In China and many parts of Asia, being a stray dog or cat is more than just fear of hunger and a place to rest. Strays and even pet dogs face a daily risk of being scooped up and sold for meat, and many are tortured along the way. The torture they and their puppies face is not just from butchers but from youths who will film their suffering and distribute it for money on the internet. The footage is watched by Westerners who delight in the screams of the vulnerable.
Often, when the torture ( which can be physical or even sexual) has finished, limbs removed, teeth and eyes pulled out, and worse, these innocent souls are thrown into large dumpster trucks, barely breathing, scooped up and turned into soup.
When we rescued Mocha, one eye and the side of her face had been smashed in, and her second eye was nearly out of its socket. She was left by the road in the scorching heat with a pile of mutilated kittens. This was not deep in rural China but close to the Shunyi dog meat market, in the county which is home to Beijing Capital Airport.
This is the kind of cruelty our charity faces on the daily, and we are overloaded with high veterinary bills and over 700 mouths to feed each month. We get only a little support from kind donations and the occasional purchase from our online shop. We barely have time to share news of our work because volunteers run us, and the cases are so frequent, so traumatising, and so many.
We actively campaign to end the cruel dog and cat meat trade and for animal welfare laws to be created, but we also know, with heavy hearts, that even though 5 years ago dogs were declared not to be livestock, they are still brutally butchered.
It took us many years to find a home for Mocha because she is not as young as she used to be, and people mostly want to adopt good-looking breed dogs. But Julia and the team did not give up, and last week Mocha left China and flew to her new home in the UK.
Her life has now changed forever, and she will get the one-to-one care and love we have dreamt of for her. Our charity welcomes all enquiries for adoption, and whilst we know costs are high, we can share your fundraiser and make it happen.
Mocha is a beacon of hope for us, and despite many dark days helps us never to give up until the cruelty ends.
There are many ways you can support us. Donations are vital and very welcome, however small. This is our official link.
www.notodogmeat.com/donate
Our online shop
Handing out flyers, sharing posts and petitions always raises awareness and of course, if you can, sponsoring or adopting one of our beauties
Www.notodogmeat.com