Truck full of dogs crammed into tiny cages and bound for Chinese restaurants is intercepted by animal lovers



By
David Gerges

Crammed into tiny cages, unable
to stand and deprived of food and water, these dogs endured terrible
suffering on a truck bound for a chain of restaurants.The
harrowing pictures show the cruel conditions in which 1,500 of the
animals were found when the truck was stopped at a toll gate by highway police and animal rescue volunteers in Chongqing, south-west China.The truck was stacked high with cages, each containing several dogs in pitiful condition.

The animals were moved to a nearby farm
by volunteers from the Chongqing Animal Protection Association who gave
them food, water and emergency treatment.Sadly some of the dogs were already dead and rescue workers were unable to save other who were dying.
Volunteer Xiao Lu said: 'When they
[the dogs] saw us they were groaning, but some were so exhausted and
dying that they didn't even have the strength to make a sound.'
He said: 'The dog peddler said his truck was only loaded with 700 dogs, but there are at least 1500.'


Dog continues to be a popular meal in the Far East, with many in China favouring the meat, particularly during the winter.

The incident comes just months after police in Thailand rescued more than 1,000 dogs that were being transported to Vietnam.

The dogs were being taken across the Mekong river
in Laos as prices for stray dogs and pets in rural Thai villages can reach as much
as $33 an animal.

11 COUNTRIES WHICH STILL EAT DOG MEAT
Eleven countries around the globe still eat dog meat. They are: China,
Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Polynesia, Taiwan,
Vietnam, the Arctic and Antarctic and two cantons in Switzerland. China:
Although the Chinese were the first to domesticate the dog and keep
them as pets, dog meat has been a source of food from at least the time
of Confucius, and possibly even before.

Indonesia:
Eating dog meat is usually associated with people from the Batak Toba
culture, who cook a traditional dish named saksang that is like a
dog-meat stew.

Mexico:
Dogs were historically bred for their meat by the Aztecs. These dogs
were called itzcuintlis, and were often pictured on pre-Columbian
Mexican pottery.

Philippines:
In the capital city of Manila,the law specifically prohibits the
killing and selling of dogs for food except in certain circumstances
including research and animal population control.
Polynesia: Dogs were historically eaten in Tahiti and other islands of Polynesia at the time of first European contact in 1769.

Taiwan:
Dog meat in Taiwan is particularly eaten in the winter months,
especially black dogs, which are believed to help retain body warmth.Korea:
Gaegogi literally means 'dog meat' in Korean. Gaegogi, however, is
often mistaken as the term for Korean soup made from dog meat,
bosintang. The distaste felt by dog lovers, particularly from the West,
has made this dish very controversial.

Switzerland:
According to a Swiss newspaper report in 1996, the Swiss rural cantons
of Appenzell and St. Gallen are known to have had a tradition of eating
dogs, curing dog meat into jerky and sausages, as well as using the lard
for medicinal purposes.

Vietnam:
Dog meat is eaten throughout Vietnam. To many Northerners, it is a
popular, if relatively expensive, dinnertime restaurant meal.

Arctic and Antarctic: Dogs have historically been an emergency food source for
various peoples in Siberia, Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland.
Sled dogs are usually maintained for pulling sleds, but occasionally are
eaten when no other food is available.


VIDEO OF RESCUE HERE - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2088309/Truck-dogs-crammed-tiny-cages-bound-Chinese-restaurants-rescued-animal-lovers.html#ixzz1jq2zzupw