Beijing..cats...and animal rights......

[pastafreak]

Legend's post earlier reminded me of this. Apparently ,in their drive to clean up the streets of Beijing for the Olympics, the city authorities are rounding up all the cats.This is not only strays. They are telling pet-owners that their pets are dangerous disease carriers,as a consequence perfectly healthy pets are being almost literally put out with the rubbish! Access is not allowed to the pounds where they are supposed to be going,rather the animals are simply disappearing. Of course now there are rampant rumours to the effect that rather than keep these animals in pounds,they are ending up in the cities restaurants. Actually,it doesn't matter if this is true.......animals are being destroyed just for the sake of a sporting event. First human rights-next animal rights. This is building up to be a controversial Games to say the least. What are your thoughts on this?

[daffy654]

I saw a picture of the caged cats on the BBC news website yesterday and it was pretty distressing to see.

[daffy654]

I have found a Daily Mail report with the details(as they see it).

The pictures in the report show cats packed tighly into a wire mesh cage.If anyone feels this will upset them don't click the link.!!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=528694&in_p age_id=1811

[pastafreak]

Oh,daffy...that is even worse than the article I read-really horrifying!!

[mirela]

is it real???? my cat is still living with my sister in beijing, how come i didnt hear anything from them??? if it is true, i gonna be worrying.
dont wanna argue about human right stuff, im not interested in politics, but about eating cats, it is deifnately not accpeted by most of chinese people, only few pervs from down south did that sort of gross thing, then eat everything!!! but it is not accpeted in china!!!

[tiggerblue10]

Oh I don't think I can look at it Daffy. It probably will upset me as I'm a cat lover.

[pastafreak]

Oh sorry mirela...i certainly do not want to offend you or anyone else. According to the Daily Mail link above,the cats are being sent to one particular province where ..umm..cats are considered a delicacy. I sincerly hope that your cat is ok.

[daffy654]

I agree it is a horrible thing for us to see as an animal loving nation.Unfortunately other countries don't have our love for animals or laws to prevent this sort of thing happening. I have been owned by many cats and if anyone had ever done this to any of my little furballs I would probably be doing time in prison for what I did in return!

[pastafreak]

Oooops,tigger...how are you!! ..(and your moggys)

[mirela]

hey pastafreak, you are alright, im not offended, im thinking to call my sister tommorrow and to ask. as i know, the government set lots restrictions about dogs, but never done anything to cats before, but it is true, there are more and more rediculous rules been set since the Olympics thing. but i just dont really trust media, both chinese and here, i do think all the media working for government and with politics reason behind, so hard to tell which view is real or fake.
i do hope that photo not real now tho, i love cats!!!

[tiggerblue10]

Hi Pasta, I'm fine thanks. My little moggys are fine too. Blue is asleep on the settee and Tigger is keeping a watch at the catflap for some reason! Silly moggy. Hee hee

[aka pixi]

This is horrible, those poor poor cats and also their poor owners :( I would be devasted if someone came and took our cats. They would end up having to arrest me before i let them take them.

I have just been on the official site to find an email address to tell them exactly what I think of them, not that it will do any good :( but theres tons of email addresses and I have no idea which one(s) to use :(

[pastafreak]

mirela...do me a favour,hun...and let me know what you find out-ok???...just post on this thread ...xx

[mirela]

pasta, i will, im just waiting to call later coz the time difference, they are at work at moment.

[mirela]

aka, i dont think they gonna read emails and take them seriously.
but to be honestly, people in busy city do really need think careful before they get a pet,, coz most people are living in very narrow apartment, their pets specail cats will never have chace to go outside and enjy the fresh air. ashame me as well, i was living on the top of 27th floor, my cat never went to outside. when i saw how people treat their pets here, if im back home, i would never consider a pet unless i can give them a nice living environment.

[bensmum]

I hope the news is good about your cat mirela.
I can't look at the link as it would upset me and I have seen such stories and pictures before.
It makes me so angry that humans just literally sweep everything away for their own pleasures without any consideration for other forms of life.

[mirela]

hi benmum, i just spoke to my brother in law on msn, he said he heard about it as well, but not sure it is real or not either, as he can see lots wild cats around where he is working and seems they all living happily. he is working in centre of beijing.

[pastafreak]

Mirela-I hope that speaking to your brother in law has put your mind at rest.....I know it would drive me crazy with worry. As for cats living indoors-my new cat HAS to be an indoor cat as he is deaf-there are too many dangers outside for him. So it is up to me to keep him safe and active-playing with him-so he is occupied and happy. It IS possible....obviously with a dog it would be entirely different.......if you get any more news,keep us informed,either here or in A&N x