Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2015 -- the Festival of Cruelty

Whilst the consumption of dog meat was once a tradition in ancient China during the Han Dynasty (202-220 AD) thought to ward off evil ghosts and disease, in the 21st century the people of China are readily accepting dogs as compassionate beings deserving of faith and love. Allegations of the dog meat festival being an integral part of Chinese culture and tradition to attempt to keep this barbaric event alive are false, lies woven by money hungry sadists who torture and starve dogs on a daily basis.

Two puppies being burnt in scalding water

Sadly, despite the festival being banned by Chinese officials after outrage following last years event, 2015s edition is still due to go ahead illegally. There are, however, queries over whether the festival really is illegal or just frowned upon as there is no animal protection law in China. 2009 saw the drafting of such a law allowing authorities to punish animal abusers with a large fine alongside those who sell or trade cat and dog meat, nonetheless it was never passed by the government meaning that technically animal abuse is still legal in China.

Mutilated dogs on sale just hours after their death

Sickening, sadistic and savage do not begin to describe the horrors that happen daily on the back streets of  the Guangxi province. These animals are pets. Beloved, lifelong friends. To the people who abduct them from their homes this means nothing The look of terror on the animals face - they know they are next. To them they are merely a bag of money, no emotion, no worth, only money. The dogs are savagely murdered, often not even making it to the slaughterhouse due to their emaciated frames crumbling under shock, dehydration and lack of any hygiene or personal space. Those who do survive are kept in broken rusting cages, in a damp dark room surrounded by carcasses. They are then lead to a slaughterer who hacks at their necks with a blunt knife, rarely killing them in one blow, often leaving them in agony as they are brutally and disgustingly murdered. This has to stop.

An Anti-Yulin Festival Poster

The more of this cruelty that is exposed the faster the downfall of the barbaric dog meat industry. We must do something to prevent this torture. Leading the way is a Chinese woman Yang Xiaoyun 56 who, last year, used £5000 worth of personal savings to travel to Guangxi and save 360 dogs and cats from their captors. She deceived the traders and bravely managed to buy animals from their hands leading them to a safe house nearby. Stories like Yangs show that there are people who feel passionately about this cause, who realise how disgusting and sickening this 'festival' is and who not only want it to stop but are actively preventing it from happening. Awareness and promotion is key. Whether it is simply sharing this post, retweeting a protest or reading an article, letting people know about this abomination is the way to stop it for good.





If you would like to learn more the links below lead to some very informative and reliable websites:

Left over skin from dog meat farming used in leather gloves on sale in the UK - A brutal video clip with disturbing footage from slaughter houses and leather manufacturers in China documenting the sheer cruelty forced upon these animals.

Petition to STOP the Yulin Dog Meat Festival 

Exposure is the key

A graphic look at one of the worlds cruelest events

The horrors - what really goes on?