2. Today, China is the largest fur trader in the world. For China, the fur trade is a multi-billion $ industry (annually) and growing. Within that overall Chinese fur trade, cat and dog fur is an insignificant component in $ terms – a few million $ - insignificant in terms of the overall Chinese fur trade and miniscule in terms of its contribution to the overall Chinese economy.

3. It is naÔve to believe that the Chinese government will ban the fur industry in China. It is however entirely possible that it will ban the slaughter of cats and dogs and the use and sale of their fur or of products made from such fur, if failure to impose the ban results in:

(a) strong and sustained condemnation and adverse opinion directed against the Chinese government by foreign governments, the international media and the international community – decent thinking people everywhere expressing their disgust; and

there is a resultant decrease in consumer demand for fur products, the net financial effect of which exceeds or is likely to exceed any financial gain derived from the continued sale of cat and dog fur and products made wholly or partly from that fur.

Whilst the cat and dog fur trade is insignificant in financial terms to China, it is hugely significant in terms of the horrendous and unnecessary pain and suffering endured every year by the 2,000,000 helpless cats and dogs cruelly reared or stolen from caring owners, herded in cramped cages to the slaughter grounds and brutally skinned alive.

Cats and dogs are our pets. They are the animals we share our homes with and whilst we abhor and in no way condone other aspects of the Chinese fur trade (we’ll deal with those aspects later in this rationale statement), we are particularly disturbed when we imagine the horror if own pets were ever skinned alive. It brings the horror close to home and our emotive reaction is understandably intensified. The fact that it is happening to cats and dogs provides greater motivation to many to give active support. Sentiment without supportive action simply does not help.

6. Animalsaviors will therefore focus its campaign on seeking a ban by the Chinese government of the slaughter of cats and dogs and the use and sale of their fur or of products made from such fur.

7. In furtherance of this aim, animalsaviors will:

(a) take awareness of the horrors of the Chinese cat and dog fur trade to the world and the deceptive methods used in selling fur products and the dangers of buying anything with fur;

(b) lobby governments everywhere to legislate to ban the import, export, use in manufacture of products and sale of products made wholly or partly from cat and dog fur;

(c) obtain media exposure about the Chinese cat and dog fur trade;

(d) incite people everywhere to join us and actively support our campaign and in particular to stop buying fur and stop patronizing shops that continue to sell fur or fur products and to notify shop owners of their self imposed ban and the reason for same.

(e) lobby and pressure the Chinese government to introduce legislation to ban:

(i) the import of cats and dogs for use in the Chinese fur trade whether for breeding or for slaughter;

(ii) the breeding or keeping of cats and dogs for use or slaughter in the Chinese fur trade;

(iii) the skinning alive and other inhumane killing methods and inhumane treatment of all animals;

(iv) the use of cat and dog fur in the manufacture of products made wholly or partly from such fur;

(v) the export and’/or sale of cat and dog fur and of products made wholly or partly from cat and dog fur; and

(vi) the imposition of adequate penalties, including imprisonment and/or substantial fines to ensure enforcement

8. We must never forget that whilst animalsaviors is focusing on cats and dogs because it believes that this is an achievable aim, there is currently estimated to be between 40 and 55 million animals of other types being "processed" on Chinese fur farms every year. They are also being skinned alive and suffering just as horrendously as the cats and dogs.

9. Animalsaviors considers it’s better to fight the war in stages and to have success and alleviate suffering as it wins each battle. Rather than chase an impossible dream of trying to get China to ban the entire fur trade, it’s next aim will be to alleviate the suffering of the animals.

So, after a win for the cats and dogs, It’s next battle will be to systematically persuade China and other governments to introduce legislation that recognizes animal rights, that ensures proper husbandry and humane killing methods to prevent unnecessary suffering. This does not mean that it condones any form of killing animals, but in reality, the killing and the trade will continue, so in the shorter term, its better to fight to alleviate the suffering.

We will, throughout our entire Campaign, campaign to persuade consumers everywhere to stop buying fur and products made wholly or partly from fur. As part of this Campaign we will start a program to educate children in schools everywhere (including China) to have a proper respect for animals and to protect them.

The greatest danger to animals is the unbridled greed and selfishness of the majority of people who inhabit this world. For the rest of us, the minority, we must continue campaigning with the hope –however forlorn – that some day people will stop buying fur and kill the demand. The power rests with us, the people of the world, to stop the atrocities.