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AN ESTIMATED 3,000 dogs have been slaughtered and turned into stew at China's ongoing Yulin dog festival, the Daily Mail reported.
The annual 10-day event, which began on June 21 in the southeastern city of Yulin, typically sees the mass, inhumane butchering and consumption of thousands of dogs – many of which are thought to be stolen pets.
The Humane Society said the animals are typically bludgeoned to death in front of each other, and also put through de-hairing machines to remove fur, before their carcasses are blow-torched for sale in markets.
This year’s festival has been widely criticised by Western celebrities, including actress Dame Judi Dench and comedian Rickey Gervais.
Humane Society International handed a 1.5 million signature petition to the Chinese embassy in London calling for it to be stopped. They were joined by two dogs rescued from Yulin slaughterhouses over the past three years.
Dog meat consumption is not popular in China, with a 2016 survey finding that 64 per cent of citizens wanting an end to the festival, while 69.5 per cent said they have never eaten dog meat.
It is precisely this reason that the festival, which is not traditional, was invented in 2010 by dog traders desperate to boost sales.
Activists take risks to rescue dogs
On Friday, as many as 62 dehydrated and malnourished dogs were wrenched from a slaughterhouse outside the city to freedom by Chinese activists.
Revealing the horrors of the festival to the Daily Mail, activist ‘Wei’ said the pooches were “exhausted and panting” in the sweltering slaughterhouse.
“Some were pressing themselves tight against the wall in an effort not to be noticed,” he said.
“We noticed straight away that some of them were wearing collars, so they were probably stolen, but others looked very sick.
“We quickly loaded them onto a truck to get them to temporary shelter.”
They were rescued after a slaughter man allowed the activists in, and told them that the dogs were likely to be the last truckload into the city before the local government blocks more from entering.
Elsewhere near Yulin, an activist was hospitalised after she was beaten up by dog meat traders who ganged up on her when she tried to release hundreds of dogs from a warehouse.
Du Yufeng, the founder of Bo Ai Animal Protection Centre, told the Daily Mail that she was hit on the head and all over her body by weapon-wielding vendors who prevented her and other animal lovers from releasing the dogs from their warehouse.
Many canines are kidnapped pets
A large number of the animals killed for the event tend to be pets, which is apparent because they're still wearing collars, although most assume they are still only backstreet animals.
Video footage from the event this year showed a lorry transporting terrified canines – many with collars and tags – stuffed into cages which are stacked on top of each other, making its way into the city.
According to Dr Peter Li, the Humane Society's China policy specialist, dog thief gangs roam the county – and he urged the Chinese government to show that it would not tolerate those who perpetrate the trade of dog meat.
Amidst the controversy, this year's festival is said to be more subdued than others, as determined dog traders and slaughterhouse workers keep their guard up for protesters and activists.
Nevertheless, it was noted that more stalls were set up this year, compared to last year’s event.