They rescue more than 1,000 cats in China that were going to be slaughtered to sell them as pork or lamb

The Zhangjiagang Police, in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, have rescued more than 1,000 cats from a truck that was headed to the slaughterhouse and where they were going to be slaughtered and then sold as pork or lamb. The local newspaper The Paper has reported on the police operation, which has shut down an illicit meat sales business that compromised food security in the country.

The agents received a notice from a group of activists, who reported that they had seen, near a cemetery, dozens of wooden boxes with cats inside ready to be transported.

These same activists patrolled the streets for six days, following the movements of the boxes and when they saw that they were going to be sent to the slaughterhouse, they notified the authorities.

The Police discovered during the operation that the illicit business had already raised more than $20,000 from the sale of the animals, which were sent to the south to be served as skewers or pork and lamb sausages.. It is unknown if they were stolen pets or stray cats.

Lawless for dogs and cats

As a result of the publication of the operation by the Chinese Government and the aforementioned media, a wave of criticism and concern for animal rights in the country has been unleashed, according to the BBC, also calling for greater control by the authorities.

Although China has laws to regulate and protect livestock and endangered animals, there is no general law that addresses animal cruelty toward pets and stray dogs and cats.

Animal rights activists have long campaigned against the use of animal parts – including many endangered species – for traditional medicine.. There is also growing opposition to an annual dog meat festival in Yulin in the western Guangxi autonomous region.