Wildlife Rescue Series!

I received notice yesterday from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) that the Chinese government is conducting massive dog eradication programs in the name of “city cleanup” as Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

According to the IFAW briefing, in Yunnan Province alone, 55,000 dogs were killed, many in front of their owners. Fear of rabies is another of the motivators behind the killings, and breeds that have been targeted in the sweep include collies, terriers, golden retrievers, Labradors, English foxhounds, setters, Saint Bernards and Shetland sheepdogs.

IFAW helps fund a shelter in Beijing where over 510 dogs and 280 cats are being cared for by veterinarians and shelter staff and volunteers, but of course the shelter is overflowing and the resources are tight.

IFAW is asking people to write to the Beijing Olympic Committee and to please address the following points:

• congratulate Beijing on being the host for the 2008 Summer Olympics
• urge the organizers to use this opportunity to showcase Beijing as a model city for both animals and people
• ask the organizers to encourage municipal governments to enact humane dog regulations that eliminate the ban on ownership of large dogs, and to promote responsible pet ownership through pet registration, rabies vaccination and sterilization

Address your letters to:

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Committee, c/o IFAW, 1 Nicholas Street, Suite 612, Ottawa ON, K1N 7B7

IFAW-organized protests have worked before to halt dog killings in China. Beijing knows the world is watching, and cares what people think. It will make a difference to them to know that thousands of us on the other side of the world care enough about what they’re doing to speak out. Please consider taking 10 minutes to respond.

Click here to read IFAW’s Animal Rescue Blog.

Donations to the shelter may be made c/o IFAW.