What Outrage? China’s Yulin Dog Meat Festival to Continue Unabated

Two hundred dogs have already been rescued before the festival, but many more stand to die horrifying deaths.

A woman on her moped transports more than 10 dogs, which had just been slaughtered, to her market shop for sale. (Photo: AP)

China celebrates a so-called-festival wherein dogs are skinned alive, boiled and burned to death. Thousands of dogs are killed and eaten every year in Yulin during the summer solstice. in 2015, there was social media outrage over the festival that has been taking place for centuries.

Last year the traditional “festival” started on 22 June and this year too, it will take place in the month of June.

Tradition

The Chinese believe that consuming dog meat stimulates internal heat and brings in good luck and great health. They often slaughter the dogs in front of other living animals in order to spread fear and get their adrenalin pumping. Some believe the meat becomes tastier like this.

Rescue Operations

Activists this year have already rescued around 200 dogs before the festival. Many petitions have even been filed to ban it. Animal activists are hoping that social media attention and petitions will put an end to this inhumane practice.

There are no official sponsors for the event, but strong moves to shut it down haven’t been taken either.

Also read:
China’s Paradox: Love for Dogs as Pets or Food?
Yulin 2015: Are Animal Lovers Biased Towards Dogs?
Yulin Makes Hypocritical Meat-eater Turn Vegetarian

(With inputs from the Times of India.)