WDA writes to the Chengdu Municipal Government urging legislation to ban the consumption of dogs and cats to safeguard the development of pets economy

On March 9, 2026, the World Dog Alliance (WDA) officially sent a letter to the Chengdu Municipal People's Government, requesting Chengdu to initiate local legislation to ban the consumption of dogs and cats, based on Chengdu's important deployment of incorporating the pet economy into the city's consumption strategy and in light of the contemporary needs of domestic pet economy development and animal protection. This would provide a sound legal guarantee for promoting the coordinated development of the pet economy and animal protection, and create a national benchmark "Chengdu model".

As the first city in China to explicitly promote the high-quality development of the pet economy in its municipal government work report, Chengdu, at the Fourth Session of the 18th People's Congress in January 2026, listed the pet economy alongside the morning and nighttime economies as a key new consumption pattern for development. This marked the upgrade of the pet economy from a form of consumer spending to an important component of the city's strategic layout, a move that has generated enthusiastic responses and widespread praise across the country.

Data shows that by 2025, the number of dogs and cats in Chengdu had exceeded 5 million, with more than 2 million pet-owning households. The number of pet grooming shops and pet hospitals ranked first in the country, forming a complete industrial ecosystem from breeding, medical care, services to cultural consumption, becoming the core support for Chengdu to build an international consumption center city and create a benchmark city for dog and cat friendly cities.

In its letter, the World Dog Alliance (WDA) pointed out that the core of the dog and cat economy is the emotional value of companion animals, advocating the concept of mutual companionship and harmonious coexistence between humans and companion animals. Its healthy and standardized development must be based on comprehensive companion animal protection and public health governance. In May 2020, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs explicitly removed dogs and cats from the list of legally permitted livestock for consumption, defining their companion animal status at the national level. The current practice of consuming dog and cat meat still presents prominent problems such as unclear sources, theft and poisoning, disease transmission, and food safety hazards. It not only violates public health and safety requirements but also contradicts the Chengdu Municipal Government's plan to support the healthy and standardized development of the pet economy, thus hindering the healthy development of the pet economy industry ecosystem.

Based on the valuable experience of Shenzhen and Zhuhai, which took the lead in legislating against the consumption of dogs and cats in March 2020, the World Dog Alliance (WDA) put forward two major suggestions in its letter. First, it recommends initiating local legislative procedures and enacting Chengdu's local regulations as soon as possible to comprehensively prohibit the consumption of dogs and cats, as well as the breeding, slaughtering, transportation, operation, processing, sale, and catering services for consumption purposes. This would clarify the legal responsibilities and enforcement entities for related behaviors, thus strengthening the legal defenses for companion animal protection and public health safety. The legislative practices of Shenzhen and Zhuhai have proven that regulations banning the consumption of dogs and cats can not only effectively curb the bad habit of indiscriminate eating but also provide clear guidelines for law enforcement, addressing industry pain points such as limited enforcement measures and inconsistent punishment standards.

Secondly, the legislation banning the consumption of dog and cat meat is a landmark measure that will further enhance Chengdu's urban civilization and brand image. As one of the cities with the strongest pet-friendly atmosphere in China, Chengdu is accelerating the construction of pet-friendly commercial districts, parks, and neighborhoods. Pet consumption has shifted from basic emotional experiences to diversified services, becoming a new driving force for activating the city's consumption potential. The World Dog Alliance (WDA) believes that this legislation will be an important tool for Chengdu to demonstrate its inclusive, warm, and civilized urban character, promoting the integration of animal protection core concepts into Chengdu's pet economy development, creating the first national benchmark model for the coordinated development of the pet economy and animal protection, and providing replicable and scalable practical experience for other cities across the country.

The World Dog Alliance (WDA) stated that Chengdu's integration of the pet economy into its urban development strategy demonstrates both a precise understanding of market demand and a vivid interpretation of the city's humanistic spirit. Legislating a ban on the consumption of dogs and cats is a necessary requirement for the high-quality development of the pet economy and a significant reflection of urban progress. It is hoped that Chengdu can leverage its industrial advantages and urban characteristics to take the lead in completing relevant local legislation, making the rule of law a solid guarantee for the development of the pet economy and ensuring that the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and their companion animals becomes a distinctive feature of the city's development.

This letter is an important measure taken by the World Dog Alliance (WDA) to promote local legislation on companion animal protection in China and safeguard the healthy development of the pet economy. In the future, it is hoped that more cities will build pet-friendly development ecosystems, making the pet economy a vital force in driving urban consumption upgrades and showcasing the city's civilized character.