In a heroic rescue mission in China, the police saved over a thousand cats from becoming unsuspecting ingredients in a disturbing culinary deception. Alerted by animal lovers, authorities intercepted a "cat car" on October 12th in Zhangjiagang, a county in Jiangsu province.
This "cat car" was essentially a vehicle used by unscrupulous dealers to capture cats and then sell their meat, masquerading it as pork or mutton.
Source: Google Images
The concerned animal lovers had been tracking the activities of the cat dealers for nearly a week and had discovered crates filled with around 20 cats each in a cemetery in the province.
They staked out the operation, monitoring the cat car and the paths taken by the dealers. Finally, they intercepted the vehicle on the road and called local police for help.
The captured cats were on their way to a slaughterhouse, where they would have been processed into various food items, including skewered meat and sausages, all falsely labeled as pork, mutton, or even beef.
Source: Google Images
The motivation behind this deceitful practice was the potential for higher profits. While cat meat is relatively cheap, mutton can be sold at a significantly higher price in the market.
The cat dealers were essentially capitalizing on this price difference by selling skinned cats weighing about four to five pounds as other meats and pocketing the significant profit margin.
Notably, the animal activists had previously uncovered a slaughterhouse in Guangdong province where skinned frozen cat carcasses were stored for sale. Such revelations highlight the extent of this unethical trade.
Source: Google Images
The rescued cats have been temporarily relocated to a facility where volunteers are nursing them back to health. However, it's important to note that despite their diligent efforts, the activists are confronted with challenges in protecting these feline companions due to the limited legal protection afforded to cats and the resources available for their care.
For now, the rescued cats are safe, but the battle to end the exploitation of these innocent animals continues.
China has faced a history of food safety scandals, and this latest revelation adds to the growing list of concerning incidents. In one instance, a rat's head was found in a school meal initially claimed to be a piece of duck neck. The incident gained significant attention in China.
Furthermore, local authorities faced criticism in 2021 for euthanizing several pets after their owners tested positive for COVID-19. While there are laws in China designed to protect livestock and endangered animals, there is no comprehensive law addressing animal cruelty towards pets.
Additionally, there is mounting opposition to the annual dog meat festival held in Yulin, China, as concerns about animal welfare and cruelty continue to be raised.
As animal rights advocates work to shed light on these issues, there is hope for change and greater protections for animals in China.