From May 1, Shenzhen becomes the first Chinese city to ban sale and consumption of dog and cat meat

- Shenzhen, China -

In February following the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese authorities passed a law to ban the trade and consumption of wild animals.

Shenzhen went a step further and extended the ban to dogs and cats.

The government made the announcement Thursday, April 2.

The new law will come into effect on May 1, 2020 as part of food safety legislation known as the "Shenzhen Special Economic Region Regulation on a Comprehensive Ban on the Consumption of Wild Animals."

Liu Jianping, an official with the Shenzhen Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said that the poultry, livestock and seafood available to consumers were sufficient.

In fact, sadly, the ban does not apply to pig, cattle, sheep, donkey, rabbit, chicken, duck, goose, pigeon, quail, and aquatic animals who can be consumed.

Jianping also said: "There is no evidence showing that wildlife is more nutritious than poultry and livestock.”

Scientists suspect the coronavirus passed to humans from animals.

Some of the earliest infections were found in people who had exposure to a wildlife market in the central city of Wuhan, where bats, snakes, civets, and other animals were sold.

Shenzhen city government said: "Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan."

He also added: "This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization."

According to Humane Society International (HSI), THIRTY MILLION dogs a year are KILLED across Asia for meat.

Dr. Teresa M. Telecky, vice president of the wildlife department for Humane Society International, said: “Shenzhen is the first city in the world to take the lessons learned from this pandemic seriously and make the changes needed to avoid another pandemic. People around the world are suffering the impact of this pandemic because of one thing: the wildlife trade. Shenzhen’s bold steps to stop this trade and wildlife consumption is a model for governments around the world to emulate. We urge all governments to follow suit by banning wildlife trade, transport and consumption for any purpose.”

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Rick Kalinowski built a mini picnic table in his yard for squirrels to eat their food on

- Pennsylvania, USA -

43-year-old Rick Kalinowski (pictured below), is a self-employed plumber from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Lucky him, he is regularly visited by squirrels in his backyard and taking advantage of being in isolation due to the coronavirus, he came up with a cute idea.

Kalinowski, who is also the owner of Rick’s Plumbing, Cooling and Heating in Haverford, built a mini picnic table for his furry visitors so they can eat their food on.

He also provides food for his guests.

He said he buys a variety of seeds, nuts, and freshly cut fruit.

Kalinowski said: “I built the picnic bench and mounted it outside my living room window on the fence so I can watch the squirrels eat while I have my coffee every morning.”

He added: “I wake up at dawn and have been doing it for years, just to feed the squirrels and fill the bird feeders. I make my coffee, put on the morning news and watch everyone eat."

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Hunter heartlessly killed Takaya the world-famous lone wolf of Discovery Island

- Canada -

Takaya, the iconic male lone wolf was tragically killed Tuesday, March 24, by a hunter near Shawnigan Lake.

Takaya, whose name means ‘wolf’ to the indigenous Songhees people, has lived for several years on Discovery Island alone.

According to The Guardian, animal documentarians and conservation specialists have closely followed the journey of this rare species of canine known as the sea wolf.

In January Takaya was spotted scurrying down the sidewalks of James Bay, Victoria.

On January 26, he was tranquilized by conservation officers and then relocated and released into the wild.

According to Cheryl Alexander, Takaya was relocated to an area near Port Renfrew.

Cheryl Alexander is a wildlife photographer and documentarian who studied Takaya and his activities in the wild.

CTV News reports that on Wednesday, March 25, some local hunters told Ms. Alexander that a wolf with an ear tag had been shot.

She said: “Takaya is the only wolf on the island with an ear tag.” “I knew right away.”

Ms. Alexander wants trophy hunting to be stopped.

CTV News reached out to BC Conservation Officer Service for more information and in response they received the following statement:

"The Discovery Island wolf, that was relocated from James Bay earlier this year has been shot and killed by a hunter, the conservation officer service can confirm. We understand many British Columbians and people around the world shared care and concern for the well-being of this wolf and this update will affect many people. Conservation Officers released the wolf in rugged and remote wilderness outside of Port Renfrew, on the west side of Vancouver Island. This isolated coastal habitat similar to Discovery Island was carefully chosen to give the wolf the best chance possible. This decision was made in consultation with biologists from the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), as well as the Provincial Wildlife Veterinarian. The wolf was not taken back to Discovery Island as it left for a reason – it may have been looking for food or resources. For the safety of the public and the animal, the wolf was relocated out of the urban environment in Victoria. The provincial hunting regulations are administered by FLNRORD.”

Sadly, in British Columbia, it is legal for hunters to harvest three wolves per year as long as they report it.

Ms. Alexander hopes Takaya’s death will trigger reflection on hunting regulations.

The conservation officer service says its investigation is ongoing and further details will be released as they become available.

*Voice For Us believes that anyone who has so little regard for any kind and form of life does not deserve to be alive themselves!*

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