IFCW is working with ACTAsia in China.

ACTAsia for Animals was set up to support local Asian animal welfare enthusiasts with tools and expertise to tackle the animal welfare issues in their country effectively. ACTAsia has been working extensively in China, where animal cruelty is widespread and growing, while the animal welfare movement is in its infancy.

Millions of companion animals in China, whether they are strays or owned animals, are suffering from abuse and neglect. The solution to companion animal problems requires a multi-factorial approach and ACTAsia addresses various key elements for a long term humane stray animal control programme:

• Education on responsible pet ownership. The major cause of stray animals is the abandoning of pets and uncontrolled breeding. Pet owners are either unaware of the long term commitment when taking a puppy or kitten in, or lack of the understanding of animals needs, and the necessity of neutering them before they reproduce. In Beijing alone, an estimated 20,000 stray cats are living in awful conditions on the streets. They are often sick, get injured in traffic accidents and are even killed by the government in the most inhumane ways. ACTAsia will produce the educational materials on responsible cat ownership to be distributed through our network of Chinese animal protection groups to the Chinese public.
  
  
• Training veterinarians to include animal welfare within their vet practice, to undertake early age neutering operations, cooperate with animal protection groups and the government in neutering programmes, and promote vaccination as a means of disease management instead of culling animals.”

IFCW is working with ACTAsia to develop a training programme for vets and welfare workers involved in cat rescue, welfare and population control.