Why is there so much animal cruelty in China?

Answer 1

There are several reasons for this.

China is a developing country where poverty is rampant. China has endured several famines (even recently). Making a living is difficult enough, and many are unable to care for their animals. People in more developed countries have many more resources and don't have to worry about many of the hardships of the developing world.

The demand for animal products is on the rise in China. Understandably, people want to get high quality products at low prices. This is why inhumane incidents, like some viral videos show, will always crop up. Many companies are interested in profits and nothing more. The results are expensive to animals and sometimes to humans too. These attitudes are not exclusive to China. Other regions, even in the West, are subject to consumer demands and the resulting negligence toward animal care.

There are no animal rights laws in China. With no way to prosecute abusers, people escape consequences. Many people do not understand how animals suffer in some methods of killing. This is not heartlessness or sadism, but rather a result of ignorance. Education and legislation can be helpful in this regard.

Related Information:

In most Western countries like the US, animals are usually killed out of sight in slaughterhouses, while in China it frequently happens in public, like marketplaces. To put it short, the problem is more apparent in China. The Chinese use a larger variety of animals for food than in other parts of the world, which may provoke a different reaction from the standard meat diet of pigs, chicken, fish and beef. Some are valued sentimentally in other countries, and when they are eaten, it may seem cruel when it really isn't. No more so then when people eat cattle, animals that the Hindi revere as ancestors and relatives.

There are individuals and groups in China that promote humane treatment of animals. There are several organizations, like The Chinese Animal Protection Network (中国动物保护网) and sporting groups like Don't Eat Friends （别吃朋友）, that protect animals. Chinese celebrities like Yao Ming and Ai Weiwei also promote animal welfare. Additionally, there are 53 million vegetarians in China. The concept is readily embraced by many in China, as Buddhism has played a role in developing the culture. So, the younger generation of Chinese nationals is becoming increasingly aware, and condemning, of animal abuse.