Animal relief group Humane Society of the United States is organizing a campaign to help stop the extermination of animals in China that live in areas affected by rabies.

The group says at the end of July, more than 50,000 dogs were electrocuted or shot to death in response to a rabies outbreak in southwestern China.

The organization's website says, "China's lack of animal welfare legislation makes atrocities like this possible. Before hosting the 2008 Olympic Games, China should take notice of worldwide opinion and work with animal welfare groups and public health organizations to implement humane programs to deal with zoonotic outbreaks."

A letter-writing campaign targeted at China's Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong, is underway.

The New York Times also reports that the Humane Society is promising US$100,000 to help vaccinate dogs against rabies if China promises to stop their mass slaughter.