A Chinese city has banned the dog and cat meat trade in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Shenzhen has just passed a groundbreaking law which forbids their consumption and production.
Unlike the national government’s temporary ban on so-called wet markets, Shenzhen legislators will permanently prohibit the wildlife trade.
The law is set to come into effect on May 1. A spokesman for the city's government said: "Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan. "This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization." The legislation also