In a historic step forward for animal welfare and human health, Shenzhen has officially become the first city in China to ban the sale and consumption of dogs and cats.
This encouraging legislation, which will go into effect on May 1, follows China’s ban on the sale and consumption of wild animals, which passed amid the coronavirus pandemic after a clear link was established between the origin of COVID-19 and a Wuhan seafood market that sold a menagerie of exotic species. Shenzhen’s dog and cat meat ban will extend to restaurants, shops and markets.
“Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals,” said an order posted by Shenzhen’s city government, “and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan. This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization.”
Despite the practice of eating dogs and cats being relatively uncommon – a majority of Chinese citizens never have nor want to partake in consuming companion animal meat – millions of dogs and cats are slaughtered every year in China. That number could drop dramatically if other cities follow the path now pioneered by Shenzhen.
Thank you to the over 40,000 supporters who signed the petition to urge Shenzhen to adopt this new policy and the over 170,000 who have signed to end China’s dog and cat meat trade for good — as well as the countless animal activists working toward this around the world. Thank you especially to the government of Shenzhen, and every Chinese citizen who has opposed the dog and cat meat trade.
If you haven’t signed yet, add your voice to help save millions of dogs and cats from needlessly suffering a torturous death in China’s meat trade.
Sign the Petition: Stop China’s Horrific Dog and Cat Meat Trade

Lets hope that this is true and China sticks to what they say.
I will be keeping my fingers X for the cruelty that these people inflict on these
animals cats & dogs and other wild animals
man i hope this ends for good, dog and cat meat should NEVER wind up on a freaking plate, they’re friends, not food!
Have compassion for all animals!! Stop abuse!!!!
Lets all wait with bated breath to see if this ACTUALLY happens, I personally, will NEVER believe any word that comes from CHINA……you’ve only got to note the number of ‘deaths’ from Coronavirus that China releases to know that its sooo not true. How can any country with the population as huge as China only have such a small number of deaths, the logical ‘maths’ just DO NOT add up. I have literally been signing petitions for this cruel, brutal slaughter to be stopped and banned for years and nothing has ever been done, in fact, even some of the ‘officials’ are quite happy to indulge in this heinous abuse and slaughter and to eat the dog/cat meat. I think China is just paying lip-service to the outcry that has arisen from this dreadful pandemic that is sweeping throughout the whole world, and wants to ‘appease’ the rest of the world.
Great news BUT the rest of China still practices this barbaric ritual and it is the torture before they are killed which is the most distressing. We all hope that this will be policed and that perpetrators will be punished severely, but after hundreds of years of eating dogs, this is not going to be easy to ban.
Excellent news, cruelty needs to STOP!
Now, isn’t that a good ‘How do you do’? The Idiot just continues to make one stupid decision after another.
That is such exciting news! But there is still so much to do. We will just keep pressing on ‘till we get it banned throughout all of China.
That is such exciting news! But there is still so much to do. We will just keep pressing on ‘till we get it banned throughout all of China.
I HATE these HUMONSTERS and hope this pandemic wipes them off the face of this planet!
Lets hope it lasts and not just to shut the world up.
Now all parts of CHINA should follow suit also Korea.
This will make my day that no more cats or dogs are slaughtered
for their meat!!
Stop abusing all this beautiful animals
JUST STOP THIS EVIL
Per me non e’civilta’sino a quando gli esseri piu’DEBOLI NON VENGONOTRATTATI CON PARI RISPETTO
The Chinese authorities have proposed classing dogs as companion animals and therefore not for eating. The proposal is open for discussion until 8th May.
While this is a good move, it doesn’t address the fact that most dogs are stolen pets and not farmed animals. Neither does it address the fact that the police look on doing nothing knowing full well the dogs were stolen.
It also doesn’t include cats.
If Lady Freethinker knows anyone entitled to any input in this discussion it would be good if these points were raised.
Fantastic work – well done to those who campaigned to stop this.
Everybody get a bible and read Genesis 24:19 & Chronicles 7:13-14. If your not part of those catagories then take a guess at whats coming for you and where your final place will be.
AND I PRAY THE VILE AND EVIL DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE IS NOW BANNED IN SHENZHEN, CHINA FOREVER.
I hope the Chinese in SHENZHEN, CHINA stand by their word banning the vile and evil Dog and Cat Meat Trade where the
precious and innocent dogs, puppies,cats and kittens were deliberately and heinously tortured, suffering an agonising death committed by the vile and evil animal torturing Chinese monsters from hell.
After hundreds of petitions and year of asking in fact begging China to stop their terrors towards animals, suddenly one city decided to stop the slaughter? I’ll have to wait and see on May first if this ban is enforced or it’s just another lie to keep the compassionate westerners happy. After all, they have been known for lying and that are known to eat whatever they want
Miracle!
A first step in the right direction after so many years. Chinese people are opening their hearts to the wonderful world of animal companions. Long overdue.
Mainland Chinese are disgusting, evil parasites. They all must pay for their sins. The ChiComs are lying. They will NOT close any of these meat markets down. They WON’T stop eating cats and dogs. They will do it in secret.
NOW, what a bout the rest of Asia ? Get. With the program. ASAP
Thank you
Please everyone animals suffer at our hands the world is going through bad times life is hard people are dying kids are losing their parents or relatives isn’t this bad enough then you.have people hunting animals killing dogs and cats please stop this who ever you are look at yourself in the mirror how do you live with yourself .do the rt thing let them live please
I’m sick to my stomach that these animals are being killed & the way they are painfully killed. This is still going on.
So why do we still hear about animal slaughter in CHINA?including wild life.
FINALLY
They will continue to eat that they want just not so out on the open so they don’t become the target of criticism. It happens all over Asia and other parts too. Humans don’t give a damn about anything but their greed and interests.
The ban on cat and dog meat should be all over CHINA not just one area also it shouls be banned in every country that does this terrible thing to cats and dogs.
Not forgetting wild life!!
Fantastic news! Make the ban everywhere
But make the ban PERMANENT.
moche
So glad to hear but will all of these murderes of cats and dogs stop murdering cats and dogs.
China should have a big fine in place of anyone doing such a practice.
Will this be done behind closed doors I hope not and hope to see this eating of cats and dogs a thing of the past!
THANK GOD FOR THEIR BEING SAVED FROM THIS CRUEL AND INHUMAN ACTION. THEY ARE GOD’S CREATURES. WE ARE TO PROTECT THEM AT ALL COSTS
Feel free to write the Chinese embassy here and suggest they extend their civility to other cities.
Their email is: [email protected]
Maybe the Chinese will emerge from barbarism some day.
I thought I’d never see this ban coming. I’m so greatfull to all that made this happen. Take care
YAY!!!! It’s a start, many thanks and blessings to all help end this cruelty to these beautiful animals….
This is wonderful news. I look forward to hearing news that the Yulin Festival is banned. 🙏🙏
great news!!!!! now they just have to implement it everywhere!!!
Banned, but for how long?
I don’t believe anything the Chinese say or promise.
That’s good news, but all the good Chinese in that country wants to end the dog and cat meat trade, not the other pain of all other animals that crawl, swim, fly or walk this earth. Indeed, it is good news but I’m afraid I will be dead before real change happened in that country.
A good beginning, but a long road ahead. Ban the horrific YULIN “FESTIVAL” of horror and torture next China !!!
Enfin une bonne nouvelle!
OMG, this is AWESOME news!!!
That is wonderful