The Lychee and Dog Meat “Festival” began in the southern Chinese city of Yulin on June 21, which coincides with the summer solstice. During the annual event, festival-goers eat dog meat and lychees. The festival is a 10-days-long and first began in 2009, and thousands of dogs are reportedly consumed.

Many organizations work hard to save dogs headed to the festival, and many of them are reportedly stolen pets. Recently, Chinese activists saved nearly 400 animals who were on their way to slaughter at the festival. When the dogs and cats were rescued, some were even still wearing their pet collars. Many had infections, skin diseases, and were in poor physical health. The animals were moved to a police quarantine facility for 21 days, where they could recover and get the veterinary care that they desperately needed.

Source: Guardian News/Youtube

Now, UK-based organization NoToDogMeat is trying to track down the animals’ owners so they can get the dogs back home to their loving families.

Campaigner Zhao runs the NoToDogMeat charity’s shelters in Hebei and Beijing and has been present with many of the dogs since they were moved to a holding shelter.

“Many of the dogs know sit and stay, and they still trust humans, we have seen many with tags on, and one was wearing a collar and lead still attached,” Zhao said.

“We will work to try and identify the owners, but our priority at the moment is to make sure all of the dogs are healthy and have a safe place to go.”

In April of 2020, the city of Shenzhen explicitly banned the consumption of dogs and cats, and 75 percent of the almost 400 million Chinese citizens that were polled supported the city’s decision. A few weeks after that, China officially specified the status of dogs as companion animals rather than livestock.

Dogs and other animals are tortured in the most unimaginable ways because of the belief that the adrenaline created by stress and fear improves the taste. This twisted festival lasts for 10 days and more than 10,000 innocent dogs will be sentenced to this heartbreaking fate.

Sign this petition to urge the government of South Korea to create programs to transition dog meat farmers into more ethical industries and protect all dogs!

Related Content:

• As Yulin Dog Meat Festival Begins, Activists Rescue Nearly 400 Dogs on Their Way to Slaughter
• The NoToDogMeat Charity is Caring for Dogs Rescued from the Yulin Dog Meat Festival
• Petition: Stop the Yulin Dog Meat Festival
• Yulin Dog Meat Festival Begins Today Despite China Officially Confirming Dogs are Companions, Not Food
• Humane Society International Rescues Puppies Ahead of Yulin Dog Meat Festival Starting this Weekend
• Ricky Gervais Shares Heartfelt Video to Raise Awareness About the Yulin Dog Meat Festival

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