Good news!  As reported by USA Today on April 12,2017; Taiwan is the first government in Asia to make it illegal to slaughter dogs and cats for human consumption  Additionally,
​fines for cruelty towards animals has increased.   
The sale, purchase and eating of cats and dogs is now a crime under the Animal Protection Act that was amended by Taiwan's parliament in early April 2017.  Offenders who want to continue to eat our beloved companion animals can face a maximum of $3,800. 

​And listen to this!!  The Animal Protection Act also raises the penalties for animal abusers.  A two-year sentence in prison, a fine up to $66,000 and a repeat offender can face a maximum five-year sentence and pay up to $167,000 fine.
Thank you Taiwan for stepping up!

So.... I reached out to the Humane Society International, last month looking for guidance on what exactly I can do to get the Yulin Dog Festival protest movement in NC up and running. 

​The information I received in reply is basically more of an update to what is going on the world and how the Humane Society International is working diligently to stop this barbaric treatment of our beloved canine companions. 

​Below is the latest information about what plans are in the works:

​"The Humane Society International partnership with a network of Chinese animal welfare and conservation organizations, has worked in China on many animal protection issues including the dog meat trade, wildlife protection and the ivory trade. However, a new law that came into effect in China on 1st January 2017 called the People's Republic of China Law on the Management of Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations' Activities within Mainland China, otherwise known as the “Foreign NGO’s Law,”  will affect the work of all foreign NGOs working in China, including HSI. It also affects Chinese NGOs that work in partnership with foreign NGOs. Read more here.
 
This new law places all China activities and funding of China activities by foreign NGOs under the scrutiny of the Chinese authorities, with substantial penalties for both foreign and Chinese NGOs for breaching the wide-ranging conditions of the law.
 
As a foreign NGO wishing to operate in China, HSI is now required to register with the Chinese authorities, and our work program must receive official approval. With limited information available on how the law will be implemented, HSI is seeking legal advice in order to gain a better understanding of our options. We understand that other NGOs are doing likewise. While we remain committed to our China programs, and will devise a strategy that works within the law, it is clear that this new law must be taken seriously. Penalties for violating this law include detention or criminal charges depending on the severity of the circumstances, while the legal actions against the NGO include confiscating funds, a 5-year ban period of all China activities, or being added to a list of NGOs no longer allowed to establish any representative office or carry out any activities within China.
 
HSI has operated in China largely due to the strong relationships and partnerships we have built over the years with like-minded Chinese animal protection and conservation NGOs, animal shelters and campaigners. We take seriously our responsibility to these partner groups and individuals, and will not place them at unnecessary risk.
 
For the past several years HSI has been a leading global voice to see an end to the suffering of animals in China’s year-round dog meat trade in places such as Guangdong, Yunnan, Yulin in Guangxi, Jilin and Kunming, as well as an advocate for high quality animal rescue and shelter care in locations such as Dalian, Hebei, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia. While we recognize that we face challenging obstacles in China, we are committed to finding the best way forward to continue our vital work protecting animals from cruelty. We value and appreciate the concern and patience of our supporters as we work through this process. We will provide updates as they become available.

To stay up-to-date on this issue, please visit hsi.org/dogmeat, like and follow The HSI  Facebook page (facebook.com/hsiglobal) and follow on Twitter (@hsiglobal).
​
 
​