NC China's devoted pet lovers staged an open protest against animal cruelty

They will then be served up as some sort of freak-show culinary delicacy. Welcome to the Yulin dog eating festival, China’s annual celebration of utter human depravity. But there is hope. Because now some of China’s devoted pet lovers have staged an open protest against animal cruelty as the countdown begins to the notorious Yulin dog meat festival. Thousands turned out to call for China’s animal abusers to be punished in a massive demonstration on the streets of one of the country’s most forward-looking cities.

China cannot sit still and allow cruelty to animals to escape punishment Yu Hongmei

With some parading and holding their small dogs, the protesters unveiled a giant banner in Dalian’s Xinghai Square, proclaiming: “Build a Beautiful China, Punish Animal Abusers.” Although China has no effective cruelty legislation, the groundswell for greater animal welfare is gathering pace, with pet owners voicing their opinions against those who make money from appalling scenes that have shocked the world. Tragically, many of the thousands of dogs which face being butchered and blow-torched on the streets of Yulin next month are likely to be cherished family pets that have been stolen and transported into the city to end up as meals. While Yulin has become a byword for slaughter, the coastal port of Dalian holds annual celebrations to raise awareness of healthy lifestyles. This week saw more than 2,000 supporters of Vshine –Humane Society International’s Chinese partner – turn out to add their voice to efforts to end the scourge of the millions of cats and dogs being eaten across the country every year.

NC Protestors unveiled a giant banner saying punish animal abusers

Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China : Heartbreaking latest pictures Wed, June 20, 2018 An estimated 11,000 cats and dogs are due to be slaughtered for the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 21 Puppies are seen in a cage at a dog meat market in Yulin, in China's southern Guangxi region

Vshine has been actively involved in getting Chinese dog slaughter operations shutdown in what is seen as a shining example of animal welfare and law enforcement working together. Its director Yu Hongmei says: “China cannot sit still and allow cruelty to animals to escape punishment.” Having cities with a progressive approach to animal welfare is regarded as essential for exorcising China’s reputation for allowing the barbaric practice of pets being butchered and eaten, especially with it being the oriental Year of the Dog. Humane Society International, the leading animal welfare charity, believes the campaigning to highlight Yulin’s shameful association with dog meat is beginning to have an impact, with the numbers of animals killed continuing to fall year by year. Eight years ago, around 10,000 dogs would die over the core festival weekend over the midsummer period, but now the number is between 2-3,000 animals.

NC A woman with her pet dog at the protest

NC More than 2,000 supporters came to show their support