Animal rights is one of those things I try not to think about in China. The relationship between human and animal is essentially different here and sometimes difficult to analyze.

There are a few pet dogs in my neighborhood. Most of them are the same brand of fluffy white canine -- some with fur dyed pink or green by their overzealous owners. The small white dogs seem to be something of a fashion trend for the up-and-coming -- they fit conveniently in a purse or bicycle basket and can be decorated with bows (regardless of gender).

But most animals here aren't quite as lucky as those little fluffs of fur. Most await their end in fish tanks or glass boxes at restaurants, and depending on what part of the country you're in, that animal can be something off the endangered species list to something that looks a lot like your childhood pet. In Hangzhou there is a small garden off a street downtown where two deer are kept behind a chain-link fence.

I have imagined a PETA invasion of China many times, and it wasn't pretty. But I have usually turned away and categorized animal treatment as a cultural nuance I don't understand.

According to an article in the May 11th Los Angeles Times, awareness of animal rights in China is on the rise, as demonstrated by activists who fought against bullfights slated for Beijing.

The article has a lot of food for thought, including the impacts of economic growth on attitudes towards animals, and culture vs. historical conditions.

Ole? No Way, Say Chinese