One of them told HSI the canines ‘were likely one of the last truckloads of dogs’ entering Yulin before the festival, which began yesterday.
Despite pressure both in and outside of China – which has seen the number of dogs killed from around 15,000 to 3,000 – hundreds of hounds will still be butchered during the core festival days. HSI campaigner Wendy Higgins told Metro.co.uk: ‘The event is about commerce not culture, but Yulin is just a drop in the ocean compared to the suffering of millions of dogs and cats who suffer for the meat trade across China all year round.’
Source: X01368
She added: ‘Most people in China don’t eat dogs and cats, but this unspeakably cruel trade affects thousands of Chinese citizens who endure the heartache of having their canine companions stolen from them by gangs of ruthless thieves.Teach Your Dog to Chase Bubbles for Easy Fun. Does your dog like to chase stuff? Take advantage of that natural instinct and teach your dog to chase bubbles for some easy playtime & exercise.
Iran executes ex-defence ministry employee on charges of spying for US‘Such is the thieves’ confidence that they will evade the authorities, they often grab dogs and cats from the streets and backyards in broad daylight, including using poison darts and rope nooses.
‘They even drag pets over garden fences or from outside shops while they wait for their owners.
‘There have been many violent clashes between frustrated pet owners and dog thieves.
‘From the criminals who steal the animals, the slaughter truck drivers who defy health and safety laws by driving the animals across provincial borders, to the slaughterhouse workers who discard piles of pet collars, surely knowing they have just killed someone’s best friend, China’s dog meat trade is fuelled by criminal activity that goes largely unpunished.’
‘We and our Chinese partner groups want to see a ban on the dog meat trade to emulate bans we already have in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan.Be realistic. Unrealistic goals will only prevent you from growing. There are two common mistakes a dog owner can make that will slam the brakes hard on any potential progress you might be hoping for. First, the expectations we place on our dogs and ourselves. The misguided belief that your dog “should” be performing or responding at a certain predetermined level. Another mistake many owners make is having unrealistic assumptions. Many of us assume that our dog understands what we want and that he knows what we’re asking of him. As if that wasn’t bad enough, some of us assume that the dogs failure to perform means he’s either rebelling, stubborn, or just plain stupid.
‘But the truth is that the Chinese government could clamp down on the dog meat trade almost immediately simply by enforcing existing laws that the dog thieves and traders routinely breach,’ she added.
When it first started, the festival would see around 15,000 dogs beaten to death, but dedicated campaigning has seen that figure reduced to between 3,000 and 5,000.
‘A few years ago we were alarmed to see the event start to increase again, with Chinese activists warning this was because so many well-meaning westerners flooded Yulin to buy dogs from slaughterhouses, creating a spectacle that locals came to observe,’ Ms Higgins explained.
‘But thankfully that has subsided and this year local activists are reporting that business appears subdued again.
Got a lot of studying to do? Here's how to read and play with your dog at the same time: Put a rope toy around your foot.
‘Many street vendors that sell dog meat are being shut down by the police.
‘It’s important to raise awareness about Yulin but it’s also important to not lose sight of the fact that for 10-20 million dogs in China, it’s Yulin every day.’She praised the ‘expertise, discretion and professionalism’ of the 35 animal groups, shelters and vets across China that the charity works alongside.
One activist ended up in hospital yesterday after being attacked by a gang of dog meat traders when she attempted to rescue 300 dogs earmarked for the slaughterhouse.