The horrific cat meat trade in Asia

in #animals4 years ago

Steps have recently been made to curtail this traditional source of food that many consider a delicacy. For those of us that grew up in the west and like have had a pet cat at one point or another, this trade seems barbaric. It is, on the other hand, important to have a cultural open mind about the trade of any meat and realize that just because we don't do something, doesn't mean that all other cultures feel the same way.

I struggle at times with realizing that people would actually want to eat a cat or a dog but then need to keep myself "in check" when I realize that fundamentally it isn't any different than having a burger or a steak, which is something I do on a regular basis. The problem I have with the meat trade in places like Vietnam isn't that they do it at all, but in the horrific and inhumane way that the industry carries out the acquisition, breeding, transport and slaughter of these cats.

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The cats involved are used in a dish that I would never dream of trying that is colloquially known as "Little Tiger" and I haven't actually ever seen it for sale but it is estimated that a million cats per year are consumed in this fashion. Again, it isn't ok for us to stand here with a beef burger on our plates while lecturing people about the kind of meat that they consume since both of them are living creatures. I just have a big problem with the fact that these animals are raised in horrible environments and many of them are stolen from various properties and even out of people's homes and yards.

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At many holding centers these cats are crammed into cages and even bags for days at time with no food or water and poor ventilation while they supplier waits for there to be enough of them to justify the expense associated with their transport. Then they are taken a sold like any other livestock would be before they are eventually consumed.

Cats are sold for around $8 per kilogram with black cats fetching up to around $20 per kilo because it is believed that there is some sort of special medicinal quality about the meat. Of course there is no scientific data to back any of this up but that is what is believed.

The cat meat trade was illegal for years but recently became legal again in January of this year. The government has been very quiet about this because obviously this is going to attract unwanted attention from the international community. This is all happening while pet ownership, including cats, is on the rise in the country.

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We have been working with the Soi Dog Foundation in their efforts to pressure the government of Vietnam into overhauling the industry rather than banning it outright since it seems that this is a bit of a lost cause for the time being.

The CEO of Cats Protection UK said it perfectly when she stated"We should not unthinkingly impose our cultural views on others, but some reports of suffering cannot be passed over in silence. Regardless of our or others' cultural views, eating preferences are not sufficient to justify severe suffering or theft."

I have intentionally not put some of the more gruesome pictures on this for the sake of not upsetting people. I hope you will join us in our fight to petition the government to introduce standards of ethical oversight into this meat trade.


If you would like to see how you can help out, or simply spread the word, please visit our website at

http://krabianimalwelfare.org

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Krabi Animal Welfare is a charity run entirely by volunteers and are a registered non-profit organization in Thailand and the U.K.. We aim to relieve the pain and suffering of dogs and cats within Krabi Province.

เป็นผู้สนับสนุนรายเดือนหรือบริจาคครั้งเดียวได้ที่:

http://krabianimalwelfare.org


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Even the 2nd picture is enough to bring tiers to my eyes I know what your saying that we can't stand there with a burger lecturing others about what to eat it's true we just all need to slowly change our ways, gosh these poor creatures.

yeah it is extremely tragic. I have never actually witnessed it but it is a very real thing. Some of the pictures I have seen are just awful.

That is simply in-humane act.

while i have lived in this country for several years now I have never seen this offered on a menu nor have i seen them for sale in any market. Granted I don't go to the truly rustic markets but I am happy that I don't have to see it. So tragic.

sadly even if you did see it there is nothing illegal about it. I can't imagine the type of heartless person that thinks this is ok.

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