[bitontheslide]

A craze in which pets are sold in mystery parcels has caused outrage in China after a number of animals were found dead in a vehicle on Monday.

The "blind box" craze sees people order a box containing an animal that is then sent to them through the post.

On Monday, 160 distressed cats and dogs were located inside a courier company's truck in Chengdu.

It has prompted calls for action on the phenomenon as well as on the purchase of animals online in general.

According to Chinese law the transportation of live animals is prohibited, but "blind boxes" are incredibly popular, state media reports.

A range of the boxes containing animals such as tortoises, lizards and rats have been reported for sale on sites such as Taobao.

On Monday animal rescue group Chengdu Aizhijia Animal Rescue Centre said it had intercepted a vehicle carrying 160 dogs and cats, all under three months old. It said a number of them had died.

The group posted video footage of the boxes piled up to the ceiling of the truck on social media site Weibo.

"The cargo box is full of screams from cats and puppies," the group wrote.

Volunteers stayed with the animals throughout the night, feeding them and giving them water, while they underwent health inspections.

The rescue centre announced on Thursday that it had managed to bring the animals back to their base for resettlement and a further 38 were receiving medical treatment.

The courier company involved, ZTO, said the person in charge of delivery safety in Sichuan province has been suspended and his annual performance bonus had been deducted. It confirmed that it had broken China's postal regulations and apologised to members of the public, People's Daily Online reported.

ZTO also said it had launched additional training regarding postal safety and national animal protection.

The incident has caused outrage on social media with people calling for a boycott of such boxes and buying animals online. The phrase "pet blind box" has had millions of views on Weibo.

"Have we made any achievements in the rescue and management of stray animals? Now there is a pet blind box industry?" one user wrote.

Another wrote: "Let's talk about boycotting pet blind boxes again. What they need is a home, not an uncertain possibility".

State media Xinhua described pet "blind boxes" as a "desecration of life" and said courier companies and e-commerce platforms must "strengthen self-examination and self-correction".

It also called on buyers and sellers to have "more goodwill and more respect for life".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-57013197

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Completely crazy

[Oliver_W]

So it's a takeaway service too then?

[Kate!]

This is awful. No way to treat animals AT ALL.

[Kazanne]

What is the bloody matter with some people,and China again,why are they so cruel to animals ? why wold anyone even support this cruelty.

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

What is the bloody matter with some people,and China again,why are they so cruel to animals ? why wold anyone even support this cruelty.

its always bloody China well thats how it seems. Monstrous. They have no conscience or compassion.

[Cherie]

in what world would you even want an animal posted to you

[LeatherTrumpet]

oh..its...China....

[Zizu]

Sorry but nothing they do will ever surprise me ...

Cough .. the Rhino Horn “Aphrodisiac” market ..

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[Denver]

I don't get why people always think its China when this sort of thing is Asian and South American culture, they will kill and eat any animal and its not just the Chinese who do it

[Tom4784]

China in particular has an horrific record when it comes to animal abuse. A few years back there was a crazy where people had live animals as keyrings. It's vile.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Denver

I don't get why people always think its China when this sort of thing is Asian and South American culture, they will kill and eat any animal and its not just the Chinese who do it

China have the second biggest market in the world for Rhino horn but they were the largest one not too long ago

They also apparently have the largest market for turtle soup ... there are now only FOUR of the Giant Turtles left in the whole world .

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[Denver]

Originally Posted by Zizu

China have the second biggest market in the world for Rhino horn but they were the largest one not too long ago

They also apparently have the largest market for turtle soup ... there are now only FOUR of the Giant Turtles left in the whole world .

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The issue that people don't understand is the problem is way bigger then what is in China