The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, commonly referred to as Yulin Dog Meat Festival, is an annual celebration held in Yulin, Guangxi, China, during the summer solstice in which festival goers eat dog meat and lychees. The festival spans about ten days during which it is estimated that 10,000–15,000 dogs are consumed. The festival has been criticised by animal welfare supporters.

The local residents and festival organizers claim that the dogs are killed humanely and that “eating dog is no different from eating pork or beef”. Concerns over the preparation of the dogs have been fuelled by pictures that have circulated featuring two dogs in boiling water in China. It is claimed that this is because some Chinese prefer the taste of adrenaline-soaked meat. In some areas, dogs are beaten to death in order to release blood into the meat.

It is essential to take action to end this festival for several reasons:

  • STOLEN PETS AND STRAY DOGS – There are not dog farms in China, which means that the dogs killed and eaten during the festival are stolen pets or stray dogs. The quality standards required for a dog farm is too high and would be too expensive, this is why dog farms do not exist.
  • DISEASE SPREAD – Many stray dogs are captured, killed and eaten during the festival, but many of them are sick and have rabies which means that there is a risk for humans to contract rabies, too. Infact, China is the first country in the world for number of people with rabies, and the province of Guangxi (where the festival takes place) has the highest rate of people infected by this virus in the country. The contamination occurs during the contact whit infected dog still alive, not by eating the meat.
  • TACKLE CRIMINALITY – During the festival the dog meat trade is a high profitable business and many pet owners are assaulted by thieves who stole their dogs. Three dogs of 15 kilos each could be worth even 150 euros.

 

This festival is a cruel tradition and international pressures are getting results, but still a lot needs to be done.

OIPA International is supporting Animal Asia Petition in order to stop the festival.

On the 21st of June 2016 OIPA Italy will march in a public manifestation against the festival!

What you can do:

  • Join the march in Milan (Italy)
  • Start an event within your community to raise awareness on this issue!

Contact us to international@oipa.org