Chinese animal activists have rescued more than 1000 dogs and cats from a truck headed to slaughterhouses in southern Guangdong province.

About 100 activists took part in the rescue in Guangzhou last month, confronting the driver and stopping the truck, Humane Society International reports.

Some of the dogs on the truck that was intercepted by Chinese activists in Guangzhou. Credit:Humane Society International

The truck reportedly originated in southern Gansu province, an area that has long been associated with dog theft, and had apparently travelled about 1950 kilometres before reaching Guangzhou.

Among the first to arrive were activists from one of HSI's almost 40 Chinese partner groups.