After recent reports emerged of a third arson attack on stray dog kennels in China’s Shandong province, those who have shown both hostility towards and support for the dogs and others involved in this event on Chinese social media have appeared. By analyzing posts and user attitudes on China’s Weibo and Baidu Tieba towards such kinds of media reports of stray dog cruelty, this article answers what the differing outlooks are on cruelty to stray dogs in contemporary Mainland China. The purpose of this article is therefore to attempt to increase a deeper understanding of the portrayal and response to certain forms of misconduct to stray dogs in user-generated contents in social media today. Several thematic demonstrations of cruelty are identified, and criticism/activism, compassion, and animosity are included. These themes are not limited, with some reports including aspects of several themes.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
51 Chinese cities host record ‘Adoption Day’ for rescued stray animals. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/15/WS5cb44e01a3104842260b649f.html.
Activists clash with traders as Chinese Dog Meat Festival gets underway. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.rt.com/viral/393422-china-dog-meat-activists/.
After the fire: The loss of many stray dogs. (2019). Retrieved from https://m.weibo.cn/status/4365012040709000.
Andersen, K. G., Rambaut, A., Lipkin, W. I., Holmes, E. C., & Garry, W. F. (2020). The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2. Nature Medicine, 26, 450-452.
Animal Equality. (2020). Animal equality launches global campaign to ban wet markets. Retrieved from https://animalequality.org/news/animal-equality-launches-global-campaign-to-ban-wet-markets/.
Bale, R. (2017, July 12). Chinese youth embrace new attitudes toward companion animals and wildlife. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/07/wildlife-watch-china-changing-animal-protection/.
Bossons, M. (2018, November 16). Dog crackdown sweeps China as cities enforce strict pet regulations. that’s. Retrieved from https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/post/25806/china-clamps-down-on-dogs-in-response-to-vicious-attack-by-pet-owner.
Bryman, A. (2004). Social research methods (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Cai, H. (1988). Haba gou yuanliu (A history of Pekingese dogs). In Tang dai Jiuxinghu yu Tujue wen hua (The Sogdians and Turkic culture during the Tang Period). Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju.
Campus security guard intentionally runs over dog. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.weibo.com/6298862199/HqrRigDPj?filter=hot&root_comment_id=0&type=comment#_rnd1574829283012.
Chan, B. (2018, April 30). The China boom in pet markets, dog breeding and pet cremation, and the restaurants still serving dog meat (tasty but tough). South China Morning Post. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2143707/china-boom-pet-markets-dog-breeding-and-pet-cremation-and-restaurants.
Cheang, S. (2006). Women, companion animals, and imperialism: The British Pekingese dog and nostalgia for Old China. The Journal of British Studies, 45, 359-387.
Chen, Y., Tian, J., & Chen J. L. (2017). Challenges to eliminate rabies virus infection in China by 2020. The Lancet: Infectious Diseases, 17, 135-136.
Chen, Y., Tan, Y., Yan, S., & Li, L. (2018). Dog bite and injury awareness and prevention in migrant and left-behind children in China. Scientific Reports, 8, 1-8.
China focus: Chinese city opens stray dog adoption service. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/30/c_136936535.html.
China’s animal charities are growing, saving lives and speaking up. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.animalsasia.org/us/media/news/news-archive/chinas-animal-charities-are-growing-saving-lives-and-speaking-up.html.
Chinese animal charities advise rescuers not to buy dogs in Yulin. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.animalsasia.org/us/media/news/news-archive/chinese-animal-charities-advise-rescuers-not-to-buy-dogs-in-yulin.html.
Dalton, J. (2020). From coronavirus to antibiotics: The ways we use animals ‘still risks spreading disease’. Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-antibiotics-wild-animals-wildlife-china-wuhan-bat-pangolin-a9407261.html.
Davey, G. (2007). Public perceptions in urban China toward zoos and their animal welfare. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 12, 367-374.
Dikotter, F. (2010). Mao’s great famine. Walker Publishing Company.
Do not carelessly adopt stray dogs. (2019). Retrieved from https://tieba.baidu.com/p/6048127435?pn=1.
Feng, J. (2018, November 16). Hangzhou is now hell for dogs. Supchina. Retrieved from https://supchina.com/2018/11/16/hangzhou-is-now-hell-for-dogs/.
Foster, J. B., & Clark, B. (2018, December 1). Marx and alienated speciesism. Monthly Review. Retrieved from https://monthlyreview.org/2018/12/01/marx-and-alienated-speciesism/.
Gan, N. (2016, September 22). Beijing residents warned to avoid stray dogs after more than 2,000 people report being bitten. South China Morning Post. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2021622/beijing-residents-warned-avoid-stray-dogs-after-more.
Given, L., Williamson, K., & Scifleet, P. (2018). Research methods: Information, systems and contexts. In G. Johanson & K. Williamson (Eds.), Information research: Patterns and practice (pp. 59-85). Prahran, VIC: Tilde Publishing and Distribution.
Greger, M. (2020) Takeaways from my webinar on COVID-19. NutritionFacts.org. Retrieved from https://nutritionfacts.org/2020/04/16/takeaways-from-my-webinar-on-covid-19/.
Here comes the cute pet. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.weibo.com/1961594843/Hvx011JdE?filter=hot&root_comment_id=0&type=comment#_rnd1575603515885.
If you come across them would you be willing to help? “help me!” An account from a stray dog in 35°C temperatures. (2019). Retrieved from https://m.weibo.cn/status/4396508406937675.
If you have love then take action. Concern and love for stray dogs. (2019). Retrieved from https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5222199037?pid=109348798967&cid=0&red_tag=1688124997#109348798967.
In Shandong province, a stray dog was found to be shot in the back by a bolt. (2019). Retrieved from https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23流浪狗被弩箭射穿%23.
Jiwen, C. (2014). China’s legal response to trafficking in wild animals: The relationship between international treaties and Chinese law. American Journal of International Law Unbound, 111, 408-412.
Karlsson, M. (2012). Charting the liquidity of online news: Moving towards a method for content analysis of online news. International Communication Gazette, 74, 385-402.
Kemmerer, L. (2009). The great unity: Daoism, nonhuman animals, and human ethics. Journal for Critical Animal Studies, 7, 63-83.
Kohn, L. (2004). Cosmos and community: The ethical dimension of Daoism. Cambridge: Three Pines.
Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Li, P. J. (2006). The evolving animal rights and welfare debate in China: Political and social input analysis. In J. Turner & J. D’Silva (Eds.), Animals, ethics and trade: The challenge of animal sentience (pp. 111-129). London: Earthscan.
Li, P. J. (2016, August 6). It’s time to outlaw animal cruelty in China. South China Morning Post. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1999555/its-time-outlaw-animal-cruelty-china.
Li, P. J., & Davey, G. (2013). Culture, reform politics, and future directions: A review of China’s animal protection challenge. Society & Animals, 21, 34-53.
Li, X., Zito, S., Sinclair, M., & Phillips, C. J. C. (2018). Perception of animal welfare issues during Chinese transport and slaughter of livestock by a sample of stakeholders in the industry. PLoS ONE, 13, e0197028. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197028.
Li, Z. (2019, March 10). “Adoption instead of buying” campaign held in Qingdao for stray animals. Xinhua Net. Retrieved from http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-03/10/c_137883945_2.htm.
Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. (2020). Press release: Stopping animal abuse will prevent future pandemics, says leading scientist. https://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/2020/03/press-release-stopping-animal-abuse-will-prevent-future-pandemics-says-leading-scientist/.
Richardson, J. E. (2006). Analysing newspapers: An approach from critical discourse analysis. Palgrave Macmillan.
Shen, S., Ables, E. D., & Xiao, Q. Z. (1982). The Chinese view of wildlife. Oryx, 16, 340-347.
Shuk-Wah, P. (2014). Dogs and British colonialism: The contested ban on eating dogs in colonial Hong Kong. The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, 42, 308-328.
Sonnad, S. (2020). An MD’s take on coronavirus, carnivores, and why this might not be our last wake-up call. Retrieved from https://vegnews.com/2020/4/an-md-s-take-on-coronavirus-carnivores-and-why-this-might-not-be-our-last-wake-up-call.
Stray dog ignored as it meets its former owner on the street. (2019). Retrieved from https://k.sina.cn/article_6695611192_18f16eb3800100e3qs.html?ua=iPad5%2C3__weibo__9.7.1__ipad__os12.3&from=1097199020&open_source=weibo_search&http=fromhttp&wm=3049_0015.
Stray dog rescue centre, postings outside will be deleted. (2019). Retrieved from https://tieba.baidu.com/p/6001945607.
Stray dog rescue station, stray dog adoption station, stray dog adoption home. (2019). Retrieved from https://tieba.baidu.com/p/6001610215?pid=125654384544&cid=128497065829&red_tag=0959390229#128497065829.
The manual on rabies compiled by director Wang Chuanlin. (2019). Retrieved from http://tieba.baidu.com/p/6183776802.
The number of people who have been bitten by one stray dog has reached 73. (2018). Retrieved from https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=%23温州市区流浪狗连续咬伤73人%23.
The way to be good and spread positive energy. (2019). Retrieved from https://tieba.baidu.com/p/6338766443?pid=128315119509&cid=0&red_tag=1839095099#128315119509.
Thompson, L. G. (1989). Chinese religion: An introduction. California: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Thurman, R. (1998). Inner revolution: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of real happiness. New York, Penguin Putnam, Inc.
Wang, G.-D., Zhai, W., Yang, H.-C., … Zhang, Y.-P. (2016). Out of southern East Asia: The natural history of domestic dogs across the world. Cell Research, 26, 21-33.
Watts, J. (2006, August 6). Chinese county culls 50,000 dogs in crackdown on rabies. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/aug/02/china.jonathanwatts.
Webster, R. G. (2004). Wet markets—a continuing source of severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza? The Lancet, 363, 234-236.
Whitfort, A. (2016, August 4). Tackling animal cruelty in China. Asia & Pacific Policy Society. Retrieved from https://www.policyforum.net/tackling-animal-cruelty-china/.
Why can’t we eat dog meat? (2018). Retrieved from http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5505761184?pid=122866355978&cid=0#122866355978.
Why China’s dog meat market has expanded. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2017/07/16/why-chinas-dog-meat-market-has-expanded.
WILDAID. (2020). Chinese citizens call for permanent ban on wildlife markets. Retrieved from https://wildaid.org/chinese-citizens-call-for-permanent-ban-on-wildlife-markets/.
Williams, S. (2018, November 16). Dogs seized and beaten in China amid harsh crackdown from officials on strays and banned breeds. Evening Standard. Retrieved from https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/dogs-seized-and-beaten-in-china-amid-harsh-crackdown-from-officials-on-strays-and-banned-breeds-a3992331.html.
Xiang, L. (2018, October 4). China makes huge progress in rabies prevention, responsible pet ownership. Xinhua Net. Retrieved from http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-10/04/c_137510743.htm.
Yin, W., Dong, J., & Tu, C. (2013). Challenges and needs for China to eliminate rabies. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 2, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-9957-2-23.
Yulin dog meat festival receives furious response from dog lovers. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.weibo.com/6586580944/I1CNI7Sec?filter=hot&root_comment_id=0&type=comment#_rnd1575607923286.
Zhan, M. (2005). Civet cats, fried grasshoppers, and David Beckham’s pajamas: Unruly bodies after SARS. American Anthropologist, 107, 31-42.
Zhang, P. (2018, August 25). It’s war on man’s best friend: A spate of dog poisonings hit China as frustration with owners turns murderous. South China Morning Post. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2160983/its-war-mans-best-friend-spate-dog-poisonings-hit-china.
Zhang, P. (2018, November 14). Chinese cities put dogs on tight leash after spate of attacks. South China Morning Post. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2173233/more-chinese-cities-want-dogs-kept-tighter-leash-after-spate.
All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 2093 | 270 | 82 |
Full Text Views | 406 | 323 | 3 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 640 | 511 | 6 |
After recent reports emerged of a third arson attack on stray dog kennels in China’s Shandong province, those who have shown both hostility towards and support for the dogs and others involved in this event on Chinese social media have appeared. By analyzing posts and user attitudes on China’s Weibo and Baidu Tieba towards such kinds of media reports of stray dog cruelty, this article answers what the differing outlooks are on cruelty to stray dogs in contemporary Mainland China. The purpose of this article is therefore to attempt to increase a deeper understanding of the portrayal and response to certain forms of misconduct to stray dogs in user-generated contents in social media today. Several thematic demonstrations of cruelty are identified, and criticism/activism, compassion, and animosity are included. These themes are not limited, with some reports including aspects of several themes.
All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 2093 | 270 | 82 |
Full Text Views | 406 | 323 | 3 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 640 | 511 | 6 |