In 2008, numerous incidents occurred in the People's Republic of China, mostly in southern China's Guangdong region, over the selling of dog and cat meat. Both stray and domestic animals were taken to butcher shops in large quantities. Some pet owners even worried that their pets would be stolen to be sold for profit.[1]
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A story was run in the Southern Metropolis Daily that said about 1,000 cats were transported to Guangdong daily.[2][3] About 5,000 cats were sent via shipments from Nanjing to Guangzhou. Other places such as Shanghai and Hangzhou also rounded up cats to be shipped. According to the Chengdu Business Daily, people in Guangdong ate 10,000 cats a day.[4] Votes were also conducted by Southern Metropolis Daily to see the people's responses on the matter.[3]
In Guangdong, stray dogs were captured, chained and beaten with bats.[5] They were then skinned and deceptively sold as expensive lamb meat for profit.[5]
A group of 40 protesters unfurled banners in a tearful protest in Beijing. Animal activist group PETA also issued a statement decrying the cruel treatment.[6]
The protesters noted that a virus that caused Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is suspected to have been spread to humans by civets.[7] In 2004, Guangdong supposedly banned the raising, selling, killing and eating of civets.[4][7] SARS was first reported in Guangdong in November 2002, and killed 774 people worldwide before subsiding in July 2003.[7]
One cat owner in Guangzhou commented that pet owners were afraid to let their pets leave the house in fear that they would be kidnapped. He said "It's never been this bad. Who knows, it might be because of the bad economy." He also feared that the cat business might be run by gangs.[1]
On the last day of 2008, a rescue effort was funded by the Animals Asia Foundation after it was discovered the traders were operating without a license. 149 dogs were taken to the rescue center. One dog suffered from distemper and had to be euthanized.[8][9]