Olympics clean up Chinese style: Inside Beijing's shocking death camp for cats

[THUNDER HANDS]

Source: Daily Mail

Thousands of pet cats in Beijing are being abandoned by their owners and sent to die in secretive government pounds as China mounts an aggressive drive to clean up the capital in preparation for the Olympic Games. Hundreds of cats a day are being rounded and crammed into cages so small they cannot even turn around. Then they are trucked to what animal welfare groups describe as death camps on the edges of the city.

The cull comes in the wake of a government campaign warning of the diseases cats carry and ordering residents to help clear the streets of them. Cat owners, terrified by the disease warning, are dumping their pets in the streets to be picked up by special collection teams. Paranoia is so intense that six stray cats -including two pregnant females - were beaten to death with sticks by teachers at a Beijing kindergarten, who feared they might pass illnesses to the children.

China's leaders are convinced that animals pose a serious urban health risk and may have contributed to the outbreak of SARS - a deadly respiratory virus - in 2003. But the crackdown on cats is seen by animal campaigners as just one of a number of extreme measures being taken by communist leaders to ensure that its capital appears clean, green and welcoming during the Olympics.




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

[Sanity Claws]

1. Rodent explosion will follow

That's my guess. Then China will really see a disease problem.

[ohio2007]

13. LOL. That'll take only a few months..just in time for the torch lighting.

to be broadcast around the world.

Mouse se Tung will have his revenge

[tblue37]

29. Bubonic Plague.

Not to mention the loss to rodents of grain needed to feed their huge population.

[yy4me]

2. This makes me sick. All the more reason to boycott Chinese

goods. Cruelty to animals is not excusable. Not for any reason, especially for Games. Grrrr, I am angry.

[barb162]

62. Oh this is just disgusting.

Terrible. MAybe they'll do dogs next.

[Critters2]

67. Already done.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14139027/

[glowing]

3. So, the black pague will transcend the games, and will come home to

roost in every attendees country.. For love of God, why in the FUCK did they get the Olympics?

[BearSquirrel2]

11. Agreed this EXACTLY follows the pattern of the plague ...

Euros rounded up cats because they thought they brought evil spirits. The rodent population exploded and the REAL disease kicked in.

As much as I dislike cats, clearing them from the streets in an urban area is ridiculous. If they don't get enough food (rats) they'll simply die.

[minnesota_liberal]

23. Why did China get the '08 Olympics? Same reason most of the world's mfg cap is going there!

Cheap and abundant labor!

[madrchsod]

4. cat fur accessories coming to a retailer near you!

oh wait they already did that.....

it really is disgusting that we will go to those "games"......

[DWilliamsamh]

5. And this is important why?

The Chinese Gov't is trying to rid the streets of stray cats. If the pet cat fluffy's folks throw him out in the street because they are tired of cleaning the litter box, how is that a sinister plot by the Chines Gov't? Not that I am in love with that Gov't but there are plenty of legit reason's (can you saw slave prison labor? Lead painted exports? Wal-Mart sweat shops?) to get on there case. Trying to get rid of disease carrying strays is not one of them.

Oh.. and as for the rodent "explosion," argument against this policy, ever here of rat poison?

[bitchkitty]

7. I don't suppose you looked at that photo.

And if you did, how cold is that spot where your heart used to be?

Cruelty is unacceptable, to any creature, from any creature.

[Lorien]

14. Amen bitchkitty

Accepting the inhumane treatment of animals is NOT a Progressive "value".

:grr:

[DWilliamsamh]

75. Actually I DID look at the photo

And My question stands: How is it some sort of "horror" that the Chinese Gov't is trying to stem the tide of disease by getting rid of the disease carrier? Oh that's right they are cute fluffy cats, not rats. If it was rats they were trying to eradicate you'd be applauding, no matter how many cages of them were dragged off and gassed. The point is you are practicing cultural arrogance assuming that all cultures count fluffy as important as you do.

And the other point I made was that the edict, did NOT cover domestic pets. If the pet owners are throwing the little darling out on the street when they KNOW the Chinese gov't is trying to eradicate strays - then its the pet owners who deserve the scorn.

[Habibi]

12. Lots of Chinese *people* are getting chased out of Beijing

They're losing their homes so the Chinese gov't can "tidy up" for the games. They're not just throwing Fluffy out on the street because they're tired of cleaning the litter box. And you know, it's okay to be outraged at this atrocity AND the lead paint AND the sweat shops. Sheesh.

[Critters2]

32. Yes. It's okay to be outraged by all of it. It's not an either/or. nt

[PetraPooh]

47. Yes, but it is a matter of priority, one first successfully; human rights.

[Critters2]

55. No. There's no reason to make a choice.

A false dichotomy. One can support both human and animal rights.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

22. This wins hands down as the most inhumane, cold blooded post of the day.

:mad:

[barb162]

64. Yes, easily, talk about cruelty to animals.

I've never thought of the Chinese as humane. Especially using that cat and dog fur for clothes, the Paul McCartney protests about that.

"The government won't even do the cats the kindness of giving them lethal injections when they become sick."

[RebelOne]

72. And that poster could use some lessons

in grammar, spelling and punctuation.

[DWilliamsamh]

76. Inhumane? They are trying to rid the city of disease. People first.

And My question stands: How is it some sort of "horror" that the Chinese Gov't is trying to stem the tide of disease by getting rid of the disease carrier? Oh that's right they are cute fluffy cats, not rats. If it was rats they were trying to eradicate you'd be applauding, no matter how many cages of them were dragged off and gassed. The point is you are practicing cultural arrogance assuming that all cultures count fluffy as important as you do.

And the other point I made was that the edict, did NOT cover domestic pets. If the pet owners are throwing the little darling out on the street when they KNOW the Chinese gov't is trying to eradicate strays - then its the pet owners who deserve the scorn.

[PetraPooh]

24. I agree, and think that we should focus first on HUMAN RIGHTS before worrying about kitties

[LeftyMom]

31. In my experience, people who say that don't really care about either.

:grr:

[PetraPooh]

46. Give me a break, not caring for kitties doesn't equate to not caring about humans,

ever.

[Runcible Spoon]

48. 9/10 serial killers couldn't agree with you more!

grats :grr:

[PetraPooh]

52. I don't kill kitties, I am just not going to get incensed about them being killed.

Goodness, you are a bit intense about this aren't you. As you point out, the people that kill cats might well be killing people, Oh, my! In China that seems to be quite the truth, okay, maybbe they aren't killed outright, but the human rights record is very bad; since this particular "serial killer" is already killing humans, I think I keep my outrage for that.

[Runcible Spoon]

54. well make sure to keep your little outrage box carefully monitored..

as it seems to have limited capacity :eyes:

[DWilliamsamh]

77. So you'd rather people die from the diseases carried by stray cats?

My question stands: How is it some sort of "horror" that the Chinese Gov't is trying to stem the tide of disease by getting rid of the disease carrier? Oh that's right they are cute fluffy cats, not rats. If it was rats they were trying to eradicate you'd be applauding, no matter how many cages of them were dragged off and gassed. The point is you are practicing cultural arrogance assuming that all cultures count fluffy as important as you do.

And the other point I made was that the edict, did NOT cover domestic pets. If the pet owners are throwing the little darling out on the street when they KNOW the Chinese gov't is trying to eradicate strays - then its the pet owners who deserve the scorn.

[LeftyMom]

93. China beats cats and dogs to death becuse they don't bother to vaccinate for rabies.

First of all this does nothing, because feral cat populations will reach the maximum the food supply permits very rapidly. Second of all, having to handle the cats in order to cage or kill them exposes people to rabies. Third and finally, rabies shots are very cheap and very effective. A trap and release program (combined with altering if you want to reduce the feral population) or trapping and humane euthanasia would be a safer, more humane option which would do as much or more to safeguard human health.

[DWilliamsamh]

97. OK... that's reasonable.

[Hissyspit]

34. Actually, we can do both...

Nice false dichotomy. George W. Bush is very fond of those.

:grr:

What has happened to this website? There used to be real progressives and liberals here. Not to mention people with a fucking conscience.

[PetraPooh]

53. We can, but to claim they are of equal priority is just plain foolish.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

44. Right. People first, all other living inhabitants of the planet, you lose.

Yay, people!

[DWilliamsamh]

78. No... but given a choice ...

Between a population of disease carrying animals and my fellow man I choose people. Maybe you didn't see the part where this program wasn't intended to cover domestic pet, but the OWNERS are throwing tabby into the street.

[The Stranger]

88. I am with you. Where in the fuck do some of these posters come from?

Who put in their fucking brains that being to humane to animals is somehow an affront to them? How did they come to believe helping animals means they are somehow personally being neglected?

[Hissyspit]

30. The government caused the problem!

Did you even read the article - much less look at the photo? Why, in the glorious socialist paradise, don't they have a REAL DECENT animal control system? The pets had pet caregivers until the government in it's greed and arrogance caused the pets to be abandoned.

It's important because it's pain and inhumanity and arrogant government incompetence - all because of the stupid corrupt Olympics shit.

What the hell has happened to this website? There used to be intelligent progressives and liberals here.

[barb162]

63. DO you care about innocent animals at all?

These are innocent little animals.

[DWilliamsamh]

79. Yes I care about animals... I don't eat veal and don't take to cruelty

My question stands: How is it some sort of "horror" that the Chinese Gov't is trying to stem the tide of disease by getting rid of the disease carrier? Oh that's right they are cute fluffy cats, not rats. If it was rats they were trying to eradicate you'd be applauding, no matter how many cages of them were dragged off and gassed. The point is you are practicing cultural arrogance assuming that all cultures count fluffy as important as you do.

And the other point I made was that the edict, did NOT cover domestic pets. If the pet owners are throwing the little darling out on the street when they KNOW the Chinese gov't is trying to eradicate strays - then its the pet owners who deserve the scorn.

[Solon]

92. The problem is that the program won't work, not in the long run...

You keep up on talking about disease, well, cats are a predator of rats, and keep their population in check. Rats, being "plate sharers" with humans, will have a population explosion due to getting rid of their only effective predator.

We have had programs similar to this in most American cities, and they are abandoning these programs because the simple fact is that cats are prolific breeders, and just rounding them up and killing them isn't that effective. What is more effective is catch and release programs, you catch the cats, sterilize them, give them shots, and then let them go. This has shown to be slightly more effective.

Besides that, feral cats are WILD animals, completely, and avoid humans whenever possible.

[madrchsod]

6. remember there are tens of thousands of people

rounded up and sent god only knows where to make room for the "game`s" venues and then the area miles around the venues were were also cleansed of people....


the rat`s will rule the city

[leQ]

8. this is probably the most distasteful article of the day. shame on the chinese. (n/t)

[NinetySix]

9. It's just the Government's preparations to feed the massive influx of Olympics tourists.

"Gosh, Hon, dontcha just LOVE Chinese cuisine? I mean, it's so EXOTIC tasting!"

[ellie]

10. How civilized!

[davidinalameda]

15. another reason why I won't watch any of the Olympics

first reason is that they're having it in Beijing

second is that the Chinese government is doing everything they can to basically pull a Potemkin village thing for the world and including crap like this

third is that they're censoring the athletes

can you imagine if the US government tried to do that-there would be major uproar

[ohio2007]

16. You must be pissed that Yao Ming won't be playing basketball for the Chinese team

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1EB06FBB-178F-4A16-BA24-68A3D765D731.htm

[davidinalameda]

18. not really

[ohio2007]

19. lol

[Hissyspit]

36. What's the point of the snark shit?

[4dsc]

17. Dirty Chinese government...

Why does this come as a surprise considering the source, the Communist run government of China.. From poluting the air we breath to deforestization around the globe to poisoning the goods they send us.. The list is long folks and this shouldn't surprise anyone..

[AlertLurker]

20. Boycott China. Boycott the Olympics.

They are meaningless now, from the point of view of Amateur Sport, anyway.

[greyghost]

25. Exactly, let them take the hit where it hurts.

[Canuckistanian]

28. That's true

The Olympics have strayed SO FAR from what they were intended to be.

The difference beween "amateur" and "pro" have completely been erased. Olympics are now billion-dollar orgies of commercialization, jingoism and athelete drug use.

I think that a lot of people are going to get a good glimpse of the REAL China and they're not going to like it.

[2PeiMom]

21. This exacerbates every bit of horrific news that has come out of this country in recent years.

The horribly inhumane sweat shops. The pet food recall last year that killed thousands of family pets. The gluten. The drugs that have killed people.........

And now this inhumanity and total idiocy. The previous leader killed dogs, this one kills the cats. Who's going to kill the mice and the rats? In the meantime they just keep shipping poisons and substandard products for us to choke on. And the U.S. keeps buying. Chop Suey anyone?

[LisaL]

26. That's sickening.

[ForeignSpectator]

27. Well, if THAT shocks you, try reading how they treat PEOPLE over there...

Google something like "exploitation of migratory workers in china" for starters...
Oh and the cats will probably get eaten, too. Not funny, I know, but wouldn't surprise me...

[Critters2]

33. I'm capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time.

In the same way, I can be upset about inhumane treatment of animals AND people.

[Hissyspit]

35. Jesus Christ, what is wrong with these "newbies" in this thread. They're all callous assholes.

You can care about people and cats BOTH.

Mods, feel free to delete this post. The inhumane jerks will have read it already.

[ForeignSpectator]

39. I am not saying people reading that thread only care about animals and not about the people there...

...ok? Neither did I mean what I said in a funny way because it's not.

It's because I meet quite a few people to who it's news that (poor) people in china are of no value ( human rights violations are an abstract thing to some people obviously ) whatsoever. They figure china hosts the Olympics so all is fine.

So...for people reading this thread, shocked about what they do with these cats, and maybe have no idea what else is going on in this country, I posted this remark. There is way more to china than most people know, just go to peta.com and search "china".

I apologize to you and everybody who feels offended by my post but I didn't mean it the way you took it. Sorry for the cynical sound of it but I've had it with china, I begin to find this country totally disgusting.


PS : among many animals, cats and dogs are eaten in china and tortured, their furs are traded ( to the US too ), that is reality.

[HuffleClaw]

37. sensationalist twaddle

dealing with disease is not a bad thing

[Critters2]

38. Cats are not typically carriers of diseases passed onto humans.

The disease talk is propaganda. That's actually clear in the article. It's just an excuse to get rids of cats they deem unsightly around the Olympics. There more humane ways of dealing with cat overpopulation than sending the populace into a panic and unnecessarily killing thousands of cats.

And, as others have pointed out, if you want the REAL diseases that rodents carry, the best way to do that is get rid of cats. This could backfire big time!

[Karenina]

43. And likely will.

[PetraPooh]

49. Apparently you've never been pregnant and warned of the toxic disease

that most every cat owner has contracted and recovered from without even knowing we have it; but should one contract it for the first time during a pregnancy can be severely detrimental to the fetus. It is called toxoplasmosis and is easily transmitted just through cleaning the cat litter, or being around cat pooh like when gardening and finding a present.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_toxoplasmosis-during-pregnancy_1461.bc

"<snip>but you can also get the parasite in other ways, such as eating unwashed contaminated produce, drinking contaminated water, or handling contaminated soil, cat litter, or meat and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Toxoplasmosis can't be transmitted from person to person, with the exception of transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy or from an infected blood transfusion or organ transplant.<snip>

[Critters2]

57. Exposure to cats and their feces is one of the least likely ways to get toxoplasmosis.

As with a great many infectious diseases, eating meat puts one at greater risk:

http://www.webmd.com/news/20000720/take-these-precautions-to-prevent-toxoplasmosis-during-pregnancy



I think this quote is particlarly salient:

"Fisher tells WebMD that litter box exposure poses very little risk. 'Cats only excrete the parasite for two weeks after they acquire the infection,' she explains, 'but you may want to wear gloves or get help from family members if you've missed a period and think you may be pregnant.'"

[babsking]

91. not true

"You should note that there has yet to be a proven case of human toxoplasmosis contracted from a cat -- the most common sources of toxoplasmosis are the eating or preparing of contaminated raw meat." (from: http://stason.org/TULARC/animals/cats/misc-faq/010-Toxoplasmosis-when-you-are-pregnant-and-own-a-cat.html)

Pregnant women would be best advised to quit handling raw meat altogether to avoid toxoplasmosis. Funny what you learn when you actually try informing yourself.

The Beijing article points out that many Chinese doctors are so ill-informed about this that they tell their patients to get rid of their cats when they become pregnant. Also one of the reasons they are exterminating the cats is they fear they carry SARS, which is not the case. ALSO putting poison out to kill rodents is the number one reason birds end up dying. See the disastrous and lethal chain of events that stems from one action? Inexcusable.

Also, I tried to leave a comment where the original article was posted on the Daily Mail and they are not showing any more comments on there. I wonder if they are trying to temper the fallout from this cruelty?

[Haole Girl]

40. So....when the cats are killed and the rodent population explodes...

that will NOT cause outbreaks of disease?

:shrug:

[crimsonblue]

41. This is rather ironic...

considering the Chinese bred cats to keep disease infested rats and other rodents away. This was a main reason that China did not experience the black plague to the extent that Europe did. Plus, cats used to be revered by the Chinese...

[galledgoblin]

42. ..what... the... fuck? how high are some of these officals?

quick wiki perusal links feral cats with giardiasis and toxoplasmosis, through droppings.

...

http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/indirect_rodents.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/direct_rodents.htm

...

I'd rather risk the upset stomach.

what's really wild is that with an authoritarian system, the Chinese could properly attack problems with feral cats through neutering/spaying and vaccinating every cat within reach.

guess it's just easier to slaughter.

[Sultana]

45. I am boycotting the Olympics

:grr:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

50. The Chinese government goes through these manias periodically

One of the disadvantages of a dictatorship is that everyone has to jump when some official gets a crazy idea.

Look up The Great Leap Forward and the "kill the birds" campaign.

[NYC]

51. Han Su Yin wrote about it.

http://www.amazon.com/Birdless-Summer-China-Autobiography-History/dp/0586037691

I read it many years ago.

The birds were eating the crops. They killed the birds.

Unintended consequences:

The insects proliferated. The insects ate the crops.

[Critters2]

58. Sacarificing living creatures is a great way to build community

and release tension and conflict. Someone in China needs to read Girard.

[Zorra]

56. I'll say it again - fuck Chinese fascism. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

59. the BIG question i have- what are they making out of all those cats & cat parts?

:shrug:

i hope they enjoy their upcoming bubonic plague.

[Critters2]

60. Fur covered cat toys to be shipped to the US

probably.

And yeah, the plague in a nation that large will be a mighty impressive catastrophe.

[LeftyMom]

95. They already sell cat and dog fur items to the US.

Sometimes these items are even labeled as faux fur, other times as real fur from a different animal.

"The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society International estimate that two million dogs and cats are killed each year in the fur trade. Dog and cat breeders operate primarily in China and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Breeders sell cat and dog furs to companies in Europe, who incorporate the fur and skin of the animals into clothing and products such as cat toys or stuffed animals. Products consisting partially or wholly of cat and dog fur are then sold to buyers in Europe, America, and elsewhere in the world.

Businesses keep small or large groups of cats and dogs in breeding farms. Several such breeding farms are located in Northern China, where the fur of the animals grows thicker in the cold weather. These facilities hold up to 70 cats, or 5 to 300 dogs. Often, breeders are not businesses as such, but a family that owns a few dogs and cats as pets. They keep these animals outside, so that their coat grows thicker. At the beginning of the winter, they slaughter the animals and sell the pelts to fur traders. Breeders value short-haired cats and German shepherd dogs in particular."

http://www.idausa.org/facts/catdogfur.html

[Mind_your_head]

61. Hell, the Chinese are even cruel to their own.....

If slicing off half of grandma/gradpa's hand will make them a more effective beggar (bringing 'income to the family' vs. 'another (old) mouth to feed), they'll do it!

I've personally seen it. And it's disgusting.

[barb162]

65. Oh mygod.

[Mind_your_head]

66. What OMG?!

They do (or at least they DID ten years ago WHEN I WAS THERE!)

[Mind_your_head]

68. You haven't seen ANYTHING until you see the grotesque....

distorted/mutilated humans BEGGING for your handouts in China and India (for example).
Who do you give to? You're just one person.

Edit to ad: *I* am a person/citizen, NOT a 'consumer'. These other people of which I speak are fellow 'persons/citizens'. We all stand together!

[The Minus World]

69. An Unfortunate Reality

I understand that life sometimes must be valued on a relative scale--at least when it comes to consumption or disease control. Still, the cat lover in me is nauseous.

[Mind_your_head]

70. Let me get this straight.... do you believe that a young boy witha quarter

in his pocket is worth less than a CEO with millions at his/her disposal?

You said:
I understand that life sometimes must be valued on a relative scale
:wtf:

[The Minus World]

86. Where did money come into this?

Is a bacterium not life? What of the earthworms you likely run over on rainy days as you pull out of your driveway in a hurry to get to work? How about the cows and chickens that are slaughtered en masse for human consumption?

Life is valued on a relative scale, whether you like it or not. Take your outrage to another planet.

[twiceshy]

71. Hello Bubonic Plague!!!! Welcome back.

These are not the kind of cats (I surmise) that live on Fancy Feast" catfood. So it begs the question, what happens to the rat and mouse populations? Duh.

[bdamomma]

73. oh god, as a catlover, this is horrible to see.

:cry:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

81. I know...heartbreaking...

:cry::hug:

[phrenzy]

74. I Can Haz Holocaust?

Seriously that is fucking terrible, but at the same time, if those were rats in those cages nobody would give a shit. If the Chinese view strays as "pests" then to them this is no different.

Reminder: Killing Cows is illegal in India. Think about that.

[Critters2]

83. Read the article. Some of them are family pets.

And if you don't think beating cats to death in front of kindergarteners is disturbing...please seek some help.

[Freddie Stubbs]

80. Somehow, I don't think that will be the last we see of those cats:

[KamaAina]

82. Hey China!

[Critters2]

84. Now THAT's a LOLcat!!

:rofl:

[Jack_DeLeon]

85. Its fucking pathetic that China got the Olympics.

They didnt deserve it.

This and other cruel actions perpitrated by the Chinese government to "get ready for the Olympics" only further reinforces that.

[bullwinkle428]

94. Anyone that refuses to see that the decision to award it to them

as being completely corporate-driven, is delusionally naive...

[The Stranger]

87. K&R

[alphafemale]

89. You can soon expect cat fur figurine imports from China to be made from REAL cats!

Whatta ya wanta bet?

[Javaman]

90. Word of advice: don't eat the "chicken" chow-mein. nt

[Solon]

96. To those on this thread who are saying this is about disease control...

let me just say you are full of shit. As the FIRST poster in this thread stated, the rodent population will explode. Rats and mice are very prolific breeders, and without stray cats being used as a check on their population, and with plenty of food, as is typical in any large city in any part of the world, they can DOUBLE or TRIPLE in population in less than a year. Unlike feral cats, rats and mice will not avoid humans nearly as much, they RELY on human food to survive, and they nest within the walls of homes and businesses, leave their droppings in our food, etc.

This is even assuming that this eradication program will even affect the cat population, I'm skeptical of that myself. It may put a dent in it, but it will be temporary at best, cats are survivors, and prolific breeders themselves. This eradication may leave a hole where rodents will have a larger niche than they do now, but the fact is that eradication programs of feral animals never really work.

Yes, there is an outcry because cats are considered companion animals that are cute, but there are practical concerns as well that need to be addressed. There are more effective, long term, ways to control the feral cat population that doesn't involve eradication. This is a "quick fix" that will lead to unintended consequences at best, that's why I oppose it.