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| The cat at the Hostel in Zhangjiajie! Tianzi Hostel |
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| The dog at the hostel in Beijing (Ming Courtyard) |
One of the things I was really worried about coming to China was how animals are treated! Animals place in China is stuck between the old world and and the new. When you walk around in the morning you see dogs on leashes, immaculately groomed wearing bows and sweaters being proudly displayed by their owners. You also walk by stores that have cats on leashes, not quite as endearing. These felines are relatively well cared for. Both hostels I have stayed in had a pet of sorts. In Zhangjiajie, there was a cute orange and white cat prowling around, who had a litterbox (first one I have seen) and food and water. The dog in Beijing was an accomplished beggar and thief, even though he was well fed and well cared for. His toys were scattered around the common areas. As far as other pets go I have seen pet birds in cages, very similar to the US. But not very many of these. There are places where they sell gold fish in tiny little terrariums. Almost every toy store sells live turtles, not in little terrariums but in tiny little plastic balls with some water in them and holes for air. At first I thought they were fake, then I realized they were moving.
The other group of animals are the animals for eating. They are everywhere and include everything. In smaller towns this is more obvious, but I do see people carrying around live animals to sell. A teacher at my school stopped by the English office, and dropped something off. It was a live chicken in a box, the poor thing was rustling around trying to get out. I would have laughed if it had gotten out and away. That being said every time you head to the market you run the risk of seeing a fish being scaled alive, a chicken being killed or any number of unkind killing methods. The really horrific part is seeing dead dogs and cats hung up for sale. Although seeing ROUSs in cages can be equally horrifying. The variety of things that they eat here is impressive though!!
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| Rodent of Unusual Size |
The other group of animals are the animals for eating. They are everywhere and include everything. In smaller towns this is more obvious, but I do see people carrying around live animals to sell. A teacher at my school stopped by the English office, and dropped something off. It was a live chicken in a box, the poor thing was rustling around trying to get out. I would have laughed if it had gotten out and away. That being said every time you head to the market you run the risk of seeing a fish being scaled alive, a chicken being killed or any number of unkind killing methods. The really horrific part is seeing dead dogs and cats hung up for sale. Although seeing ROUSs in cages can be equally horrifying. The variety of things that they eat here is impressive though!!
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