Women adopt pets destined to be slaughtered at infamous dog market in China

Women adopt pets destined to be slaughtered at infamous dog market in China

7 February 2018

THREE dogs, dramatically saved from a Chinese slaughter-house, are settling into local homes in an extraordinary tale of pet rescue.

Casey, Roxie and Freddie are the first dogs ever re-homed in Northern Ireland by the pet rescue charity, Doggie911, following an online appeal for adopters.

They were first taken to safety by Chinese police last summer after being discovered crammed into a lorry with 1,200 other dogs en-route to the infamous Yulin food festival where 10,000 dogs are slaughtered every year.

Due to malnourishment and disease, Casey, Roxie and Freddie were among the 600 dogs to survive the recuse effort. They were transferred to an animal rescue shelter to recover before travelling to their new families in Crossgar, Ballynahinch and Castlewellan.

Following weeks of planning and successful home checks, volunteers left northern China with the four-legged trio last week for a five-day journey, by air and sea to their new homes.

Two months after responding to the online appeal, their owners met their new pets, including Isobel Hyde, from Crossgar, who is getting to know her new dog, Casey.

Having lost her beloved dog last year, Isobel said she had been looking for a new pet but had struggled to find the right one for her.

Seeing Casey on Facebook, and horrified to hear her story, Isobel she said she immediately wanted to offer a home.

”I have been told they eat 15 million dogs in China every year and although it is not illegal, this lorry was stopped by police because of the cruelty involved in their death at this festival,” she said.

“They are bludgeoned on the street and skinned alive. I had no idea this happened. It is unbelievably upsetting.”

Isobel said Casey was not expected to survive the immediate aftermath of her ordeal due to malnourishment, dehydration and distemper. She said she is still underweight seven months after first being rescued.

“Casey is settling in well but the vet has said she is still four or five kilos underweight so we are trying to build her up. She is fantastic company,” she said.

“We have been told there were 1,200 in one truck and seven per small crate. Local volunteers are planning to go back out to the area in June, 

as I imagine what happened to Casey is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Equally distraught by the story of cruelty was Rosie Simpson, from Ballynahinch, who is now delighted to have welcomed 18 month-old Roxie to her home.

She said the story of their rescue had struck a chord with her as she has previously travelled to Dublin to protest against a dog meat eating festival.

Despite being cautious around new people, Rosie said Roxie was settling well.

“She can be nervous in new situations but when she comes around she is affectionate and loving,” she said.

Castlewellan woman Shakira Murray is also delighted to have helped Doggie911 by offering a home to three year-old Freddie.

“As soon as I saw Freddie on Facebook I fell in love with him,” she said.

“He is getting on so well with us and although he is slightly underweight he does not seem too traumatised by everything he has been through.

“I was aware that something like this happened in China but I had no idea it was to this scale. I would encourage others to adopt, not shop, for a dog. It feels so good to have saved Freddie.”