Chinese animal activists, along with local police in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui, were able to intercept a truck packed with 260 puppies and 22 adult dogs.
The driver of the truck had taken the dogs, all destined to be sold for the meat or pet trade, on a 1,000 mile journey from Guizhou to Huainan before the truck was spotted by local activists.
One activist called Teng, an anti-dog meat trade campaign volunteer for Humane Society International and its Chinese partner group, Vshine, alerted the police and coordinating local activists for a rescue effort.
THE DOGS WERE IN SUCH APPALLING CONDITIONS THAT ONE ACTIVIST CALLED IT A ‘TRUCK FROM HELL’
When the truck driver couldn’t provide the required documents to legally transport live animals across provincial borders, the dogs were confiscated into government custody where the activists were allowed to provide emergency care.
The dogs were in such appalling conditions that one activist called it a “truck from hell”. Activist reported that 12 of the puppies had died by the time the truck was intercepted, and a further 18 died soon after from parvovirus and distemper. It is believed that the adult dogs had been due to be sold to a slaughterhouse; it’s possible the puppies were intended to be sold as pets, but may were so sick they may have just ended up in the dog meat trade as well.
Teng said, “My heart sank when I spotted the truck on the highway that night. I knew it was going to be bad because there were so many dogs crammed inside, but I hadn’t expected there to be so many tiny puppies. They were all crying for our attention, covered in their own urine and faeces, and in really bad shape. It was disgusting what they endured, like a truck from hell for those poor dogs.”
“I noticed little Apple [main image] right away because he had lost so much fur, and my heart just melted. I wanted to do everything I could to make it up to him so that he could forget his horrible ordeal, but his suffering had just been too much. I dread to think what would have happened to them all, and I’m so sad for all the ones like Apple who didn’t make it. We are grateful to the Huainan police who acted so swiftly to help save these dogs. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
The surviving dogs are receiving veterinary care, nutritious food, water and rest at nearby shelters; at the end of their quarantine period, they will be transported to Vshine’s shelter.
Dr Peter Li, HSI’s China policy specialist said, “This sad story is all too common in China, where hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats every month endure appalling suffering like this in order to make profit for the meat and pet trades.”
“IT’S LIKELY MANY MORE WOULD HAVE DIED BEFORE THEY REACHED THEIR INTENDED DESTINATION”
“Chinese animal activists regularly alert police when trucks are identified, and in this case the Huainan police were exemplary in how they responded. It is my hope that more law enforcement agencies in China can act in the interests of public safety, public health and animal welfare like the Huainan police.
“The condition of these dogs was so terrible that it’s likely many more would have died before they reached their intended destination, and sickly puppies would probably have been sold for meat just like the adult dogs.
“Thank goodness for the Chinese animal activists and police who saved so many lives, and we are proud that that funding HSI provides can make such a difference to animals like this in such desperate circumstances.”