China’s notorious Yulin dog and cat meat “festival” begins on June 20th. Every year, thousands of stolen family pets and strays are packed tightly into small, painful wire cages.
Trembling in fear, they’re transported for days in the relentless summer heat. Those who survive the journey will be beaten and brutally slaughtered for their meat.
Initially launched in 2010 by local traders to boost declining sales, the event has faced widespread national and international outrage. Though marketed as a local “festival,” 72% of Yulin’s residents do not regularly consume dog meat.
Thanks to efforts by Humane World for Animals and partner groups, the scale of the event has diminished in recent years. Public displays of slaughter have been restricted, and authorities have cracked down on dog meat advertisements, signaling progress in the fight against the trade.
Several countries and regions across Asia, including Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and parts of Indonesia, have already banned dog meat consumption. Ending the trade in China is a realistic goal, although progress has been slow.
Notably, in 2020, the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai implemented bans on dog and cat meat consumption, and China’s Ministry of Agriculture officially reclassified dogs as companion animals rather than livestock.
Local Chinese animal welfare groups continue to advocate for nationwide legislation to ban the dog and cat meat trade. In the future, there is hope that the National People’s Congress will introduce animal welfare laws that will help to bring an end to this trade.
Rescue efforts
For over a decade, Humane World for Animals has supported the rescue of thousands of dogs and cats from the meat trade through our partnerships with Chinese activists, including Vshine.
Chinese activists liaise with local police to pull over trucks illegally trafficking dogs and cats on their way to slaughter, and work with law enforcement when illegal dog slaughterhouses are discovered.
These animals are largely illegally acquired and illegally transported across provincial borders without the required paperwork.
After being confiscated, animals are brought to Vshine’s shelter, where Humane World for Animals support helps provide lifesaving medical care, food and rehabilitation, until the dogs and cats find loving homes locally.