According to a new report from The Guardian, a number of Chinese manufacturers have been unlawfully exporting leather goods made from dog and cat skin to the US.
The controversy reached new heights when an undercover investigator working for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) exposed gruesome footage from a dog slaughterhouse. According to PETA, employees said that 100-200 dogs were killed at the facility per day and confirmed that the resulting leather was intended for export to, and sale in, the US market.
The importation of dog and cat fur and skin is illegal in the US, and punishable by a fine of up $10,000, but distinguishing the difference from legal leathers has proven difficult for authorities. Fortunately, the video spurred increased pressure from US citizens, and congressional interest, which could potentially undermine the contraband trade.
China has no existing anti-animal abuse legislation. And since dog fur is a byproduct of the dog meat trade, critics say that the dog leather trade will continue until the country outlaws dog eating. But with a government that seems unwilling to prohibit anything that creates employment or GDP growth, the prospect of that seems unlikely.
You can read more about China’s dog leather trade at The Guardian.
