China and dogs

It's often said that we can judge a nation's quality and development by its treatment of animals and approach to animal welfare. In response to an outbreak of rabies in a Chinese province, 50,000 dogs were culled. The people charged with this cruelty went out at night, caused a commotion that started the dogs barking, and then dragged the dogs out from under their owners' horrified gaze and beat them to death. China is a terrible country in many ways. It is the opposite of so much that Americans and Europeans are supposed to value. Its treatment of Tibet is one of the most distressing stories of the post-war years. This episode with the dogs gives us horribly graphic evidence of the monstrous nature of the regime that will doubtless supplant America as the world's superpower in years to come.