WASHINGTON — Today, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) offered $100,000 to the government of China to establish an effective rabies control program in certain southern provinces in the country, conditional upon the government's termination of its mass dog killing programs and its acceptance of assistance to develop a humane and effective rabies control program. The offer comes in response to the clubbing and killing of 50,000 dogs in the Yunnan Province and the prospect of the expansion of the program into other provinces and regions in China.
The HSUS sharply criticized the killings in a letter to Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong last week, and this week offered the organization's help to develop a more effective and humane response to rabies cases.
"There are far better ways of addressing rabies control to promote the safety of your citizens, the good reputation of China and the welfare of the dogs," Pacelle wrote. "To demonstrate our willingness to provide constructive solutions, we are offering $100,000 to support an integrated rabies and humane dog control program in the affected villages in Jining City in Shandong Province."
The HSUS is making this offer contingent on having "the full co-operation of the relevant national and local authorities in China and Jining City and an understanding that mass and indiscriminate dog killing programs will be terminated immediately," Pacelle said.
The HSUS's response to China is in line with the World Health Organization, which has stated that indiscriminate mass killing is not a means of effective animal control, and instead emphasizes the need for vaccination programs.
HSI is currently working in India, Nepal and Indonesia to provide guidance in developing humane animal control programs, which include sterilization and effective rabies vaccination.
For more information on this issue go to www.hsus.org/china_dogs.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
