Pet, Pest, and Food: The Dog as a Political Figure in China

Beginning with its domestication, the dog has become one of the most politicized non-human animals in China. In her talk, Dr. Suzanne Barber, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Wake Forest Department of Anthropology, will trace how the dog has moved back and forth through the categories of ‘pet’, ‘pest’ and ‘food’ throughout Chinese history. She will explain why the dog now occupies the unique situation of simultaneously being the most consistent animal target of state-led cullings due to fears of zoonotic disease transmission; constitutes the main basis for the second largest pet industry in the world; and remains the primary focus of the Chinese animal rights movement. Admission is free.