Note: This page is now very dated! After 10 years, Pet Fairs have become a regular feature in Asia. We cannot stop them. Instead we now try to participate and put our point of view. But I think this page is still worth reading!
Endorsement letters by Dr Chau and Professor Chan
Letter to participants from Executive Director, SPCA
1. Introduction
Written by Dr John Wedderburn. Hong Kong, 9th October 1997. Questions and
comments and constructive suggestions please to the
author.
Pet Fair Asia '97 (the first Pet Fair ever to be held in this region) was a major attempt by the Pet Industry to increase sales in Asia and it is likely to result in immensely increased abandoned animal problems. It was held in Hong Kong but it was aimed at the whole region. The Pet Fair's slogan was: "Little animals are big business - a Booming Market in Asia". They are not considering that Asia already has an impossible stray animal problem. I see the Pet Fair as being of frightening importance. The problems of abandoned animals are all going to become worse if the root of the problem is not tackled - i.e. the overproduction of companion animals. Governments should be strictly controlling imports and breeding. Instead they are "encouraging trade". The problem is not only an uneducated public but also uneducated or reluctant government departments. Under the excuse of encouraging free trade, imports and breeding are inadequately controlled almost everywhere. Hong Kong is probably the best country in the region for its suite of laws and regulations - but the built in loopholes and the lack of will in enforcement means that the situation goes more or less uncontrolled.
We did our best to mount opposition to the Pet Fair but we garnered little support and were undermined by people who should have been on our side being successfully wooed by the industry and persuaded to give endorsements. The two things that we did succeed in doing were the distribution of an Action Alert signed by concerned individuals and organisations around the region; and a handing out of leaflets at the Fair itself. For the former I have to thank the signatories for this splendid exercise in regional co-operation; for the latter a sterling effort was made by EarthCare, the Hong Kong charity that had distinguished itself the week before by mounting a demonstration against the bullfighting in Macau.
The SPCA (HK) put up a good stall on the last day, as also did the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. Unfortunately these were both sited round at the back and did not receive much traffic. I believe they would both have been better to have boycotted the Fair instead of lending it respectability by their presence. A plan to hold a separate exhibition to demonstrate the ill effects of excessive importation and breeding had to be cancelled because its organisers felt that it was too dangerous for defenceless young women to attempt to oppose the animal traders.
Our experiences this time will enable us to be better prepared for future Fairs. These are planned for Argentina in November 1997, Brazil in December 1997 and Hong Kong again in September 1998. If we are not pro-active on this issue, the workloads of animal shelters and dog pounds are going to increase exponentially. Governments must be persuaded to take action to limit animal production until all existing animals are being properly cared for. I hope that the big international animal organisations will take a leading role. If you are a member, please do your best to plead this case with them.
I hope you will think about this issue and join in our opposition to the Pet Fairs which are a big effort by the international pet industry to sell more animals to countries which cannot cope with the ones they have. It's crazy to think of expanding imports!! Whatever rights you think animals may or may not have, it is surely wrong to increase imports and breeding. Everyone - animal lovers and animal haters alike - should combine to prevent an increase in unwanted strays in our streets and countryside.
2. Pet Fair Brochure produced by the industry to advertise the Fair:
PET FAIR ASIA `97
Hong Kong, October 2 -4
The first truly International Pet Event for Asia
Why Pet Fair Asia?
The Asian economy is rapidly growing resulting in a growth of GNP and a rise of the disposable income of the population With a population of 3.75 billion people in the Asian region and a relatively young pet industry, the growth potential is enormous. Add the growing popularity of owning pets of the emerging middle class, and excellent market opportunities are a fact. Currently, Asia represents 23% of the $45 billion world pet product market and it is expected that within ten years the Asian pet market will be larger than the European market.
Why Hong Kong?
It is common knowledge that after July 1,1997 when Hong Kong is under Chinese authority it provides a direct access to the Chinese market with its growing pet market. In addition, Hong Kong has an international reputation and the area of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and other neighbouring countries can be reached from here. The Hong Kong pet market itself is strong as well which makes it an attractive location for an international pet event.
Who will exhibit at 1st Pet Fair Asia?
Pet Fair Asia is the international event where supply and demand will meet. Market leaders within the pet industry like Hagen, IAMS, Tetra, Ferplast and Wardley have already made investments and acknowledged the importance of the Asian and in particular the Hong Kong market. Many others are to follow amongst them manufacturers and suppliers from the Asian region. For companies already active in Asia, Pet Fair Asia offers the opportunity to meet with local agents and help them expand their current market share. For newcomers, this event is an excellent way to enter the market.
Who will visit 1st Pet Fair Asia?
Pet Fair Asia will attract a regional attendance as well as importers and wholesalers from
Europe and the USA. Importers, wholesalers, retailers (specialty shops as well as from
general shops and supermarkets), distributors, veterinarians, groomers, government officials, associations and representatives of research institutes will attend the exhibition The final exhibition day will be open to the general public. In this way exhibitors have a chance to meet with the local consumers who will learn about the products first hand and thus strengthening the product demand.
Why you cannot miss 1st Pet Fair Asia!
The Asian market accounts for 23% of the total world market for the pet industry (as compared to Europe with 32%) and the expected growth rate is 10% annually That is twice as high as the European rate of 5% and ten times as high as the American rate of 1%. As a result within ten years the Asian market will exceed the European market. Stepping in now, means that you will also be part of the Asian success; In 1996 International pet food companies reported an increase in sales of 30% in Hong Kong. Don't miss this opportunity and register now!
Expand your business in Asia!
Exhibit Profile 1st Pet Fair Asia `97
o Accessories o Pet Products
o Aquaria/ Garden o Pet Services
o Aviary o Shop Fitting and Packaging
o Food o Terraria
o Live Animals o Trade Literature
o Pet Care and Health o Veterinary Products
8 Reasons to Exhibit
First international pet trade exhibition in Asia
Hong Kong/ China and neighbouring countries have tremendous growth potential
Cost effective way to enter this market
Pet Fair Asia is supported by WWPSA and Japan Pet Products Manufacturers
Association as well as the leading trade magazine in Europe Pets Europe
Motivated and qualified visitors
Reach the entire market in three days
Meet trade people as well as consumers
Organizers have valuable experience in organising qualified exhibitions, f.e Pet Fair
Brasil `96.
This year three Pet Fairs are scheduled:
Pet Fair Asia `97, Hong Kong, October 2 - 4
Pet Fair Argentina `97, Buenos Aires, November 26 - 28
Pet Fair Brasil `97, Sao Paulo, December 3 - 5
Pet Fair Asia: Expand your business in Asia
For more information contact:
Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs Exhicon Asia Ltd
Ms. Ditte Ooms Mr. John Neo
P.O. Box 8500 26A Norris Road
3503 RM Utrecht Singapore 208268
the Netherlands Phone: +65 392 5991
Phone: +31 302955 513 Fax: +65 392 5990
Fax: +31 30 2955 709 E-mail: exhicon@singnet.com.sg
E-mail. rdjintex@worldaccess.nl
3. Region-wide Action Alert sent out on 30th September 1997:
OPEN LETTER FROM AN IMPROMPTU ALLIANCE OF CONCERNED PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA:
Dear Friends,
The first Pet Fair Asia '97 takes place in Hong Kong from 2 October to 4 October 1997.
The slogan on their poster reads:
"Little animals are big business - a Booming market in Asia."
The fair aims to fuel the pet trade in countries such as Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Singapore.
Abandonment of animals and impulsive buying of pure-breeds are big problems in many of these countries.
Also, please consider the tragic irony of the fair's aim considering:
*In Hong Kong 5539 dogs and 5366 cats were put to sleep in the SPCA (HK) from 1 April 95 to 31 March 96 inclusive. (Source: SPCA (HK)). There is a ban on the keeping of dogs in public housing and in many private housing schemes.
* In China, there are no SPCAs or shelters or any animal cruelty laws (outside HKSAR). They have officials who put unlicensed dogs in sacks and beat them to death in the street. And not many dogs are licensed as the dog licence fee in the cities can be more than a month's wage for the average worker.
* The Taiwan Council of Agriculture has commenced what is thought will be the largest slaughter of stray dogs in history - that is 700,000 dogs. There are estimated to be 200,000 stray dogs in Taipei alone. ``Taiwan is one of the worst places in the world to be a dog,'' according to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, which inspected Taiwan in February. The Taiwan Government admits that brutal execution methods have been widespread in the past but claims that the methods to be used this time will be "kinder and gentler". (Source: Reuters August 1997)
* In Singapore, 4682 cats and 3013 dogs were put to sleep in the SPCA from July 1995 to June 1996. Emergency put to sleep cases accounted for another 589 dogs and 1599 cats during the same period. (Source: SPCA, Singapore). There is a huge stray cat problem there. The public are told by the Primary Production Department not to feed strays and cat-traps are made available to the public to catch cats. Some stray dogs are shot to death in the open.
* In Japan, 722,132 abandoned animals were killed in 1995. This means that every 44 seconds, a dog or cat is killed. This number does not include animals sold for experiments. (Source: Japan Anti Vivisection Association)
Pet Fair Asia will attract a regional attendance as well as importers and wholesalers from Europe and the USA. Others who will attend the exhibition include retailers (specialty shops as well as from general shops and supermarkets), distributors, veterinarians, groomers, government officials, associations and representatives of research institutes. The final exhibition day will be open to the general public.
While promoting free trade may be used an argument for the fair, the major difference between this industry and other commodity trading is that live beings are at stake here. If the governments of these countries cannot deal with the huge stray and abandonment problems, they should not be silent on events that are going to exacerbate the situation.
Please write letters to the addresses given below as soon as possible. You may want to include points made above. Basically that given that these countries
1) have substantial stray and abandonment problems
2) do have not sufficient government subsidised services or mechanisms to address these problems in a humane way, what does the government see as a responsible stand towards Pet Fair Asia '97 and will it be taking this stand?
Will it send government officials to the fair and lend respectability to the fair?
What steps is the government taking to control imports and breeding?
What steps is the government taking to institute humane stray control practices?
For those who wrote letters to the Taiwanese authorities about the dog massacre and have received replies, it may be very important to bring in this point about Pet Fair Asia '97 in your second letter.
While dealing with the symptoms of the problem - fostering puppies, euthanising unhomeables - is important, the problem needs to tackled at its roots - i.e. the overproduction of companion animals. Governments should be strictly controlling imports and breeding.
Many relevant animal groups in these countries are buckling under a huge workload, have very limited resources and some have to work under difficult and restrictive political climates. We need your help to
put animal issues, and for a start this basic issue of companion animals, on the governments' serious agendas.
Thank you very much for any help.
If you need more information, please email:
John at: jwed@hkstar.com or
Vadivu at: kuma@cyberway.com.sg
For the animals,
Ms Ng Wai Yee, EarthCare, Hong Kong
Ms Ip Pui, Reach 11, Hong Kong
Dr John Wedderburn, EarthCare, Hong Kong.
Ms Kyenan Kum, Korean Animal Protection Society, Korea
Ms Elizabeth Oliver, Animal Refuge Kansai, Japan
Wu Hung Bhiksu, Life Conservationists Association, Taiwan
Ms Mina Sharpe, Taipei Abandoned Animal Rescue Foundation, Taiwan
Ms Vadivu Govind, Singapore.
What you can do:
ADDRESSES TO WRITE TO:
The Director
Agriculture and Fisheries Department
Government Offices
393 Canton Road
TST
Kowloon
Hong Kong
Fax: + 852 2311 3731
The Chairman
Council of Agriculture
Executive Yuan
37 Nanhai Road
Taipei
Taiwan.
Fax: + 886 2312 4645
The Minister
Mr Lim Hng Kiang
Ministry of National Development
5 Maxwell Road
#21-00 & #22-00
Tower Block
MND Complex
Singapore 069110
Fax: + 65 325 7254
Minister Lee Hyo Kye
Ministry of Agriculture
Government Building #2
1 Chungang-dong,
Kwachun City, Kyoungki-do
South Korea 427-760
Tel : + 82 2503 7201, Fax + 82 2507 3968
For Japan, please write to the Japanese Ambassador in
your own country. Or to:
The Prime Minister's Office
Council for Protection of Animals
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Japan 100]
4. Endorsement letters by Dr Chau and Professor Chan:
Dear Pet Fair Asia `97 organisers
The Hong Kong Veterinary Association is delighted to be invited to the Pet Fair Asia `97 exhibition and the Association wishes the Pet Fair success in 1997.
Our members are committed to animal welfare and maintaining the highest standards of veterinary science and practice in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region.
It is therefore, pleasing for the Association to be part of the Pet Fair so that the trade visitors and exhibitors and the public can be made aware of our objectives and the importance of excellent veterinary standards in achieving better animal well-being and consumer protection and confidence.
Once again the Association wishes all participants, exhibitors and conference delegates an enlightening and rewarding experience at Pet Fair `97.
Sincerely,
Conan Chau
President
Hong Kong Veterinary Association
C/- Laboratory Animal House
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
PET FAIR ASIA `97
With fast growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region, communities in many Asian countries have become much more affluent and one of the up-shots is the increasing popularity in keeping pets at homes in urban areas.
Most of these pets-keeping families may well lack the basic knowledge and experience in regard to animal welfare. I am therefore delighted that there will be a "Pet Fair Asia `97" exhibition in Hong Kong, with more than 4000 trade visitors and exhibitors.
I have no doubt that the general public will benefit from visiting the Fair; through seeing and learning means of achieving best standards for pets keeping, thus acquiring the general understanding of animal welfare. As educator and Chairman of the Government's newly established Animal Welfare Advisory Group for Hong Kong, I have great hope that the Fair's participants, exhibitors and conference delegates would promote the concept of animal welfare for the benefit of the keepers and their pets, hence fulfilling an important educational role.
I wish PET FAIR ASIA `97 every success!
Professor S.T.H. Chan
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
5. View Point - 5 minute talk on Radio Television Hong Kong broadcast on Sunday 5th October 1997 by Dr John Wedderburn
Schoolchildren terrorised by stray dogs in Yau Tong. This sort of headline is becoming more common. Why? Because the Government is not taking effective action? Yes, indeed.
So what did the Government do in response to this situation in Yau Tong? They advised the children to take the bus and they sent in the dog catchers. This is placebo treatment of the symptoms and will not solve the problem. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department killed 9000 dogs in the first eight months of this year and the SPCA killed 6180 dogs and 5505 cats. The reason this doesn't help is that dogs and cats are being abandoned all the time and will quickly breed to fill the ecological niche.
So what is the answer? Is it telling people to be more responsible - not to buy an animal if they can't look after it for life? - to have it neutered, not to let it stray and certainly not to abandon it? These are all partial answers and public education is very important. But people are people - there will always be the romantic young couple unable to resist the cute little puppy in the pet shop window. Owning a pedigree dog in the 90s is like having a Gucci bag was in the 80s. But people don't stop to think that these fashions are living beings who can feel pain and loneliness. Of course it is very important to make a supreme effort to reduce demand. But there are forces here which we can try to counter but we cannot control.
No - the most effective action must be control of supply. The Government must take action to limit importation and breeding of companion animals. Does the Government not know this? Of course they do. Why don't they do it? The necessary legislation and regulations are more or less in place (with a few glaring loopholes which could be easily plugged given the will). But they don't enforce them. Why not?
Because they listen to the arguments of the importers and breeders and sellers. The powerful, uncaring people who are getting very rich in this trade. In the name of free trade the AFD issues licences without adequate thought of the consequences. The cost of the licences should be drastically increased as should the fines for trading without licences. These are not normal commodities to be heaped into landfills when we tire of them - these are living, feeling, suffering animals. They may not be our equals in intelligence, but they certainly know how to suffer pain and misery. Nearly 2000 a month do go into the landfills but many end up in the streets and parks desperately trying to survive. They lead miserable, painful lives with little food and no shelter and no treatment for their diseases and injuries. And they are a danger to the community from dog bites and from the spread of disease. There have been no cases of rabies in Hong Kong for a number of years but rabies is just over the border and is a disaster waiting to happen. All because a few people want to get rich. With this huge pool of unwanted animals, why does the government allow more to be produced?
In Hong Kong this week is Pet Fair Asia 97. This is a big push by the pet trade to expand into the Asian market. The slogan on their poster reads:
"Little animals are big business - a Booming market in Asia."
What? Excuse me! Increase imports to Asia? - we can't cope with what we have. Why on earth should we bring in more?
Abandonment of animals and impulsive buying of pure-breeds are big problems in all Asian countries. The Fair's aims are tragic if you consider the following facts from round the region:
* In Hong Kong hardly anyone has sufficient space for a dog. And there is a ban on the keeping of dogs in public housing and in many private housing schemes. Our wastelands and parks are already full of unwanted, abandoned animals. In Hong Kong 13,315 dogs were euthanised during the first eight months of this year. This despite the SPCA's stretching its resources to the limits and desexing 2710 animals in the same period. 13,315 dogs - that is on average a dog every half hour all day every day. What an effort this is. What an exercise in misery. And yet we allow equal numbers to be imported and bred. We are making all this effort just to stay on the same spot.
* In the rest of China, there are no SPCAs or shelters or any animal cruelty laws. They have officials who put unlicensed dogs in sacks and beat them to death in the street. And not many dogs are licensed as the dog licence fee in the cities can be more than a month's wage for the average worker.
* In Taiwan the Council of Agriculture has commenced what is thought will be the largest slaughter of stray dogs in history - that is 700,000 dogs. The methods being used are mostly primitive and inhumane. Drowning, starving, electrocution, gassing, poisoning and clubbing.
* In Singapore, 3602 dogs and 6281 cats were put to sleep in the SPCA in the year from July 1995 to June 1996. Some stray dogs are shot in public areas and the streets are full of stray cats.
* In Japan, 722,132 abandoned animals were killed in 1995. This means that every 44 seconds, a dog or cat is killed. This number does not include animals sold for experiments.
If the governments of these countries cannot deal with the huge stray and abandonment problems, they should not be silent on events that are going to make the situation worse.
Please let us not bring in any more animals until we have found homes for the ones we already have. I ask listeners to make their views known to the Director of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.
And I ask Government to hear the pleas of the animals.
6. Statement from Executive Director, SPCA
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
17th October, 1997
Pet Fair Asia October 1-4 1997 Hong Kong
SPCA (Hong Kong) is anxious that all participants in the recent Pet Fair should be made aware of the facts regarding animal welfare and pet-ownership in Asia.
The organisers' slogan "Little Animals mean Big Business" indicates a heartless disregard for the living creatures exploited by the pet-trade. Their description of Asia, as a growing pet-market completely ignores the realities of huge populations of strays, many restrictions on ownership and lack of public education in basic pet-care.
The SPCA was invited to have a booth on the last day of the fair and our display appealed to the pet-trade not to add to the animal over-population and suffering already seen in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.
We have sent the enclosed letter in English or Chinese to every company that took part in Pet Fair Asia 1997 with the exception of those dealing solely in tropical fish and related products.. Please add your voice to ours and give these companies the facts about pet-ownership and animal welfare in your particular country and the Asian region.
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
20 October, 1997
Dear Sir / Madam,
The Asian Pet Trade - the other side of the story
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is concerned that all participants in "Pet Fair Asia 1997" should be made fully aware of the facts regarding pet ownership in Asia and are not misled by the rosy picture painted by Fair organisers of a market expanding daily.
In many parts of Asia we have seen, in recent years, encouragement of pet-ownership followed soon after by government bans and restrictions which have led to the unnecessary suffering and untimely death of countless animals.
The facts:-
A. Hong Kong
1. At least 50% of the population are not allowed to keep pets of any kind, including small animals, birds and fish, because they live in public estates. This restriction was strictly enforced from April 1996 when tenants were given two weeks to get rid of their dog or lose their flat. The SPCA's appeals to the Government to allow people to keep cats, birds, fish and other small pets have been rejected and the "no pets" policy has in fact been adopted by the management of many non-government residential buildings.
2. The pet market in Hong Kong, which boomed in the early 90's has consequently declined but at the cost of thousands of innocent pets' lives.
The number of licensed pet shops has steadily dropped from 161 in 1993 to 110 in April 1997. The SPCA, in addition to its welfare services, runs one of the largest fee-paying veterinary practices in Hong Kong employing nine veterinary surgeons. Our 1996/97 clinic figures are down almost 15% on the previous year while numbers of unwanted pets taken in from owners are up 11% and numbers of stray dogs caught are up 18%.
We humanely destroyed 12,287 animals last year including 6,180 dogs. 45% of these dogs were pure-breeds. Many were totally unsuited by breed to Hong Kong's climate.
3 Small Pets
In 1995/96 chinchillas were "in fashion" and the SPCA now deals with the many that are surrendered to us because they are sick or simply because the owners have tired of them or are unwilling to spend money on special food and dust. It is our experience that many owners of small pets like rabbits, hamsters etc are reluctant to pay for veterinary treatment when they become sick and many are also unaware of the importance of proper food and hygienic, comfortable living conditions, suitable to the animals' behaviour patterns and not just to their small size. Owners are usually also unaware that most small animals reproduce at an alarming rate and over-population leads directly to suffering. Responsible sellers of these animals must ensure that prospective owners are allowed to keep them and are fully informed of what is involved in caring for them.
At the recent Pet Fair, the array of colourful and cute accessories designed for the use of hamsters, chinchillas etc tended to send the wrong message to file public that these pets were not live animals but a kind of toy around which a fantasy world could be built, rather like `My Little Pony" or a "Barbie" doll.
It cannot be more strongly stressed that all of these small pets are just as forbidden to most people in Hong Kong as are dogs and cats. The SPCA very much regrets this fact and is trying to have the Housing Authority's ruling relaxed, but it is still a fact and traders must not encourage potential buyers to ignore it. In the end it is the animals which will suffer.
B. Taiwan
1. Taiwan has an estimated 1.3 million stray dogs. Many of them are pure-breeds abandoned because people were encouraged to buy them but had no idea of the responsibilities of pet-ownership. Many of these dogs are completely unsuited by breed to the country's climate and should never have been imported.
2. The strays that are caught are not killed humanely. They are kept in crowded, filthy conditions before being drowned or electrocuted. Classified as rubbish, many are simply left to starve to death.
3. The Taiwan authorities, in the face of international criticism are at last starting to draft animal protection laws but this will take time. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) are currently working in Taiwan to ease the suffering of the thousands of dogs held in the municipal pounds. Any encouragement of the pet-trade in Taiwan at this time could have a disastrous effect on their efforts and on those of the local Life Conservationist Association (LCA).
C. China
1 In China the picture is even bleaker. There are no animal welfare laws and no local organisations like the SPCA or LCA to help educate the public.
2 In most Chinese cities, the keeping of dogs is only allowed on payment of huge registration fees often equivalent to a year's salary for an ordinary citizen. Dogs kept illegally are seized and beaten to death.
3. Strays are treated as harshly and the inhumane handling and slaughter of cats and dogs in Chinese markets has made headlines world-wide. This is a country seemingly seeking to eradicate companion animals rather than one ready to welcome an expanded pet trade.
Conclusion
While we want existing Asian pet-owners to have access to food, drugs and accessories that will improve their pets' health and quality of life, the SPCA totally condemns any encouragement the Asia Pet Fair may have given to businesses to exploit the ignorance of a public largely new to pet-ownership, tempting them to buy a pet on impulse and discard it with just as little thought, adding to the huge population of strays that already exists.
We sincerely hope that any reputable company will research very carefully the prospects for "Big Business" to be made out of "Small Animals" in Asia. What is certain is the potential for great suffering to be caused. Please don't be a party to it.
Yours faithfully,
Doreen Davies, Executive Director
Footnote: PetFair Asia 98 was cancelled!!!
(But others are springing up all over the place........)