An infamous festival in Yulin, a city in southern China, has resumed its controversial dog and cat eating practices despite facing strong opposition locally and internationally.
The Yulin Lychee and Dog Meat Festival has kicked off once again, sparking concerns from animal welfare advocates who fear that thousands of animals may be slaughtered before the event concludes on June 30.
Originally launched in 2010, the 10-day festival has been the subject of criticism for over a decade, leading local authorities to distance themselves from the event since 2014.
Reports indicate that thousands of dogs and cats are subjected to grueling journeys in harsh conditions, often deprived of food and water, only to be killed and consumed at the festival. At its peak, approximately 10,000 animals were slaughtered.
Activists claim that many of the animals are either stolen from homes or captured from the streets, as evidenced by images showing terrified animals crammed into cages without essentials.
Recently, footage released by Humane World for Animals highlighted the intensified dog and cat meat trade in Yulin, with truckloads of animals enduring appalling conditions for slaughter.
Critics argue that the festival, coinciding with the summer solstice, symbolizes the broader trade in dog and cat meat. In a positive development, nine dogs, including suspected stolen pets, were rescued by activists.
Pressure from national and global animal welfare groups has led to a reduction in the number of dogs killed during the festival’s peak period, estimated now at 2,000 to 3,000 dogs.
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