Good news for the many persecuted animals in China and those animals destroyed because of a Chinese appetite for superstitious medicinal remedies. Not only is the developing middle class in China learning to appreciate dogs and cats as family pets now, but also more Chinese celebrities are speaking up and taking a stand against animal abuse. And it is not a minute too late!

Several celebrities in China, including pop singer Yu Kewei, artist Ai Weiwei, actress Sun Li, and former NBA star Yao Ming, following in the footsteps of actor Jackie Chan (who has spoken out against bear-bile farming), have joined forces with Chinese animal welfare activists to raise awareness of animal abuse in China.

Even though China had passed a Protection of Wildlife law in 1988, a similar law for the protection of domesticated animals (including companion animals) has never been passed. In 1949, dogs were outlawed in China’s urban areas as decadent and extravagant at a time of shortages. But the growing popularity of dogs and cats as pets today, however, has forced local governments to relax these regulations. A growing concern for all animals in China has also started to develop due to much frustration over the slow pace of proposed legislation. This frustration has been coupled with a fondness for pets in the more affluent China of today.

The number and vitality of animal welfare organizations, such as the Chinese Animal Protection Network and Animals Asia Foundation, has also greatly increased. Petition drives, rallies, and protests promoting animal welfare are becoming much more common now. And it is the involvement of high-profile celebrities that has been a big contributing factor to all this change for the better.

Former NBA star Yao Ming filmed an anti-poaching documentary by the organization WildAid, to help raise awareness of the slaughter of elephants and rhinos for tusks and horns. Yao has also brought attention to the anti-shark fin campaign and also protested against the bear bile industry in China. He has probably been the most recognized Chinese celebrity around the world for speaking out for the animals. Chinese actress Sun Li has also participated in an anti-fur ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia in Beijing. She actively opposes the use of fur and bear bile farms in China.

Also recently, the Chinese pop singer Yu Kewei photographed a truck in the southwestern province of Sichuan loaded with dogs headed for a slaughterhouse in Guangxi province to the southeast. She posted the photo on Weibo (a Chinese equivalent of Twitter where reportedly she has hundreds of thousands of followers) and received a flood of support to try and stop this truck.

In 2009 and 2010 a filmmaker and animal rights activist, Guo Ke, wrote and filmed the documentary San Hua, depicting the cat meat industry in China. It was produced by the famed Ai Weiwei Workshop, Ai Weiwei himself an advocate for animals. Since China has become the country which has produced the most severe atrocities against both domestic and wild endangered animals in the world, it is with great thanks that we applaud these brave and outspoken Chinese celebrities that we have focused on today. Hopefully many more will soon join them and be able to help put out this great firestorm of animal abuse by their country.



Chinese Star an Angel to Animals par NTDTV