A shocking case of animal cruelty has sparked outrage in China after a man was filmed dragging a dog on the back of his scooter while on the road.
Video footage released by iFeng news shows a man riding a scooter and dragging a dog by its neck on a leash on Sunday in Shantou city, Guangdong province.
The man seemed oblivious to his brutal actions.
A couple riding a scooter next to the man was seen pointing to the dog and talking to the man – he then took a glance at the dog but did not stop.
Eventually, a bystander couldn’t bear the sight and bought the dog from the man, relieving the dog and its suffering, according to Kan Kan News.
Chinese net users were outraged by the man’s actions.
‘Even if you don’t love animals, you shouldn’t torture and hurt them,’ one said.
‘Please treat all lives with respect – animals included,’ another said.
‘Animal abusers take their issues out on vulnerable victims, but often, their targets aren’t limited to animals,’ said Jason Baker, vice-president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia. Other targets may include children.
A man was seen dragging a dog by its neck on a leash behind his scooter in Guangdong
‘Experts has identified cruelty to animals as a sign of psychopathy and a red flag indicating future escalating violence,’ Mr Baker told MailOnline.
‘People who abuse animals pose a threat to the entire community, and because China has no penalties for the abuse of animals, violent individuals like this man go unpunished.’
PETA is still in the process of identifying the man and the two witnesses.
Mr Baker said this is yet another tragic example of why China urgently needs an animal protection law.
While China has legislation safeguarding land-based and aquatic wildlife, it currently lacks legislation protecting animal welfare or preventing cruelty to animals.
In September 2009, animal rights activists and legal experts began circulating a draft Law on the Protection of Animals and in 2010, a draft Law on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the State Council’s consideration, according to Human Rights in China, a Chinese non-governmental organisation based in New York.
Eventually, a bystander could not bear the sight and bought the dog from the man
The draft proposes a fine of up to 6,000 yuan (£696) and two weeks’ detention for those found guilty of animal cruelty, according to China Daily.
However till this day, no progress has been made.
‘Animal cruelty cases are frequently reported, particularly involving small cats and dogs, sometimes even rats,’ PETA Asia media officer Keith Guo told the MailOnline.
‘Sometimes, owners are trying to “teach their pets a lesson” by physically abusing them after they have done something wrong,’ he said.
Many animal abusers do not realise it is wrong to mistreat animals, Mr Guo added.
‘In this case, we don’t know why the man did it – but it is obvious that the action is violent and wrong.’
‘At the same time, these cruel actions go unnoticed under the law – and that needs to stop.’
While the country’s first ever legislation protecting animal welfare has yet to be adopted, the increasing cases of animal abandonment and serious cruelty towards animals such as killing of dogs and burning of cats have led to serious resentment within society.
A vendor waits for buyers beside dogs in cages at a market in Yulin city in Guangxi province
One prominent example is the controversial annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival, which sees more than 10,000 dogs cruelly killed and eaten in Guangxi province on the summer solstice.
Over the years, volunteer animal rights activists and animal lovers across the country have organised public awareness campaigns to call for a ban against animal abuse.
More than 80 per cent of net users who took part in a survey conducted by web portal Sina and search engine Sohu thought people will treat animals better if the legislation goes through, according to the proposal.
Another 75 per cent proposed abusing an animal to the point of death should be prosecuted as a criminal offence.
‘We could model after Hong Kong and Taiwan’s animal protection laws to include fines, jail terms and community service orders to offenders,’ Mr Guo suggested.
‘We must let these animal abusers know that this kind of behaviour is wrong.’