Shenzhen, China’s 6th largest city with 12.2 million inhabitants, is banning the breeding, sale and consumption of wild animals, and went one step further in its new legislation: eating cat and dog meat will be prohibited, too.
“Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals,” states the new legislation, adding, “This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization.”
The law – the first of its kind in any city in China – has been passed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic being linked to wildlife meat and will come into effect starting May 1.
