The Yulin Dog Meat Festival is set to take place on June 21 of this year, marking its 11th year running.
Check out our post about it here (* warning, the images are graphic):
This cruel festival began in 2010 as a way to boost the sale of dog meat in the area. Animal rights advocates in China and around the world have expressed their vehement disapproval of the festival, causing it to decrease in popularity.
Still, the inhumane event takes place year after year. Dogs from all over the country, including many pets that have been stolen, are transported to Yulin for the festival. If these poor animals survive the horrid conditions of transport, including heat, lack of food and water, and tiny cages, then a much grimmer fate awaits them.
It is a usual practice to cook these animals alive or end their lives in a slow and painful way before they are served up to be eaten. It is a disturbing reality that even the Chinese government has condemned. Several Chinese cities have outlawed dog and cat meat for sale and consumption.
Even in Yulin, where the annual dog meat festival takes place, measures have been taken against the event. Government authorities in Yulin are prohibited from patronizing restaurants and other establishments that serve dog meat. The public slaughter of dogs was banned and many dog slaughterhouses were closed.
Last year, many people hoped the COVID-19 pandemic would cause the festival to cease. Unfortunately, the event was not canceled, and it will continue as planned this year in spite of the massive controversy surrounding it.
Chinese animal advocates are teaming up with other organizations to help end this abhorrent festival. In another blog post, we reported that dozens of dogs were rescued from the Chinese dog meat trade and brought to the United States for adoption.
At Karmagawa and SaveTheReef, we believe animals like these dogs should be protected from the cruelty of the meat trade. We are grateful for animal rights groups and individuals who work hard to save these precious lives from abuse and slaughter.
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How do you feel about this issue? Should events like the Dog Meat Festival be allowed to continue? We would love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below!
(Cover image: Maurizio Photo/Shutterstock)