No More Coronavirus? China Recognises Dog As Human 'Companions,' Hints At Banning Dog Meat

Every year the controversial Yulin Dog Meat festival in China that sees thousands of dogs being beaten and killed for meat receives global criticism.

Now, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has reportedly recognised dogs as 'companion animals' and 'not suitable' to be managed as livestock.

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This exclusion of dogs from farm animals in the drafted directive could mean that dog meat might be banned from dinner plates from across the country.

Recently, Shenzhen became the first in the country to ban cat and dog meat.

According to the China's Animal Husbandry Law, only animals that are officially, listed as livestock or poultry can be bred, raised, traded and transported for commercial purposes in China.

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Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs published a tentative version of the country's Directory of Genetic Resources of Livestock and Poultry. The proposal could potentially save the lives of more than 10 million dogs that are killed for their meat every year in China.

However, a worker from the Ministry has denied that proposal hints at banning the eating of dogs.

The official told Chinese news outlet The Paper ¡®the exclusion of dogs in the directory only means they cannot be 'managed' as livestock, and it has nothing to do with the eating or breeding of dogs¡¯.

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Nevertheless, activists are considering the proposal 'a game-changer moment for animal protection in China'.

Talking to The Guardian Wendy Higgins of Humane Society International (HSI) said that this move ¡°signals a major shift, recognising that most people in China don¡¯t eat dogs and cats and want an end to the theft of their companion animals for a meat trade that only a small percentage of the population indulge in.¡±

Hopefully, the country will officially ban the consumption of the meat of these ¡®companion animals¡¯.