Photo:DV_2023
DV_2023
Nineteen dogs were spared a dark end thanks to the work of Chinese activists.
According toHumane Society International(HSI), the China-based group Vshine, an official partner of HSI, pulled the canines from an illegal slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Yulin, China.
Each year, theYulin Dog Meat Festival, started in 2010, takes place in the Chinese city during the summer solstice, resulting in the slaughter of thousands of dogs. Despite a decreased interest in the event andgovernmental changes that signal a lack of supportfor the festival, the Yulin Dog Meat Festival continues.
The June 14 rescue of the canines from the slaughterhouse occurred a week before the 2023 Yulin Dog Meat Festival is slated to start.
HSI said that rescuers entered a heart-wrenching scene at the slaughterhouse.
Rescuers found the surviving dogs severely dehydrated, dirty, and matted but happy to see them.
“Most of the dogs greeted us with excitement, pawing the cage bars for attention, while others were really subdued and shaken. Now they are all safe and receiving the medical care, food, water, and love they so desperately need to recover from their frightening ordeal. They were moments away from being killed for the Yulin markets,” Teng added.
“We are so grateful to the Chinese activists for taking a stand against this hideously cruel trade. Most people across China do not support this cruelty, and surveys show that even in Yulin, most people are not opposed to a ban. It’s time to put an end to this misery,” Dr. Peter Li, HSI’s China policy specialist, said in a statement.
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Per HSI, a survey released in early June revealed that 19.3% of Yulin residents polled oppose a ban on the dog meat trade, 70% said a ban would have no or no significant impact on their lives, and 81% did not express an objection to a ban when asked if Yulin should follow mainland Chinese cities like Shenzhen, which implemented a dog and cat meat ban in 2020.
source: people.com
