much scientific research. Chinese scientists have done a lot of comparative research. The Saint Bernard was their first choice”. Since then, other Western Breed dogs are being imported; Dalmations, Newfoundlands, Mastiff breeds, German Shepherds to name a few.

An interview with a Chinese dog breeder states:

“Datong, China.

As dog breeder/speculator Zhang Weillin sees it, Julie Chao wrote, it is only a matter of time before the dog meat industry takes off. With his 90 St. Bernards, he is counting on being at the forefront.

Said Zhang, “When China opens the dog meat market and dog-breeding industry, it will gradually become like raising cows and sheep.”

Buyers of the St. Bernards include farmers and small businessmen who come from all over China hoping to make some money on the side breeding dogs. They are drawn by ads boasting of a high rate of return; three times as profitable as poultry and four times as profitable as raising pigs, the ads promise.

He said he welcomed investors from the United States or anywhere else to help them expand their operations.

So far in China there were industrial breeders for cows and pork but not for dogs until Saint Bernard industrial breeders appeared.

The newspaper for Animal and Fish industries complains that import of Saint Bernards was difficult, because foreigners who are not used to dog eating do not easily sell dogs to China.

A report from the China Journal of Animal Husbandry and Aquatic Production , July 25th, 1999 quotes:

“Because foreign people resent the dog-eating habit in some areas of China, they are not willing to sell their pet dogs to China which causes some difficulty to our importation. Currently we are trying to negotiate with foreign companies on how we can import stud dogs in order to meet the internal needs”.

It has been said by some quarters that nothing can be done because it is China’s “culture” to eat dogs. However, as quoted by China, “new food”, “changing dietary habits” does not imply that it is a cultural issue. China in fact had very few locally bred dogs. It is only the fact that the Western Breed dogs are being mated with the few local dogs and a new meat is now available has the dog meat trade become popular.

The definition of culture as taught by Universities is:

Culture: The system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviours, and artifacts that the members of society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are transmitted from generation to generation through learning.

The Petitioners would therefore agree the eating of dogs would come under the category of cuisine, preference and even in some quarters, tradition; it is therefore incorrect to use the word culture in relation to this issue.

However, if the word culture is to be used, then it should be respectfully noted that it is not the culture of the West to have their dogs put into the livestock chain.

Evidence exists that the dogs are slaughtered in an atrocious manner. There is no scientific evidence that torturing an animal enhances the flavour and quality of the meat. No animal on this planet deserves to be skinned alive (so the coats do not shed; photographs exist), have legs broken the night before slaughter, holes cut in their paws so it takes 10 minutes to bleed to death, to name a few methods. Our dogs do not deserve this treatment.

Saint Bernards and the other Western breed dogs being farmed for food in China have between 6 to 12 puppies each time they are bred. Beef cattle and sheep have one or two calves or lambs when bred.

Given that the dog breeding farms are increasing rapidly and more and more western breed dogs are being imported into China, it seems that in the not too distant future, dog meat will be more prolific than beef and lamb. If this is the case then exports from European and western countries will suffer as a result.

Unfortunately it is very well known that Western breed dog meat is becoming more and more popular, more so than the beef and sheep meat presently consumed. It has also been stated that the dogs are a popular choice of food because they do not need large areas of land (as do cattle and sheep) and of course, are so friendly.

The economic future of European and Western countries will be comprised.

The consumption of dog meat is practiced in some Asian countries where the relationship between humans and dogs has not developed in the same manner or direction as had been the case for western countries. Not withstanding these differences, and not wishing to impinge upon the rights of those member countries where consumption of dog meat by humans is acceptable, yet wishing to protect dog owners, breeders and those from member countries who find such a practice abhorrent, the following resolution is advanced for support and commitment by the FAO UN.

“Given that there is ample evidence of growth in the practice of consumption of dog meat by humans, particular within those countries which have not traditionally held dogs in the high regard they enjoy in western countries, and given the recent development in the obtaining dogs and/or puppies from countries such as Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, United States of America, Italy and Great Britain for the purpose of breeding dogs for the meat trade, and accepting the special relationship which dogs enjoy with their owners, in these and other countries where such a practice is considered inappropriate, this meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, agrees, that the exportation of Western Breed dogs, either for consumption as meat, or the breeding of dogs for that purpose be banned and that every member country do everything within its ability to ensure this intention is given effect”.

The Petitioners respectfully ask therefore that Western Breed dogs be classified on the FAOSTAT list as Not for Human Consumption.