Little Beth finds love in Lincolnshire after escaping China’s dog meat trade
A tiny Pomeranian who spent years confined to a breeding cage before being sold into China’s dog meat trade is discovering love and freedom in her new Lincolnshire home.
Beth, a grey Pomeranian thought to be between four and six years old, had known little beyond the inside of a cage after being used for commercial breeding.
She was eventually discarded and sold into the meat trade, where her future looked bleak until she was rescued by Slaughterhouse Survivors.
The little dog, who has only one eye, was brought to Britain with the support of Lincolnshire-based disabled animal charity Broken Biscuits.
She is now safely settled in Lincolnshire and learning to enjoy the everyday experiences most family pets take for granted.
Beth is one of several rescued Pomeranians named after members of the rescue team, alongside Cass, Vanessa, Tim and Calum.
Although she is finally safe, years of deprivation and confinement have left their mark, and she is slowly learning that she no longer needs to be afraid.
Tim Giles, of Broken Biscuits, said: “Beth’s whole world was once the inside of a breeding cage, so everything she is experiencing now is new.
“She is learning that hands can be kind, beds can be soft and people can be trusted. Watching her begin to feel safe and discover what it means to be loved is incredibly moving.”
Broken Biscuits works to help disabled animals receive the veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and mobility support they need.
Its partnership with Slaughterhouse Survivors is continuing to provide vital care for dogs suffering from untreated injuries, disabilities and years of neglect.
The charities are also working with Surrey veterinary surgeon Dr Vanessa Waite, owner of The Vet Station, whose specialist expertise has already transformed the lives of dogs in their care.
Dr Waite has helped repair damaged knees, restore eyesight and carry out a range of routine and specialist veterinary procedures.
She said: “The worst thing I have seen is dogs walking around with broken legs, dismemberment and human-caused injuries.
“But what feels worst for me is that a lot of these conditions could have been fixed with quick and appropriate access to veterinary care.
“The vets there are amazing and caring. They just need a little help with my additional expertise.”
The partnership supports Harbin SHS Animal Rescue, which was founded by Irishwoman Hayley Hayes after she moved to China to work as a teacher at the age of 21.
Her life changed around a decade ago when she was asked to help dogs being held at what is now China’s last legally operating dog slaughterhouse, several hours from Harbin.
Hayley said: “At the time, I thought it would be a one-off rescue. Instead, it completely changed my life.
“Once you see the reality of animal suffering up close, it is very difficult to walk away. One rescue led to another, and before long we were helping more animals than we ever imagined.
“Looking back, I came to China to teach, but I ended up finding a purpose I never expected.”
Today, the shelter cares for nearly 1,500 dogs, around 200 cats and a variety of other rescued animals with the help of 38 members of staff.
Animals arrive following emergency calls from the public and rescues from slaughterhouses, meat trucks, puppy mills, pet shops, hoarding situations and the streets.
Some are relatively healthy but unwanted, while others are suffering from broken bones, untreated wounds, infections, tumours, malnutrition, neurological conditions, parvovirus or distemper.
Many also carry profound emotional scars.
Hayley said: “Some have been beaten. Some are terrified of people. Others have completely shut down and seem to have given up on life.
“Some of the most difficult cases are the emotional ones. Dogs who shake when touched, dogs who refuse to leave corners and dogs who have completely lost trust in humans can take months or even years to recover.”
Among the animals being helped through the partnership is Vanessa, an eight-year-old white Pomeranian with severe problems affecting both kneecaps, making standing and walking extremely difficult.
Cass, another former breeding Pomeranian, cannot currently walk independently because of serious problems with her knees and hips, while Calum is struggling with mobility issues believed to be linked to years of confinement.
Other dogs include William, a young crossbreed permanently paralysed following multiple traumatic injuries, and Johnny 3 Legs, an elderly dog receiving palliative care after losing a leg and an eye.
The life-changing impact of specialist care can already be seen in Petal, a poodle who is walking again after undergoing orthopaedic surgery performed by Dr Waite.
Hayley believes attitudes towards the dog meat trade are changing, with growing numbers of Chinese citizens speaking out against cruelty and demanding that existing regulations are enforced.
She said: “The trade still exists, but China has changed enormously since I first arrived.
“The strongest voices against the trade today are often Chinese citizens themselves. More people are speaking out, more people are rescuing animals and more people are demanding change than ever before.
“Progress may be slow, but it is happening.”
