The Coalition for Cruelty Free Africa (CFCFA), in collaboration with the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS), has initiated a global awareness campaign demanding legislative action against the dog and cat meat trade.
In a press statement issued to the Ghana News Agency, the coalition stressed the urgent need for governments worldwide to enact laws prohibiting the trade and consumption of companion animals, citing significant public health risks.
The campaign, supported by international animal protection organizations such as Soi Dog, Candy Hound Rescue, Global Justice For Greyhounds and all Dogs and The Coalition of African Animal Welfare, is to address the spread of zoonotic diseases linked to the consumption of dogs and cats.
It features a widespread awareness drive, including the placement of billboards across Africa and other global regions, advocating for a global ban on “barbaric” dog and cat meat trade, particularly prevalent in China, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Under the slogan, “Dogs and Cats Are Family, Not Food,” the CFCFA emphasised the importance of recognising these animals as loyal companions.
They highlighted the concerns raised by the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the health risks associated with their consumption.
The coalition warned that the slaughter and consumption of dogs and cats posed substantial threats to human health, including the transmission of rabies, cholera, and trichinellosis.
They reiterated the WHO's repeated warnings that live animal markets and unregulated meat trades significantly increased the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks, which could escalate into global health crises.
The CFCFA is calling on the African Union, African governments, and global leaders to take immediate legislative action to ban the dog and cat meat trade and other practices that endanger animal welfare.
They said that such legislation was crucial for safeguarding both animal and human health.
GNA
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