March 1999

Tragic fate of pedigree dog exports to South East Asia

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has revealed the results of a year-long undercover investigation into the tragic fate of pedigree dogs in South East Asia. WSPA investigators went to Taiwan, Korea, Japan, China, Thailand and Hong Kong, and visited hundreds of pet shops and dog breeding centres as well as dog meat markets.

"Each year thousands of pedigree dogs are exported to South East Asia from the UK, US and Australia. These dogs have become victims of a cruel trade which has little or no regard for their welfare. During the last decade, pet ownership has boomed in South East Asia, with pedigree breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles, Chiuahuas, Dalmatians and Rough Collies fetching a premium and selling for as much as $7400 each," says Kylie Jones, Regional Manager for WSPA Australia.

"Unfortunately, a 'throwaway pet' culture has helped create a huge stray dog problem in countries in the region, with many dogs bought on a whim only to be disposed of once their owners have become bored with them. Unwanted pets often end up being abandoned and left to slowly starve to death or are 'euthanased' by drowning, electrocution or strychnine poisoning," says Ms Jones.

The breeding and selling of dogs in these countries is almost totally unregulated, with no effective animal protection laws in Japan, Korea, Thailand and China.

Many pedigree dogs end up being 'factory farmed' in dog breeding centres where they are stacked in cages and kept in their own filth in darkened and poorly ventilated rooms. WSPA investigators witnessed one such centre where the dogs had been confined for so long that they refused to leave their cages when the doors were left open.

Other pedigree dog exports are crammed into tiny display units in city pet shops. WSPA investigators found dogs as young as two weeks old for sale, and were shocked to discover that as many as 50% of these dogs die before they can be sold. Those that do get sold may end up having their vocal chords cut by vets as an advertised service for owners who want to keep them quiet!

Dog eating is highly popular throughout many parts of South East Asia, with Korea being perhaps the most notorious dog eating country, and many pedigree breeds of dogs such as Rough Collies, English Pointers, German Shepherds, English Mastiffs and Bloodhounds being sold for their meat.

Pedigree pets can also suffer the gruesome fate of being sold to meat traders who sell them at markets as a luxury 'health food'. These animals can, quite literally, be worth more dead than alive, with a joint of dog meat selling for around $45 in Korea - where a pet dog can cost just $20. For every dog that is kept as a pet in Korea (of which there are an estimated one and a half million), another dog is sold at the market for people to eat.

WSPA investigators visited numerous markets where vast quantities of dog meat were being sold, with live dogs kept squashed together in cages right next to where tables of skinned dogs were being sold. The dogs are killed and butchered at the markets, often being hung until they die and then blow torched to remove their fur and 'brown' them.

"WSPA, through its 'Pet Respect' campaign, is working to introduce more responsible and humane attitudes towards pets around the world and is calling on dog breeders not to support the export of any pedigree dogs to Japan, Korea, China or Thailand until animal welfare laws are in place to protect these animals from cruelty. Such legislation would include the compulsory registration and vaccination of dogs, controls on all sales outlets, the promotion of neutering and spaying to help control dog populations and, where necessary, humane euthanasia," says Ms Jones.

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Available on request:

• Broadcast quality footage and colour transparencies.

Please contact:

Anne Lloyd-Jones, WSPA, on (02) 9901 5277 or 0404 066 498 during business hours, or e-mail annelj@wspa.org.au.