Japan Breed Cruelty, and animal cruelty around the world.

artmaster1

Hi, my name is Juan and I joined this group because I own Shiba inu cross breed with Eskimo.
My babies were already mixed when they became my family members, keep in mind I would never mixed my Shiba with any other breed than Shiba. By the way I have three dogs.
Needless to say I learned that Nihon is a die hard Shiba and Japan dog forum.

During one discussion where some insults were thrown around because my selection of the breed, I did mention that I have lived and worked in over 14 countries all around the world. I have seen cruelty done to dogs that would bring tears to people eyes and torture their dreams.
I also mentioned that I do everything I can internatinoal to help stop animal cruelty. I love the Japanese breed, but I also love anything dog.
Here is a video of typical Japan breeders in Japan. Japan has no laws for a lot of their breeders so Arkbark.net is trying to petition for laws to be changed.
Here is the video of Normal Japan Kennels and pet shops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVFKZHXv664

The Japan video is sad of course and it breaks my heart.
The next video is very difficult and not for the faint of heart. If the last video bothered you don't even think about looking at the next two.
I have seen this first hand outside of China and this is done all over the world. We can stop this. In the first video you will see some cages, the cages and bags is how the Japanese also get ride of their animals by gassing them. It is not just a China thing.
This is the reality of dog life outside of the USA.
The 1st one is in China, the second from all around the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp_BmHXiFks&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbBsyOEltYA&feature=related


It's cruel, everybody say that. And? What you'r' gonna do about this? You will cry a littlle bit viewing the videos and then forget about it the next 10 minutes? DO SOMETHING!!! I did. I do not use any form animal products (leather, wool, fur etc.) You love animals? Don't wear them! Don't use animal products in any form! Because if you do it, you'r' a part of this cruelty!

Kenshi

Hey at least the Japanese don't eat 'em. ^_^

Nekopan

I do love animals, but not using animal products is not going to stop animal cruelty. How is not eating meat going to change the breeding laws in Japan? That doesn't make any sense. Those dogs aren't bred for food or use in products.

artmaster1

Did anyone watch the video's?
They skin these dogs while they are alive. After they skin them they are still alive and die SLOWLY. I guess it is different when you see these thing in real life.

When I was in Korea there were plenty of Shiba Inu's and Akita's. Have not been to China but I am sure they are there as well

Nekopan

My point still stands. How does not eating meat (which does not come from dogs) in North America have any effect on anything that happens in Asian countries?

artmaster1

I agree on the meat part. No disagreement there.
But we are a country that consumes Chineese products, that includes animal product. I am not a PETA person or a fur activist.
I am just trying to share information to make people aware.
What do you think they do with the carcus, they put it in dog food.
America has it good is all.

Here is a petition to help work abroad for the poor souls of these dogs.

http://www.petitiononline.com/sm5115/petition.html

I brought this subject up because of the die hard attitude everyone had in Nihon Discussions. Kind of weird that on one hand I am subjected to verbal abuse because of my Shiba Inu/Eskimo mix, and then on the other hand, when working to help dogs people just seem to not care. Weird???

dlroberts

I appreciate this subject is one which many people feel very strongly about and I think the topic is worthy of discussion; however, I ask that everyone please keep their tone civil. If anyone continues to provoke conflict, say inflammatory things, or make personal attacks (either directed at an individual or multiple forum members), I will close this thread.

Nekopan

Juan, it is most likely that there are not many people on the forum at the moment and they have not read this thread. That does not mean that they don't care. Also, a good many of our members are animal rescue volunteers and/or fosters.

artmaster1

Thanks for the kind words Nekopan.
I just wanted to get across that China Supplies more than half of the finished fur garments inported for sale in the Inited States.
1/2 of those furs are from dogs, the other half from other types of fur animals.
This dog is beeing skinned alive, here is a photo of one, still alive mind you
<img src="http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/photo01.jpg" />

<img src="http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/photo02.jpg" />




Here is a link to a video and information. The first few animals are not dogs but the rest are

http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/index.asp

Romi

This is a very sad topic. As I understand it - The dogs that are being eaten in other countries were bred for their meat. They aren't stray dogs found on the street or dogs that used to be pets - they actually breed that specific dog just for their meat. Not saying that it is ok - but it is part of their culture, even though they are seen as family to us. It's sort of like how in other countries - certain meats we eat are considered sacred animals in their culture.

The sad truth is - All animals are being treated cruel all over the world. It will take a lot to change that - but it seems like the public in the US is getting better. I am very pleased to see celebrities using their fame to inform the public about what's really going on in Backyard Breeding and in Puppy Mills. I'm sure millions of viewers watched Oprah's segment on Puppy Mills and learned a lot from it.

Everyone has their own way to contribute, whether it be on national TV, volunteer work, donations, boycotting certain products, or even just informing a friend or stranger about what they don't know. Every little bit helps and I think everyone on this forum is helping regarding cruelty to animals just by being a responsible dog owner and being a role model for other dog owners in the world.

BradA1878

Excellent points Romi, very well written.

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BradA1878

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
-Mahatma Gandhi

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Romi

Thanks Brad - That is an excellent quote too!

tsukitsune

Excellently stated, Romi.

TheWalrus

I live in Japan and will be quick to agree that the quality of life for dogs here isn't nearly what it should be. That being said, it's getting better. It's kind of interesting over here because there are such extremes in animal care. About half of the populace is still way back in the dark ages as far as animal care goes, and the other half is very knowledgeable/modern in their thinking.

Rescue/Animal protection groups are doing what they can to change laws and improve conditions (I volunteer at several rescues in my immediate area), but changing people's mentalities is something that always takes time and a lot of effort. One step at a time, with everyone doing whatever it is they can, will make the difference.

I'm not an anti-fur/leather/wool person (I esp. don't understand the wool part), but watching the video and seeing that type of inhumane behavior, humans causing unnecessary suffering to other living things, is deplorable.

On a totally different note, there ARE laws here that govern animal care/cruelty, and they were actually nominally beefed up in 2006. There was a special bit thrown in governing breeders, regulating them further. The problem at the moment is not lack of laws, it's the lack of an agency to police these laws properly. This is what animal rights groups here should be, and are, pushing for at the moment.
Animals here in Japan that end up at the pound are gassed, yes (though in a gassing room at the pound and not in plastic bags in a trash can). And when they transport them in the dog/cat catcher van to the pound they will pack them with multiple animals in a single cage. I've seen cages with cats packed in so tight they could barely move around (but they are unloaded into pens once at the pound).

It's difficult to run rescues over here because of a prevalent mentality of 'there must have been something wrong with it for it to have been at the pound.' I even got that line from a friend of mine when he and his family were thinking of getting an Akita in the future and I suggested adopting one. He has 3 dogs already, and is a well educated head of a hospital in Tokyo. They love their dogs to death, and take excellent care of them, but wouldn't even discuss adoption as they were afraid they might get a sick or mentally unstable dog. It was ironic that they decided to breed their female recently, and she had two pups. One was stillborn, and the other was born with an imperforate anus.

There is so much wrong with the world, changes have to be made, but I'm hopeful. Progress (even if at times slow and not enough) is being made. As long as good people continue pushing for change, it will come.

Kenshi

Boycotting Chinese goods may make you feel good, but it is not going to do anything to change Chinese business practices, and it will certainly not do anything to change their culture, which has been shaped by real horrors in just the last 100 years in such a way that you are not going to convince people that turning down a job or limiting food resources is more moral than being able to support their families. The children and grandchildren of people who lived through the Cultural Revolution - when tens of millions of people starved to death - are apt to have their moral priorities stacked a bit differently than you. I'm not saying it's right what they do to dogs in China, but it is pointless to lose sleep over it.

You can give to the international human society though: http://www.hsus.org/hsi/.

You can also turn your attention to the meat industry in your own country. I don't know where you live, but here in the USA we keep our beef cattle in cages for their entire lives, and then kill and process them on conveyor belts. Say what you will about the Chinese fur industry - at least those workers in that video you showed gave the dogs the honor of killing them with their own hands.

So, when you see a video or pictures like you keep posting here, your outrage is perfectly justified. The real challenge is seeing those images in a global context and deciding how to best devote your energies. Personally I don't think posting evocative videos and pictures on this board is a good use of your time.

lindsayt

Well this is a grim topic. These are like the PETA vids I have seen about the foxdogs in China, electrocution, gassing and skinning alive of cats and strays. I'm not going to touch the PETA thing with a 10-ft pole. I've been in shelters and vet hospitals in multiple states in the US-gassing and electrocution happen here, too. I know about the shiba in Japan. I think we actually are all pretty aware that conditions in the US, while agreably not optimal, are much kinder to domesticated animals than most. Doesn't mean we should be complacent. There are a lot of a active voices here for rescue and animal welfare. It feels like this thread is turning into another argument when it doesn't need to (rehashing the same thing again on multiple forums...)