Dear Prime Minister/President
 

As a dog lover, on learning that China conducts and condones organised import and breeding of Saint Bernard Dogs and other breeds for human consumption, I organised a Petition to enlist the support of the United Nations to take appropriate measures to end this trade.

I have also collected a body of evidence to show that this is a flourishing and expanding business.  My colleagues and I have collected well over 100, 000 signatures in 4 months, 95 per cent of these are from New Zealand citizens, with the citizens from 38 countries now signing the international Petition on the Internet.  Support is gaining strength with the recruitment of volunteers to organise signature collection centres in other countries, and a 7-figure total is targeted in the months ahead.

We seek to submit the Petition to the United Nations, preferably through a Member Mission and request a temporary extension of the United Nations Mandate to include this subject in formal discussion.  It is understood that the United Nations Mandate does not include animal welfare and that unless this Mandate was extended, the subject could not be formally included in the agenda before the General Assembly.  Our minimum objective therefore is the presentation of the Petition (in the form of affidavits by signature custodians) to the Secretary General for circulation amongst member countries.  We would expect this to at least generate some informal discussion as a first step towards the drafting of a Declaration deploring the practice and ultimately towards individual Member Countries legislating to ban the export of dogs to countries importing them for food.

The reason for the Petition and its dramatic response so far (apart from highlighting the cruel practices employed in the slaughtering of dogs), is the awareness of this animals special relationship, albeit virtually symbiotic, with humans, developed over thousands of years.  The dog has been adopted by humans for a range of needs from hunting to simple companionship. The dog has responded to this treatment in a reciprocal manner and the result is a human-animal partnership unknown in other species.  Thus the old adage " A dog is man's best friend.

Some concern has been raised over interference in a countrys culture.  We adopt the view that a nations culture relates to its intellectual, spiritual and artistic development, and not to the food its citizens eat.   I have enclosed documents with evidence to support this.

The Petition of the Citizens of the World respectfully requests that the Leaders of World Nations present this matter to the United Nations at the earliest possible time.  We ask this, as evidence exists that the trade is expanding and that other Western breeds are being considered for human consumption and that China now has plans to farm our breed dogs as livestock.

Yours truly,
 
 

ELLY MAYNARD (MRS)
PETITION TO SAVE THE SAINT BERNARDS
AND OTHER WESTERN BREED DOGS
FROM HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Beethoven/Saint Bernard Dogs Become China’s 
Favorite Meat Dogs 

Dear Sirs, 

Saint Bernard dogs are adored and famous since centuries and this year the 200th
birthday of Barry, the most famous rescue dog is celebrated. (for details see our internet
site). Saint Bernard dogs have been life saving dogs during several centuries in the
Swiss mountains and had already helped Napoleon’s army to cross over the Alps. They
are an integral  part of Swiss history and are presented on Swiss tourism publications all
over the world. 

In China Saint Bernard dogs were specially imported from Western countries to be used
as meat dogs and are breaded massively for this purpose. The reason for this rush is that
Saint Bernards are more profitable than other breads due to their size, their high number
of puppies, etc in addition the meat tastes apparently very good. The biggest Saint
Bernard breading center and future meat-factory in Shanxi is run by the Chinese
government. The director of this Chinese breading center foresees that breading Saint
Bernards will be in a few years like breading cows or sheep. 

We strongly object to this trade, which insults the history of Switzerland and these dogs’
wonderful rescue work they have been doing over centuries and are still doing now all
over the world. Trade has to be built on mutual respect. This is certainly not happening
with this Saint Bernards horror business. This trade is an offense! China has a lot of work
to do in respect to human rights and animal protection. Therefore there is no reason that
they start in addition this Saint Bernard trade, which they develop since 4 years. 

Dog meat is considered as a natural Viagra, and its value is boosted by killing the animal
with a maximum of suffering, which increases the level of adrenaline in the meat and
consequently its aphrodisiac value. 

The Swiss government is informed. But we need international action and pressure, as
China wants to make us believe that they are making major efforts to improve conditions
in their country while behind our back they are building other abject businesses, like the
Saint Bernard business. 

We thank you in advance for your help. 

Yours faithfully, 
 

Eleonora Moser (Mrs.)
SOS Saint Bernard Dogs - International 
56, CH-1211
Genève 7, Switzerland
Email: sosstbernard@befree.ch