Well, it seems like the Chinese don’t like to learn from their mistakes! That’s why the controversial Yulin Dog Meat Festival, where thousands of dogs are beaten and killed, has kicked off in China despite protests from animal rights activists.
Not just them, the Chinese government has also discouraged the practice and been pushing to improve animal welfare for health reasons stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
As per a Reuters report, the annual 10-day festival in the southwestern city of Yulin attracts thousands of visitors, many of whom buy dogs from cramped cages and eat dishes made from their meat.
Due to Wuhan Virus, eating wild animals including cats & dogs has been banned, but Yulin Dog Meat Festival is not cancelled. It started on 21st and will end on 30th June. CCP officials must be bribed. They have done nothing to stop this inhuman event that endangers public health. pic.twitter.com/OaiY2ynEnt
— Dongguan Boy (@DongguanBoy) June 22, 2020
However, this year, the number of visitors has gone down and activists are hopeful its days are numbered.
“I do hope Yulin will change not only for the sake of the animals but also for the health and safety of its people. Allowing mass gatherings to trade in and consume dog meat in crowded markets and restaurants in the name of a festival pose a significant public health risk” Reuters quoted Peter Li, China policy specialist with the Humane Society International, an animal rights group as saying.
According to the Humane Society International, nearly 10 million dogs are slaughtered in China annually, with many abducted from streets and homes for the Yulin festival.
In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, China changed the classification of the country’s dogs from livestock to companion animals and is also considering new laws to ban the wildlife trade and safeguard pets.
Many on social media also called for banning this gruesome and inhumane practice: (Warning- Distressing images ahead)
#Yulin this weekend remains one of the most horrific festivals on earth. This is not about misunderstanding another culture, it’s about detesting the abhorrent practice of cooking dogs alive. IT MUST STOP. FYI I’m vegan so I don’t support meat industry here, either.
— Sonia Poulton (@SoniaPoulton) June 18, 2020
Chinese markets chop up piles of dog meat ahead of cruel festival
The brutal Yulin Dog Meat Festival is still set to go ahead with pictures emerging of butchers cutting up dog meat by the bucket, while other caged dogs are rescued@BorisJohnson
ANIMALS HAVE RIGHTS NOT IN CHINA pic.twitter.com/3JBdE8IpAT— A Voice for England ??????? (@Col77263880) June 18, 2020
Day 2 of the Yulin dog meat festival in China despite global outrage to the ban the event.#AnimalRights #StopYulinForever #China #SkyNews #BBCNews #CNN pic.twitter.com/TtLCHhpaKi
— Wild Animal Awareness (@WWA_Awareness) June 22, 2020
@TheChineseGov said it would ban markets for cat and dog meat in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were LYING! The barbaric Yulin Festival has already restarted today! pic.twitter.com/7qsFHwddlR
— Theo van Rossum ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??????? (@TheovanRossum4) June 21, 2020
Despite the fact the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a live animal market, the 2020 Yulin Dog Meat Festival is still scheduled to go ahead on 21 June. Yulin must be next in line to ban the consumption of dog meat.
Tell Yulin to end the slaughter!https://t.co/MPZWeuUqRc
— HSI Australia (@hsiaustralia) June 19, 2020
Source: India.com
Please Note: This article is not edited by DogExpress Team!