Yulin dog meat festival - is it a custom to eat dog meat?

In Yulin, Guangxi province, China, the day of the summer solstice also means the start of annual dog meat “festival”. Every year at this time, Yulin's famous dog meat restaurants are always crowded, and this also results in the debate between customs and animal protection.

A dog waits to be sold for meat in a market in Yulin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Sunday June 23, 2013. CHINA OUT Source: by Humane Society International Australia

This year, Chinese activists with whom HSI has worked with for many years were able to help rescue135 dogs just days before the “festival”. These dogs have witnessed and endured severe cruelty, and they're in desperate need of physical and emotional care. 65 of the rescued dogs are being housed in an HSI-funded shelter and they're receiving critical medical attention, along with fresh food and water.

On a truck parked on Renminzhong Rd. are caged dogs, waiting to be transferred to a slaughterhouse in the narrow alley. Source: by Humane Society International Australia

Dogs rescued from Yulin Dog Meat Festival. The dogs in these images are awaiting transport to Canada. Source: by Humane Society International Australia

Source: by Humane Society International Australia

Source: by Humane Society International Australia

Dr. Peter Li of the Humane Society International said many of the dogs killed were got by stealing and had severe skin diseases. This not only results to illegal activities, but also seriously harms the health of consumers. Butchers who are bitten by sick dogs also have a high risk to suffer rabies infection.

35 of the 135 dogs rescued from a Yulin slaughterhouse, arrive at HSI's partner shelter in North China. Yulin2018 Source: by Humane Society International Australia

35 of the 135 dogs rescued from a Yulin slaughterhouse, arrive at HSI's partner shelter in North China. Yulin2018 Source: by Humane Society International Australia