In China Animal Cruelty Is Marketed As A Fashionable Accessory

May 22nd, 2015

As China’s economy continues to boom, more people are celebrating their family’s and their country’s new wealth. Fast food restaurants, sports cars, and high-end professional sports are becoming mainstays in China’s society.

But then there are the smaller and admittedly more terrifying things that the Chinese are using their money for. For example, now people are participating in the practice of selling live animals sealed inside plastic bags as so-called “good luck” keychains. Yep. This is actually a trend in China.

Outside of train and subway stations, vendors sell these for about $1.50.

For about $1.50 you can get one for yourself. Vendors typically sell them outside train and subway stations in the major cities.

To market these key chains, customers are told that each one Each one contains crystallized oxygen and enough nutrients to keep the animals alive.

Each keychain supposedly contains crystalized oxygen and enough nutrients to keep the animals alive.

Each keychain supposedly contains crystalized oxygen

The key chains typically contain fish or young Chinese soft-shell turtles.

The keychains can contain fish or young Chinese soft-shell turtles.

According to some vendors, the animals can survive for a few days in the bag. Eventually, though, they use up all the oxygen and nutrients in the bag. They then suffocate or starve to death.

Many animal rights groups in China and across the world have condemned these live animal key chains as “cruel” and “inhumane.”

As you might imagine, animal rights groups in China have condemned these live animal keychains as "cruel" and "inhumane."

Nevertheless, sales of these key chains continue to grow. They’re especially popular with young people, who see them as a fashionable accessory.

Still, that hasn't stopped sale of the keychains throughout China. They're especially popular with young people, who see them as a fashionable accessory.