China's city of Shenzhen - home to approximately 12.5 million residents - has passed a ground-breaking law banning the consumption and production of dog and cat meat, the BBC reports.
The welcome news means Shenzhen is the first city in mainland China to do so, with lawmakers describing the ruling as a "universal civilization requirement for a modern society".
Per the BBC, the 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.
"This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilisation."
Animal activist group Humane Society International (HSI) has also spoken out about the landmark decision. Dr. Peter Li, China's policy specialist for HSI, welcomed the news, saying in a press release:
"With Shenzhen taking the historic decision to become mainland China’s first city to ban dog and cat meat consumption, this really could be a watershed moment in efforts to end this brutal trade that kills an estimated 10 million dogs and 4 million cats in China every year.
"The majority of these companion animals are stolen from people’s back yards or snatched from the streets, and are spirited away on the backs of trucks to be beaten to death in slaughterhouses and restaurants across China.
"Shenzhen is China’s fifth-largest city, so although the dog meat trade is fairly small there compared with the rest of the province, its true significance is that it could inspire a domino effect with other cities following suit."
Dr. Peter Li added that most people in China do not eat dog or cat meat, and there is considerable opposition to the trade particularly among China's younger population.
Dr. Teresa M. Telecky, the vice president of the wildlife department for HSI, added:
"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."
The new laws will come into effect on May 1, 2020.
However, the BBC also reports that at the same time as this ruling, China has approved the use of bear bile - a digestive fluid drained from living captive bears - as a method of treating coronavirus patients.
