All wrong traditions, sooner or later, cease to exist, because an expansion of collective consciousness and respect for the lives of non-human animals is undeniably under way. Every year, millions of dogs and cats are slaughtered in China; in many markets it is possible to see dogs crammed into cages waiting to be killed, often summarily beaten to death, and cooked.

Dog meat is a traditional dish in Chinese culture; it is believed to improve male fertility and to ward off evil spirits and illness. Something is changing, however: despite those who are unwilling to give up a food that has been consumed since 550 AD, many Chinese people consider this tradition barbaric and outdated, partly due to the growing prevalence of dogs as pets across the country.

Responding to this growing popular sentiment, Zheng Xiaohe, a deputy of the National People's Congress, is working on a bill that would ban the consumption of dog and cat meat. "We prohibit dog and cat meat for all food uses and in markets," the bill reads. "We prohibit the transportation, trade, slaughter, production and sale of dogs and cats as food."

Almost nine million Chinese people have backed Zheng Xiaohe's proposal through an online vote. The bill is not based solely on ethical grounds; it also lists the problems caused by this type of trade, issues repeatedly highlighted by investigations carried out by the organisation Animals Asia.

The consumption of dog and cat meat is dangerous for public health: the dogs are mostly strays that undergo no quarantine to ensure they are healthy. The animals are also frequently poisoned with chemical substances. It represents a threat to public safety and social order, as the majority of animals destined for markets are not bred but stolen from apartments by petty and medium-level organised criminal gangs.

The consumption of dogs and cats has so far escaped every attempt at regulation, meaning that the conditions for transporting and slaughtering the animals are not observed. "Not long ago, nobody asked where that food came from," said Irene Feng, Director of the Dogs and Cats programme at Animals Asia. "Now food safety is a major issue in China and, at the same time, there is greater interest in animal welfare, especially for pets."

We Westerners find the idea of eating a dog or a cat repugnant, as they are regarded as loyal companions, but when all is said and done there is no great difference between a dog, a pig, a cat, a chicken or a perch — only our feelings towards these creatures differ.