In the U.S., dogs and cats are considered pets and beloved companions and as such, we would never support the practice of killing and eating them. We have designated animals like cows and chickens for consumption, despite the fact that they are just as intelligent and capable of comprehending their pain, but for some reason we elevate our pets to escape the fate of being food. While all animals deserve the chance to live happy, long lives free from human use and exploitation, in some countries dogs and cats are consumed just as readily as farm animals.
The practice of eating dog meat in China has garnered international attention with the rise of the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in recent years. Started in 2010, this festival is meant to ring in the summer solstice by promoting the consumption of dog meat which is thought to have “warming” and auspicious properties. Despite the fact that cultural attitudes towards eating dog are changing for the better in China and across Asia, this cruel festival has been able to persist for the past five years in Yulin.
The year’s festival gained a remarkable amount of attention – and opposition – as animal rights organizations, individuals, and celebrities like Ricky Gervais. all spoke out to encourage the Yulin government to ban the festival outright. While the festival was not abated this year, many kind people stepped in to rescue dogs from this terrible fate. Yang Xiaoyun is one of these amazing people.
Xiaoyun traveled to the Yulin meat markets with the goal of purchasing as many dogs as she could and managed to rescue 100 by paying over $1,000 to dog meat vendors. She plans to bring all of the dogs to come live with her at her home in Tianjin, over 1,200 miles from Yulin.
This kind woman’s efforts to rescue so many dogs from a tragic and untimely end is a true testament to the power of compassion. By daring to challenge practices and traditions (even if they’re only five years old…) that cause the suffering of others, we can make a real change for the benefit of animals.
A big thank you to Yang Xiaoyun and all the other people who helped to save dogs from the Yulin festival! Hopefully, one day soon this sick event will no longer exist.
All image source: AFP
It needs to end like Yesterday!!! What a mess this world has become allowing such reckless behavior on Gods creations. The lord is not pleased.
Bottom dwelling scum sucking and shit eating yellow cowardly POSs…..no wonder the Japanese kicked your ass… Cowards. Murdering the voiceless and defenseless including your own children….(videos even show a 2 year old hit not once but twice and no one did nothing….) It has been proven that dog meat does nothing….and torturing them alive doesn\’t "make the meat fresher" I pray that the rabies situation takes out more of you barbaric slugs….What makes this worse is that the majority of the dogs and cats slaughtered are stolen family pets. Lover by their fam\’s yet taken from their homes. Many still have their collars…and nothing is done about the theft/s. BOYCOTT ALL FROM CHINA! **Except Ms Yang and the others trying to save the dogs/cats. They are a rare exception**
Thank you (Ms Yang) Ms. Angel and all the Angels along with her. God has chosen another special lady and others like her. You are Mother Teresa incarnate, and the others are disciples. May he watch over you and all the others and keep all of you safe while you all protect those who are voiceless and defenseless. Most are beloved family pets taken from their homes….and then there are those who do not know what love is. Now, they have you all. You all are not alone. We all have your back and will stand with you here in the US and in your own country! Keep the faith and God Bless….
謝謝（楊女士）安琪女士和所有的天使與她一起。神揀選了另一種特殊的女士和其他人喜歡她。您是特蕾莎修女的化身，而其他的弟子。願他在看著你和所有其他人，並保持所有您的安全，而你的所有保護那些誰是清音和手無寸鐵的。大多數是心愛的家庭寵物從家中取….然後還有那些誰不知道什麼是愛。現在，他們有你的所有。你們都不會孤單。我們每個人都有你的背部，並會在這裡和你們站在一起在美國和在自己的國家！保持信心，上帝保佑….
Xièxiè (yáng nǚshì) ān qí nǚshì hé suǒyǒu de tiānshǐ yǔ tā yīqǐ. Shén jiǎnxuǎnle lìng yīzhǒng tèshū de nǚshì hé qítā rén xǐhuān tā. Nín shì tè lěi shā xiūnǚ de huàshēn, ér qítā de dìzǐ. Yuàn tā zài kànzhe nǐ hé suǒyǒu qítā rén, bìng bǎochí suǒyǒu nín de ānquán, ér nǐ de suǒyǒu bǎohù nàxiē shuí shì qīngyīn hé shǒuwúcùntiě de. Dà duōshù shì xīn\’ài de jiātíng chǒngwù cóng jiāzhōng qǔ…. Ránhòu hái yǒu nàxiē shuí bù zhīdào shénme shì ài. Xiànzài, tāmen yǒu nǐ de suǒyǒu. Nǐmen dōu bù huì gūdān. Wǒmen měi gèrén dōu yǒu nǐ de bèibù, bìng huì zài zhèlǐ hé nǐmen zhàn zài yīqǐ zài měiguó hé zài zìjǐ de guójiā! Bǎochí xìnxīn, shàngdì bǎoyòu….