china_tang_horse-biting-legI found this to be a topic with some ugly background, but here’s good news … if it happens:

The legislation, drawn up in consultation with the RSPCA, will include provisions to both protect pets and cover how farm animals should be raised, transported and slaughtered. It will also deliver protection for captive wildlife and laboratory animals.

Past efforts to promote animal protection legislation in China have met with steady failure. China is an ancient and conservative society, with all the blind self-orientation and “can’t-do” attitude that implies. The Chinese have a saying for d0-gooders pushing for a better world: chibao le cheng de. (People who have eaten too much food and have nothing better to do.)

The subject of China’s treatment of animals is too genuinely gruesome to detail here. Possibly, hopefully, this action will lead to a step forward. No great leap requested. We’ll see. Breath-holding unwise.

Further reading: “Chinese Animal Protection Law and Other Matters”