"Putting Live Animals in Boxes"... Controversy Over Pet Delivery Boxes in China

Last Year, 5,000 Animals Found Dead in Boxes at a Logistics Warehouse in China

Pets that died after being placed in delivery boxes in China. Photo by Global Times.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A controversy has erupted in China after reports surfaced that some merchants are selling pets in delivery boxes.

On the 25th, a post on Weibo revealed that some sellers on Chinese e-commerce platforms are selling dogs, cats, turtles, and other animals as if they were goods, shipping them via delivery boxes.

A Weibo blogger with 2 million followers pointed out, "Some sellers online are putting pets in delivery boxes and selling them at low prices."

According to Chinese law, it is prohibited to deliver live animals in delivery boxes.

As this fact became known, Chinese netizens' anger has intensified.

Previously, in September last year, about 5,000 pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, and hamsters were found dead inside delivery boxes at a logistics warehouse in Henan Province, shocking the public.

Appearance of pets delivered by courier from China. Photo by Weibo capture.

According to an investigation by an animal rescue organization at the time, the deceased pets had not eaten anything for at least five days.

Afterwards, a pet seller was also criticized for promoting online that they would send "purebred dogs with good bloodlines, not rural puppies."

The state-run Global Times reported that animals such as turtles are listed for sale on the online shopping mall Taobao.

A turtle seller advertised, "If you pay, we will immediately send the breed of turtle you want. Pets of various prices are also delivered in delivery boxes," adding, "Turtles are resistant to cold and do not die easily, so there is no need to worry about their survival during delivery."

As cases of selling pets in delivery boxes online emerge, the anger of Chinese netizens is growing even stronger.

On Weibo, netizens reacted with comments such as, "The very idea of buying pets like goods and receiving them in delivery boxes is shocking," "This is animal abuse," "Truly ignorant," and "If they want to save money by putting live animals in boxes and transporting them like cargo, should people be packed and transported directly too?"