The festival is said to be one of the cruelest and most disturbing in the world

Jun 19, 2014 13:24 GMT  ·  By
People in China believe dog meat can help them stay healthy throughout the coming winter
2 photos
   People in China believe dog meat can help them stay healthy throughout the coming winter

Each year, some people in Yulin, China, take time off their busy schedules to kill dogs, cook them, and eat them as a means to celebrate the summer solstice. Despite numerous protests against this practice, it looks like this year is no different.

In fact, media reports say that, rather than canceling this festival, folks in said Chinese city have moved it up a few days, hoping that this will help get animal rights activists off their backs.

Thus, word has it that it was late last week that summer solstice enthusiasts in the city of Yulin got together and ate dog meat. This is despite the fact that the actual summer solstice is to take place later this week, on June 21.

Residents of Yulin might have moved their dog-eating festival up a few days in an attempt to avoid unexpected and totally unpleasant visits from animal rights activists, but, unfortunately for them, they failed to keep the affair a secret.

According to Daily Mail, several photos taken at this supposed celebration reached the general public after having been posted on microblogs by people who attended the festival and are now making rounds on the Internet.

Most of these photos show dead, skinned dogs either lying on tables or hanging from hooks. One of them is available below this article, but be warned: the photo is not for those faint of heart, so proceed with caution.

For the time being, killing dogs and consuming their meat is not illegal in China. However, high officials in Yulin are now trying to convince people to stop eating dog meat. To this end, they have recently asked restaurants to quit trading or referencing this supposed treat.

“Negative coverage is growing – dog theft, criminal activities, food hygiene issues, and rabies fears, not to mention the division in society between those for and against the festival – together these have brought more negative publicity to Yulin than economic benefits,” says activist Deng Yidan.

Seeing how it will probably be a while until animal rights activists manage to put an end to this festival once and for all, dog lovers worldwide can at least find some comfort in the fact that not all that many people in Yulin take part in such gruesome celebrations.

In fact, local high officials claim that the event is not so much a festival as it is a culinary habit that some folks are not yet ready to let go of. Just for the record, it must be said that the people who eat dog meat expect it to help them stay healthy throughout the winter.

Dog-eating festival is now underway in Yulin, China
Dog-eating festival is now underway in Yulin, China

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People in China believe dog meat can help them stay healthy throughout the coming winter
Dog-eating festival is now underway in Yulin, China
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