Gala celebrations for Sunday's start to the Chinese Year of the Dog have already started all over Canada. What better time for the Chinese community in BC to join with animal-lovers in an appeal to the governments of the Republic of China and Canada to stop the terrible trade in dog and cat fur?
That it is unspeakably cruel is well documented by organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) http://peta.org/ , the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) at http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/cruelty_issues_around_the_world/dying_for_fur_recent_investigation_shows_cruelty_at_chinese_fur_farms.html , Heather Mills McCartney at http://www.furisdead.com/feat-heathermills.asp , and Animal People News at http://animalpeoplenews.org/04/11/chineseLiveMarkets11.04.htm.

The European Union is considering banning the trade in dog and cat fur thanks in part to McCartney's efforts. At a recent event in Brussels McCartney broke down in tears at the screening of a video showing cats and dogs being rounded up and their skins being stripped from them live – to avoid the cost of humane killing.

The business is largely centred in China, but thanks to the fashion industry and its promoters and customers fuelling it, the business has spread to some European countries.

Please join with AAS in writing to the representatives of the Chinese government in Canada and BC, to the Canadian government, to Chinese cultural and business organizations, and to the media, urging an end to the trade in BC and Canada. A sample letter and addresses will be posted below.