I cried like hell when I read this:
SHANGHAI, China (Aug. 4) - For the second time in days, Chinese authorities have ordered a mass slaughter of dogs to curb a rabies outbreak - drawing criticism from animal lovers but also support from many who say it's the only way to contain a disease that kills more than 2,000 Chinese people a year.
Animal rights groups are upset and I don't blame them. As you can tell if you've read my blog at all, I am a total animal lover and a dog person in particular. This epidemic is another example of a third-world country not using proper sanitation or having basic minimum health standards and paying the price. How many people die each year in this country from rabies? Surely not 2,000!
The measure came in response to the deaths of 16 people from rabies in Jining in the last eight months, Xinhua said. It didn't say when the slaughter would begin or how the animals would be killed. It said the city had about 500,000 dogs.
All I can think of is all the little kids in China who loved their dogs and had to see them slaughtered before their very eyes. These children will be traumatized for life. And all because people don't use common sense.
Rabies cases are on the rise in China, with 2,651 reported deaths from the disease in 2004, the last year for which data was available. Only 3 percent of the country's dogs are vaccinated against rabies.
Only 3 percent get vaccinated? Well, of course you're going to have a rabies epidemic if only 3 percent of all the dogs in China get vaccinated! The logical solution is to require people to vaccinate their dogs. It seems pretty simple to me. It's a shame that the dogs themselves have to suffer. China is creating some viciously bad karma by killing all these dogs.
This is just another example of how humans are ruining this planet. In order to survive, I believe we have to get along with every other living creature sharing this place with us. We're connected!
But, because we're the dominant species, we feel like we can do whatever we want and let the cards fall where they may. All over the world every day species become extinct because we destroy them with pollution, indifference, greed and ignorance. I give our existence on earth about 500 more years, and I think I may be conservative in that estimate. I wouldn't be surprised if we never see the year 2300, to be honest. It may sound selfish, but I'm glad I won't be around to see it, because it will not be pretty!
I can see countries like China slaughtering masses of people in the near future when the plagues hit, which they surely will because we're on an irreversible road to destruction and disease and famine will be part of the scenario, no doubt!
As my way of protesting, I refuse to eat any Chinese food for a whole month. I will not play Chinese checkers and I will not go to Chinatown to get ripped off like all the tourists who visit this city. I'm making a joke, because the alternative is tears -- but it's not funny!! If they can't regulate the health of their pets, then people should not own them. Having a dog is a responsibility and if you can't afford to get your canine vaccinated, then don't get one!
China can kiss me directly where the sun never shines. Tonight I'm praying for all the mutts who were exterminated this week -- sad but content in knowing that all dogs go to heaven! I wish I could say the same for people.
