Zhuhai is the second Chinese city to ban its residents from consuming cats and dogs. The new order was issued in accordance with a proposal from the local government, which lists dogs and cats as companion animals. Shenzhen was the first city in China to ban the consumption of pets , a decision taken as an example by the city of Zhuhai.

The two cities are located in Guangdong province, and will enforce the ban from May 1, 2020.

Zhuhai officials announced the decision at a press conference on local news announcing the proposed law.

Chinese city bans the consumption of pets

In addition, they argued that the measure is taken in response to the crisis generated by the new coronavirus pandemic.

Yong Ling, supervisor of the legal affairs committee of the Zhuhai People’s Congress Standing Committee, argued that the country’s guidelines should be followed. Legislators should rely on the National Catalog of Animal and Poultry Genetic Resources to find out which animals can be consumed.

Because cats and dogs are not included in the allowed list of animals, the city decided to ban their consumption and marketing. People who do not comply with the measure, according to the law , will be fined up to 20 times the value of the meat obtained.

The measure is part of a broader ban on the trade in wild animals in the city, to ensure food safety.

Zhuhai City will also ban all restaurants, hotels and animal farms from selling exotic meat from May 1.

Scientists believe that the new coronavirus was transmitted to humans through wild animals sold in a Wuhan market. COVID-19 has killed more than 130,000 and infected about 2 million people worldwide.

The last health crisis in China was the SARS epidemic, which was also closely related to the consumption of wild animals. For this reason, different local governments have taken measures to limit the consumption of wild animals and thus prevent future outbreaks.

Last week, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs recognized dogs as companion animals and not as livestock . It also established, the animals considered as livestock and poultry, which can be consumed and marketed in the country, according to the livestock law.

Which means that the new legislation will be able to prevent around 10 million dogs from being killed in China for consumption each year.

Different animal welfare organizations have supported the ban on the consumption and marketing of companion animals imposed by the city of Zhuhai.

Wendy Higgins, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society International , called the news exciting, as many people have campaigned to end this brutal trade.

Wendy dijo a MailOnline:

“The news comes after the Shenzhen ban and the government’s landmark declaration classifying dogs as pets. We hope this is the beginning of a domino effect of progressive legislation in China with other cities following suit. “