Chinese and International Animal Protection Groups Say "No" to Seal Slaughter Cruelty

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 12, 2011) - Chinese and Canadian animal protection groups are calling on Canada's Fisheries Minister Gail Shea and Canadian sealing-industry representatives to leave China. Minister Shea is in China attempting to promote inherently cruel seal fur and other products to Chinese consumers. This visit comes just weeks after a Beijing media conference in which Humane Society International joined Chinese animal protection groups and presented graphic footage of the Canadian commercial seal slaughter.

"The Canadian sealing industry is mistaken if it believes that China will willingly become a dumping ground for products of cruelty the rest of the world has rejected," said Lu Di, director of China Small Animal Protection Association. "Chinese people care just as much about animals as the citizens of Europe and America. My organization and many others will work to ensure China never becomes a significant market for Canadian seal products."

"I cannot believe that a civilized nation like Canada would consider promoting this cruel and outdated industry in China," said Qin Xiaona, director of Beijing's Capital Animal Welfare Association. "We are confident that Chinese people will join the world community in saying no to the products of this baby seal slaughter."

"Canadians are opposed to the seal hunt, and so the sealing industry has to rely on the international community to sell its products, said Ha Wejin, Nanjing Ping An Animal Protection Group. "But we know what happens on Canada's ice floes, and we are not prepared to perpetuate this horrific industry. We urge Gail Shea and her colleagues to leave China immediately along with their seal products."

"Compassion is a human condition, not a cultural one," said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International/Canada. "I saw firsthand the determination of caring people in China to never let their country perpetuate the cruelty of commercial sealing. There is no future for the Canadian sealing industry in China."

In the wake of the 27 nation European Union banning its trade in products of commercial seal hunts HSI is calling upon the Canadian government to implement a one-time buyout of the commercial sealing industry. This program would compensate fishermen for any lost income as the seal hunt is closed, and invest in safe, sustainable economic alternatives in the communities involved. A 2010 Ipsos Reid survey found that half of Newfoundland sealers holding an opinion support a federal sealing industry buyout.

Participating Groups: 

• China Small Animal Protection Association

• China Small Animal Protection Association-Shanghai

• China Small Animal Protection Association-Tianjin

• Beijing Capital Animal Welfare Association

• China Animal Care Network

• Beanstalk Beijing

• Beijing Youth Animal Protection Volunteer Group

• Beijing Dog and Cat Help Volunteer General Station

• Beijing "Hand in Hand" Animal Rescue Center

• Beijing Coolpet New Horizon

• Beijing Lucky Cats

• Beijing Dog and Cat Orphanage

• Chongqing Animal Protection Association

• Changsha Small Animal Protection Association

• Changchun Small Animal Protection Association

• Chengde Jingling Youyue Street Animal Rescue Center

• Dalian Pet100

• Chengdu Home of Love Rescue Center

• Guangzhou Home of Pets

• Jinan Yellow River Street Dog Rescue Center

• Haerbin Animal Protection Association

• Humane Society International

• Nanjing Ping An A Fu Animal Protection Association

• Nanning Stray Cat Help Center

• Suzhou Small Animal Protection Volunteers Group

• Shijiazhuang Mi-Ai Stray Cat Help Center

• Shanghai East China Normal University Sunshine Small Animal Protection Group

• Shandong Taishan Animal Protection Association

• Fuzhou Small Animal Protection Network

• Xixi Forestry Guangzhou Cat Protection Group

• Hainan Small Animal Protection Association

• Hangzhou Stray Animal Rescue Center

• Shantou Cat Lovers' Group

• Shenzhen Cat Protection Network

• Shenzhen Homeless Dog Sanctuary

• Sichuan Guangyuan Universal Love Animal Protection Center

• Sichuan Qiming Small Animal Protection Center

• Tianjin Home to All

• Tianjin Love and Rescue Society

• Wuhan Stray Animal Rescue Center

• Shanxi Hongshiliu Companion Animal Rescue Center

• Xiamen Animal Protection Education Committee

• Xiamen A Fu Volunteers Association

Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, representing tens of thousands of members and constituents across the country. HSI Canada has active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation and farm animal welfare. HSI Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International—one of the largest animal protection organizations in the world, with more than 11 million members and constituents globally—On the Web at www.hsicanada.ca.