Although Emergency Response is a signature method in the No Dogs Left Behind approach to rescue in East Asia, it is not a stand-alone tactic. Rather government advocacy is a higher priority in formulating long term change and ultimately extinguishing the dog meat markets as a whole.
Through the creation of petitions and putting pressure on Eastern Asian officials No Dogs Left Behind is able to strengthen the movement and bring about global and governmental support. In addition, No Dogs Left Behind calls for a boycott until animal welfare laws are created and upheld.
The COVID 19 global pandemic has set the stage for leaders worldwide. Countries across the planet must come together and force the adoption of animal welfare laws and employ safer slaughter practices. The outdated slaughter concepts still in use have endangered global health, toppled the global economy and the time has come for these behaviors to be ended permanently.
Although we have a long way to go in the fight for animal welfare in East Asia there are reasons to have hope and a cause to celebrate change. We believe that China will lead the way to change in East Asia by enacting broad animal welfare laws.
In May 2020 two provinces in China independently decided to ban dog meat thus creating the first safeguard for dogs in China. The progressive cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai pave the way as leaders in what must become a nation-wide effort. No Dogs Left Behind strongly believes that celebrating these victories is evidence to our followers that our hard work and dedication is paying off. Yet is also serves as a reminder to keep fighting and pressing on with our mission. We cannot make change alone. Rather No Dogs Left Behind must educate and empower the Chinese people to take accountability for the change their country so desperately needs.
More recent articles show progress toward the treatment of dogs in China and the rising numbers of pet ownership among Chinese citizens. This cultural shift in perception of dogs as companion creatures rather than food is one more step in the direction toward animal welfare laws.
To understand how laws are created and implanted and why they are ultimately lacking, we must first examine the politics, economics, and cultural history in East Asia.
A report done by Act Asia for Animals in 2011 explains in great detail the culture and policies that surround farming, agriculture, and the relationship with dogs and cats used for consumption and trade, and the ways in which this market is tied to cultural implications.
