Bid to end dog meat horror
BRITAIN must play an active role in tackling the cruel global trade in dog and cat meat, a minister has said.
Rebecca Pow said every effort will be made to lobby governments around the world to bring an end to the sickening industry.
Millions of dogs and cats are slaughtered each year, often suffering a horrific end to their lives.
Ms Pow, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister, said: “We will use all levers on the world stage to combat this trade in dogs and cats.”
She spoke out during a parliamentary debate on the issue and said the
Government will be introducing an animals abroad bill that will focus on encouraging high animal welfare and standards internationally.
The debate was led by Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, who has repeatedly urged politicians to do more to tackle the trade.
Referencing the horrific practice of beating dogs to death or boiling them alive, she said: “No living thing deserves to suffer like this.
“Sadly across the world the poor quality of animal welfare regulations and legislation means that millions of animals, including dogs and cats, continue to suffer needlessly.”
Barbaric
Ms Jenkyns highlighted data from Four Paws UK, a global animal welfare organisation, that shows 10 million dogs and cats are killed in southeast Asia every year.
Other figures suggested up to 20 million dogs are slaughtered for their meat in China each year, and four million cats. Ms Jenkyns added: “Every year, millions of dogs and cats are killed around the world.
“It is a barbaric practice and there are too many animals that suffer.
“I would like to see the Government play a more proactive role in combating this barbaric industry which is unnecessarily and morally indefensible.”
Both Boris and Carrie Johnson have spoken out over animal cruelty in China. Ms Jenkyns has now urged the Prime Minister to take a firm stance on the world stage, and use Britain’s international influence to help combat the trade.