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Shenzhen Becomes First City In China To Ban Eating Of Cats And Dogs

By Michael Bamidele

02 April 2020   |   10:46 am

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Shenzhen, a city in southeastern China has banned the eating of cats and dogs. The new law which goes into effect on May 1, 2020, is part of a clampdown on the wildlife trade since the emergence of the new coronavirus. "Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than…

Shenzhen bans the eating of cats and dogs | Image: The Independent

Shenzhen, a city in southeastern China has banned the eating of cats and dogs. The new law which goes into effect on May 1, 2020, is part of a clampdown on the wildlife trade since the emergence of the new coronavirus.

“Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan,” the Shenzhen city government said, according to a Reuters report.

“This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization.”

Shenzen’s new law is a step further from the Chinese authorities’ decision to place a permanent ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals in February.

The decision was made after it was discovered that a live animal and seafood market in Wuhan could have been the starting point for the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Shenzhen’s campaign to stop the eating of wildlife has won praise from animal welfare groups.

“Shenzhen is the first city in the world to take the lessons learned from this pandemic seriously and make the changes needed to avoid another pandemic,” said Teresa M. Telecky, the vice president of the wildlife department for Humane Society International.

“Shenzhen’s bold steps to stop this trade and wildlife consumption is a model for governments around the world to emulate.”

As of Wednesday, China had reported 82,361 infections and 3,316 deaths. Globally, more than 44,000 people have died, about 900,000 have been diagnosed with the virus, and some 190,000 have recovered, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.