Carnicería de perros por "brote de rabia" en China

Las autoridades de Hanzhong en la provincia de Shaanxi (China) ordenaron a la policía la matanza de todos los perros de la provincia, fuesen o no callejeros, para declarar a la ciudad "libre de perros" dado el elevado número de casos de rabia registrados este año. Los ciudadanos también fueron instigados a participar de la matanza, incluso un gran cartel colgado afuera del edificio de gobierno instaba a los ciudadanos a "mobilizarse y matar perros". Como resultado, grupos de personas han barrido las calles, junto a los policías, armados de palos, apaleando brutalmente a cualquier perro que se cruzase en su camino.

Ningún perro está a salvo. Tanto los callejeros como perros con dueño, cachorros, incluso los perros esterilizados y bien cuidados por sus familias, han sido muertos. Los perros apaleados han sido apilados, moribundos, en las calles de la ciudad para ser eventualmente recogidos por las autoridades.

Animals Asia Foundation con el apoyo de otras organizaciones internacionales, están tratando de detener la matanza. Para ello están movilizando fondos para las agrupaciones locales de bienestar animal y haciendo lobby con las autoridades de la ciudad.

Podemos ayudar a detener este crimen contra la vida, escribiendo a la Embajada China de tu país, explicando amable pero firmemente que esta política es cruel e inefectiva, que perjudica la imagen de las personas y autoridades de Hanzhong.

Urge a las autoridades chinas para persuadir al gobierno de Hanzhong a abandonar esta inútil y cruel carnicería. Envía la carta sugerida más abajo a estas direcciones: chinaemb_co@mfa.gov.cn, chinaemb-es@mfa.gov.cn, emchina@satlink.com, embajadachina@entelchile.net, embcnven@cantv.net, consularchinaenmexico88@yahoo.com, embchina@uio.telconet.net

Dear Sir/Madam,

Call on China to stop the indiscriminate killing of innocent dogs in Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province.

Following a number of reported rabies cases, the authorities in Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, China, have recently instigated a policy of indiscriminate dog slaughter. Ordinary citizens are being encouraged to participate in the killing; a banner even went up outside a government building urging citizens to "mobilise everyone to kill dogs". As a result, groups of people have been stalking the streets with poles and sticks, brutally beating to death any dog they come across.

The slaughter is not only targeting street dogs. Dog owners were reportedly told to destroy their dogs within 48 hours or submit them to be exterminated by the military police at a cost of 100 yuan (around US$15). Killing squads were apparently assigned districts and told they could not return home until every dog in their district had been killed. To date the numbers of dogs slaughtered is estimated to run into tens of thousands. Many of the dogs being killed are reported to be registered and vaccinated household pets.
Indiscriminate slaughter is an ineffective way of controlling rabies. Many cities around the world where rabies is a problem have adopted trap-neuter-release and vaccination programmes to control their dog populations, and to control rabies. Data from Chennai in India shows that a comprehensive trap-neuter-release and vaccination programme was far more effective in reducing rabies than indiscriminate slaughter; through the adoption of trap-neuter-release and vaccination of dogs, that city has seen a reduction in human cases of rabies from around 120 per year to 5 per year since 1996.

International health organisations recognise mass vaccination of dogs as the most effective method of controlling canine, and by extension human, rabies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends mass vaccination of dogs as "the most effective method of controlling canine rabies". It states that "there is no evidence that removal of dogs alone has ever had a significant impact on dog population densities or the spread of rabies". The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) states that "Animal vaccination remains the method of choice to control and eradicate rabies". The Alliance for Rabies Control also states that the most effective method to successfully eliminate rabies is the use of organised mass vaccination campaigns.

According to the WHO, at least 70% of the canine population needs to be vaccinated to effectively control rabies. China has not yet conducted a canine rabies vaccination programme on that scale; according to a figure quoted at the National Rabies Control and Prevention Strategy Symposium in 2007, only some 10% of dogs in China are vaccinated against rabies. The implementation of mass vaccination programmes would do away with the need for mass culling.

Mass canine vaccination programmes also make long term economic sense. The cost of vaccinating dogs is many times less than the cost of treating people who have been bitten. According to the OIE, "Currently with only 10% of the financial resources used worldwide to treat people after a dog bite Veterinary Services would be able to eradicate rabies in animals and thus stop almost all human cases".

A stable, desexed and vaccinated dog population can help prevent rabies by keeping "foreign" dogs away. Clearing city streets of dogs only encourages other animals from the surrounding areas to take their place, potentially spreading disease.

There is also evidence that the Chinese people are overwhelmingly against the policy. A recent online opinion pole suggested that more than 70% of respondents in China opposed the slaughter.

As international animal protection groups and concerned people that have always welcomed and supported China's progress, we appeal to the Chinese authorities to end the dog massacre once and for all. Our supporters worldwide are expressing grave concern about the unnecessary suffering in Hanzhong. While we encourage our supporters do continue monitoring the situation, we want to be forward thinking and take positive steps. To this end, we are ready to offer appropriate expertise and practical resources to help localities with the problem of dog overpopulation and disease control. We would also be prepared to set up a task force with the aim of sharing information on internationally accepted methods of humane dog population management, dog registration, and mass vaccination.

Over the past 30 years China has made huge progress. We believe that engaging in dialogue with international experts on urban animal management will represent another big step forward for China in the eyes of the world. We hope to be able to make a positive contribution to this part of China's development.

Sincerely,
Name, City, Country

También puedes enviarlas en papel a estas direcciones:

Embajada de China en España: C/ Arturo Soria, 113, 28043 Madrid. Tel: 34 915194242, Web: http://www.embajadachina.es

Embajada de Chile en Argentina: Av. Crisólogo Larralde 5349 - 1431 Buenos Aires. Tel 5411 4543-8862,  Web: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/esp/wjb/zwjg/ldmz/t2757.htm

Embajada de China en Colombia: Carrera 16 # 98-30, Bogotá, Colombia. Tel: 571 6223215 Web: http://co.china-embassy.org

Embajada de China en Ecuador: Av. Atahualpa 349 y Av. Amazonas, Quito, Ecuador. CP 17-1105413, Web:http://ec.china-embassy.org, http://ec.chineseembassy.org

Embajada de China en Chile: Av. Pedro de Valdivia 550, Providencia, Chile. Tel: 56-22339880, Web: http://cl.chineseembassy.org

Embajada de China en Venezuela: Quinta El Oriente. Av.El Paseo. Prados del Este, Caracas. CP 1080A. Tel 58-212-9774949, Web: http://ve.chineseembassy.org/ , http://ve.china-embassy.org/

Embajada de China en México: Av. Río de la Magdalena 172,  Colonia Tizapán – San Ángel, Delegación Álvaro Obregón, C.P. 01090. México, D. F. Tel 52-55 56164324. Web: http://www.embajadachina.org.mx