CHINA/FILE: Activists of animal rights group PETA, take to streets of Hong Kong to protest against cruelty to rabbits

Record ID: 1539282

  • Title: CHINA/FILE: Activists of animal rights group PETA, take to streets of Hong Kong to protest against cruelty to rabbits
  • Date: 28th January 2011
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (JANUARY 27, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RESCUED RABBIT AT SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (2 SHOTS) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WELFARE SERVICES, FIONA WOODHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WELFARE SERVICES FIONA WOODHOUSE SAYING: "It has been mentioned to me that there is some intent in the pet industry to obviously increase sales of rabbit and I know some people are increasing their stock, hoping that this is going to happen. And so we're just concerned that while there is a sophistication in the Hong Kong public, equally the pet trade is becoming more and more sophisticated in its marketing technique. So it might be more of a concern this year with enhanced marketing and internet and sort of sales in the pet trade." VARIOUS OF RESCUED RABBIT (2 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WELFARE SERVICES FIONA WOODHOUSE SAYING: "And again, a lot of the time you will see an image in the media or in the pet shop, you'll see a very small juvenile rabbit which is obviously very appealing, very cute, very small very fluffy. And some of these breeds do actually grow to quite a size. So a New Zealand rabbit, a white rabbit, might become quite a large rabbit. As big as a small dog." MORE OF RESCUED RABBIT
  • Embargoed: 12th February 2011 14:24
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Hong Kong, China
  • City:
  • Country: Hong Kong China
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3V47XBTBZODBNTEWOHUHJH794
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: With the Year of the Rabbit just around the corner, animal activists in Hong Kong protested cruelty towards the furry creatures from fur wearers and irresponsible pet owners.
    Activists from the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), wearing little more than bunny ears and fluffy tails, braved the winter weather to urge shoppers to forgo fur.
    They said rabbits are coming under increasing threat from the fashion and pet industries.
    "Rabbit fur is generally cheaper than other types of fur, so unfortunately it can be very popular. And that's why we are appealing to the public today that if you care about rabbits and you want to make it a good year for them, please don't wear any fur," said PETA spokesperson, Ashley Fruno.
    Rabbit fur is widely available in Hong Kong and Asia, and because it is cheaper, the fur used on everything from coats to scarves and hats, and even toys for cats and dogs.
    "It happens that the year of the rabbit is coming and this year seams to be that the trend is to wear a lot of furry things. You know, you get like, furry hats, furry clothes, you know, furry everything. You've got a bit of a native American theme going. But the thing is we've got a lot of alternatives. You know you get like fake fur and you also get second hand fur, like from a second hand shop so you are not creating the demand for more animals to be killed that way. And, like you know, you have all these other stylish alternatives to keep you warm. Why be cruel?" said vegan protester, Christina Chan, who was born on the Year of the Rabbit.
    Video that PETA said it shot secretly in an undisclosed Chinese fur factory showed the animals pulled from their cages by their ears, shot in the head with electric stun guns, hung upside down, decapitated and skinned.
    PETA also urged consumers to resist buying rabbits for New Year gifts or pets.
    Pet shops in China and elsewhere in Asia have seen soaring sales of rabbits in the run-up to the Lunar New Year, which begins on February 3, but activists warned the animals are often abandoned once the novelty wears off.
    The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that although there was no major problem with abandoned rabbits after the last Year of the Rabbit 12 years ago, this year could be different.
    "It has been mentioned to me that there is some intent in the pet industry to obviously increase sales of rabbit and I know some people are increasing their stock, hoping that this is going to happen. And so we're just concerned that while there is a sophistication in the Hong Kong public, equally the pet trade is becoming more and more sophisticated in its marketing technique. So it might be more of a concern this year with enhanced marketing and internet and sort of sales in the pet trade," said Fiona Woodhouse, deputy director of SPCA's welfare services.
    Woodhouse cautioned the public that rabbits can require more care than it initially seems. Rabbits can live up to 12 years, need space to roam, and are prone to diseases like cancer, which means hefty veterinarian bills.
    "And again, a lot of the time you will see an image in the media or in the pet shop, you'll see a very small juvenile rabbit which is obviously very appealing, very cute, very small very fluffy. And some of these breeds do actually grow to quite a size. So a New Zealand rabbit, a white rabbit, might become quite a large rabbit. As big as a small dog," she warned.
    According to the Hong Kong Rabbit Society, rabbits are the third most neglected animals in Hong Kong after cats and dogs with SPCA figures showing that around 200 a year are abandoned by their owners.
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