Feature: Shocking photos trigger Chinese animal rights outcry

Photos of lab dogs left to die on a Chinese medical school's roof has sparked fury in China this week, with the backlash proving growing condemnation of animal cruelty in the country.

The shocking images captured by animal rights activists in Xi'an have been viewed hundreds of millions of times on Chinese social media sites, and comments on the subject have overwhelmingly expressed disgust.

With reports that the dogs were not given anaesthetic or euthanized "because they were to be sold to vendors as meat," the images have been taken as evidence not only of inhumane tests on animals in medical institutions but also of illegal trade in dog meat.

Other countries have long shown bemusement and horror at dog being on the menu in parts of Asia, but mainstream opinion in China seems to be turning against the practice, especially after the Xi'an video.

From political advisors to the public, Chinese are calling for an end to animal cruelty.

BARKING ABOUT DOG MEAT

Many people in China have only recently become aware of an industry chain that exists under their noses to steal or capture, kill, process and trade companion animals for meat and leather, according to an animal rights activist from Hubei Province.

"It has long been common knowledge among activists but it has been little disclosed to the public," said Chang Kong, going by a pseudonym out of fear of recrimination.

Despite this lack of reporting, the Chinese public are becoming more aware of animal rights and many are becoming activists on the subject, said Angela Zheng with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

One such activist is Zaizai (another pseudonym), a 26-year-old Beijinger who has been involved in the cause since 2003, when she participated in a big rescue of cats from a truck on a highway connecting Beijing and Harbin.

She said she has found homes for dozens of stray cats and dogs since then, but "I am nobody compared with those people and organizations who have rescued hundreds of animals."

Ninety-five percent of respondents to a survey by the IFAW said they would describe themselves as animal lovers and would refuse to abuse or neglect an animal.

When it comes to opposing the dog meat trade, animal lovers have the law on their side.

Every stage of the chain is illegal, according to Beijing-based lawyer An Xiang, citing laws on sanitation, food safety and husbandry.

"Every step of the animal-related production chain, including breeding, transporting, killing, processing and selling animals is supposed to be licensed." In the case of dog meat, it almost always is unlicensed, An said.

LEGISLATING AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY

In March, a political advisor proposed a "China Anti-Animal Cruelty Law" at the National Congress of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

His suggestion gained support from 1,28 million people in an official online poll.

As for laboratory animals, Zhang Bing, a lecturer with China Agricultural University told Xinhua that there are regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Technology that clearly forbid animal torture and abuse.

A guideline from the ministry establishes the principle of humane treatment of animals by requiring "minimum fright and pain in animals" during experiments.

Since 2013, China Agricultural University has run a course on animal welfare ethics and it has become compulsory for its postgraduate students.

Lab dogs at the university are taken out for at least two walks daily, and the cages are cleaned every day, said Hu Yupei, a veterinary science major at the university.

It is noticeable that faculty members and students are becoming more and more considerate to the animals, and more effort is being made to reduce their suffering during experiments, added Zhang.

According to law, if too much damage is caused to an animal by an experiment, it must be euthanized, its remains handled by specialists.

"Our professor has made it clear that if anything goes wrong with the dog under one's care, the whole study group will fail the course," said Hu. Endit