SHOCKING footage has emerged on men in China stealing pets from a home and dragging the dogs over a high wall by a rope around their necks.

The horrifying images were captured on camera showing the thieves yank the defenceless animals necks out of the yard.

The footage from People's Daily Online comes just weeks before the barbaric annual Yulin dog festival, in eastern China where up to 10,000 canines are butchered to be cooked and eaten.

On the security camera film, the pets are wandering around, when they start to bark at something outside.

5 Shocking footage has emerged on men in China stealing pets from a home and dragging the dogs over a high wall by a rope around their necks Credit: People's Daily Online China

The two thieves jump over the wall, which looks to be six feet high.

The men then move towards the dogs, as they try to back away, carrying a rope attached to a long stick.

5 The horrifying images were captured on camera showing the thieves yank the defenceless animals necks out of the yard Credit: People's Daily Online,China

It is just a matter of seconds before they capture the canines.

After discovering the gate is locked, they jump over it and then drag the animals after them.

5 The men then move towards the dogs, as they try to back away, carrying a rope attached to a long stick Credit: People's Daily Online, China

One man tries to open the gate but it's locked.

The terrified dogs appear to writhe in pain as they are dragged over and brutally stolen from what should have been the safety of their own home.

The process took around 30 seconds – it is thought the men could have been part of a gang which has been operating in the Jiangsu and Anhui provinces of China.

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The pets were stolen just two weeks before the Yulin dog festival, which is held to celebrate the summer solstice.

Taking place in south China's Guangxi Province, defenceless dogs are beaten to death, then cooked and sold.

5 After discovering the gate is locked, they jump over it and then drag the animals after them. One man tries to open the gate but it's locked Credit: People's Daily Online

5 The terrified dogs appear to writhe in pain as they are dragged over and brutally stolen from what should have been the safety of their own home Credit: People's Daily Online, China

It is thought up to 10,000 animals are killed and eaten for the celebration, which is held in a poor and rural area.

The Humane Society International reports around 30 million dogs lose their lives so they can be eaten each year across Asia – with 10 to 20 million butchered in China.