China – Dogs have legs tied up, before being skinned alive and cooked at food festival!

The Yulin festival sees thousands of dogs skinned alive and cooked for their meat in an event that takes place in southern China each year on June 21st , to mark the Summer Solstice. Residents believe that eating dog meat will keep them healthy and will bring them good fortune for the rest of the year. Do not let this inhumane event take place.

The first edition of the festival took place in 2010, to mark the Summer Solstice, an important date in the Chinese calendar. Advocates of the event have claimed that eating dog meat during the summer season has become a culinary tradition and the idea of a festival came only too natural. In fact, residents are extremely proud to host this event and boast about preparing the best dog meat in the world. Their secret – they claim – is to make the canines suffer as much as possible before the cooking process starts, because the adrenaline pumped up in the canines’ bodies makes the meat softer and juicier. This is why dogs are usually kept in cages, with their limbs and muzzles taped shut, before customers can hand-pick the dogs they will like to eat. They are also hit with heavy sticks or bats and knocked unconscious. 

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The dog meat industry is heavily unregulated and this event is extremely representative for the inhumanity and lack of hygiene associated with this vile and despicable trade.

Since 2014, the local government has tried to distance itself from the event: government employees are now forbidden to take part at the event and some of the dog markets and abattoirs have been shut down. This year, the government went even further and advised local residents against hosting the dog meat festival. However, authorities have failed to take more concrete action to effectively prevent this event from happening.

Even Chinese celebrities such as pop stars Chen Kun and Yang Mi have spoken against the festival on social media. In Western Europe, figures such as entertainer Simon Cowell and comedian Ricky Gervais have also denounced the event.

Whether you're an atheist or believer, vegan or hunter, you must agree that mistreating a dog then skinning it alive is wrong – this is what Ricky Gervais tweeted recently.

Amid protests, dog meat restaurants have been forced to shut down terraces and moved their events indoors. Hosting massive outdoor events is now no longer a possibility. Despite a significant drop in the number of dogs that are cooked during the Yulin summer festival, still over a couple of thousands dogs are expected to be viciously cooked for their meat at this year’s edition.

It has become obvious that the Chinese society needs to progress with the times. Residents of Yulin claim this is all about culture and tradition, but no culture remains stagnant. People and societies evolve and progress and preventing further pain and suffering to these innocent creatures would be a huge sign of a mature, civilized society.

Do not let this terrible event take place next year as well. We must apply as much pressure as possible to ensure this inhumane gathering is shut down for good. Please do not let the 2017 edition of this gruesome festival take place!

Boycott Yulin by signing and sharing the petition and using the hashtag #StopYulin2017 on social media. Thank you for taking action.