Sina News on April 30 published a report on World Dog Alliance titled “International Agreement and Domestic Legislation: A Two-pronged Approach to Save Dogs and Cats”
Full Report as follows:
On March 27, when meeting with representatives of the U.S. business community and strategic academia in Beijing, it was reported that: people from all walks of life in China and the United States should have more contacts and exchanges, constantly accumulate consensus, enhance trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and bring better and more tangible results to the two peoples, thereby injecting more stability into the world.
As an international public welfare organisation, the World Dog Alliance has been taking action to promote mutual understanding and consensus between China and the United States in the field of animal and environmental protection, and to promote fervently China’s progresses in civilisation – Shenzhen and Zhuhai having legislated bans on dog meat is a clear example.
In recent years, the World Dog Alliance has been collaborating with the US government to promote the implementation of the “International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats” and striving to put this convention on the agenda of the United Nations so that an international framework can be established and governments of all countries can work together to end the consumption of dogs and cats.
On March 23, 2024, the two houses in the U.S. Congress passed the “2024 Appropriations Bill” by a large margin of 286 votes in favor and 134 votes against. The bill includes language on the “International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats” as advocated by the World Dog Alliance since 2019, with the following provisions:
“The Committee is aware that in 2018 Congress banned the knowing slaughter of a dog or cat for human consumption in the United States. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief the Committees on Appropriations on similar steps taken by other countries and the prospects of, and support for, addressing such practices as part of an international agreement.”
– Excerpted from the U.S. “Appropriations Bill 2024”
The provisions of the above-mentioned bill are instructive rather than advisory, and continual rather than temporary: it is legally binding on the U.S. State Department, and government departments must strictly implement the provisions. The provisions are also permanently effective, even if the current U.S. government fails to complete the work, the next government must continue to promote the implementation of this convention.
In late June, the World Dog Alliance will host activities at the U.S. Congress and the State Department in Washington D.C. to promote the implementation of the “International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats”, for instance, to suggest the establishing of a special committee in Congress to oversee the State Department in its promotion work to implement this convention.
As a global trend, banning the consumption of dogs and cats has been in effect in many countries, regions and cities in Asia: Shenzhen and Zhuhai in China passed the “Regulations on Prohibition of Eating Wild Animals” in March 2020; Hoi An City in Vietnam announced the phasing out of dog and cat meat in December 2021; Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, announced regulations prohibiting dog meat in March 2023; South Korea followed suit and passed the “Special Law on the Banning of Dog Meat” in January 2024. The World Dog Alliance visited South Korea in February this year and learned that South Korean politicians have great interest in co-sponsoring the “International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats” with the United States.
While strong progresses on “International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats” have been made in the international community, the push for domestic legislation should not be relaxed.
The World Dog Alliance believes that the actions of dog dealers are illegal when transporting dogs and cats with unclear origins and without quarantine certificates. Enthusiastic citizens who devote time and energy to reporting and stopping this illegal behavior, putting their own safety to one side, should be commended. The kind deeds of enthusiastic people have saved more than a thousand dogs and given them a second life. At the same time, we should realize that only comprehensive legislation banning the consumption of dog and cat meat is the ultimate solution. Only then can we save thousands of dogs and cats.
The dog meat industry has little economic value but is of huge harm. On the one hand, it harms the physical and mental health of the people and undermines social stability; on the other, it seriously affects China’s international image. With local legislation banning dog and cat meat, Shenzhen and Zhuhai have shown us the way forward where there are only benefits and no harm. We therefore look forward to the early implementation of national legislation and the significant contributions that would bring to the protection of dogs and cats and to world peace.