Inside Horrors of Yulin Dog Festival

Dog meat consumption isn’t a new thing in China. It dates back to as long as 4000 years. They believe that dog meat helps in fighting the scorching heat and is good for health. But celebrating something like this? Yulin festival is definitely not a healthy practice.

About Yulin Festival

The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, more commonly known as Yulin Dog Meat Festival is an annual event that takes place in Yulin, Guangxi, China. As the name says, the festival-goers consume meat and lychee. It is a 7-10 days long festival held during midsummer in which around 10k dogs are lynched and consumed. Yulin festival was held for the first time in 2009 or 2010. It was launched by the traders of China. Before the festival, the public was indifferent to the dog meat industry. After it, the industry was on a boom. Even after facing criticism ever since its beginning, there is still no stopping to it. The event manages to make it to the headlines while the activists and socialists keep trying to get it banned.

Internal Responses

Public

The general public welcomed it in the initial years in the name of a tradition but slowly they are realizing that how inhuman it is. The animal welfare societies of China were the first to oppose this event. In 2014, a retired school professor ensured the rescue of around 360 dozens of dogs and cats from the festival. In 2016, Humane Society International about rescued 1000 dogs. Millions of Chinese supported a proposal to ban the dog meat trade. Many Chinese celebrities have also expressed their contempt for the festival. Also, the number of pet owners in the country who think of dogs as companions and not food is on increase.

Government

The government and its ministers never talk of any support being given to the festival. It is always referred to as a small event organized by the local people of Yulin. However, they also do not accept dogs being humans’ companions. Many times the government receives threats to stop this ‘embarrassment to China’ but still the festival is being held without any disruptions. The communist government of the country tries to not have a stand and somehow keeps supporting the traders.

Media

The state media again prevents to acknowledge any protest against the festival saying that it is just some local custom involving ‘a small percentage’ of Yulin’s population. Some of the editorials say that these protests are insignificant and are influenced by Western ways of treating dogs.

A festival which is being opposed by a significant number of its residents continues to be celebrated every year. The older people of China say the festival is nothing but a celebration of tradition, while the younger generation is more aware and animal-friendly. They raise their voices against the festival very openly on the social media platforms. In 2015, there was news of dogs being banned from this festival, which gave a sigh of relief to the activists, but things again seem to be at the status quo.

Worldwide Responses

Yulin Festival is facing oppositions and protests worldwide since the people came to know about it. The knowledge about the festival is spreading even faster with the internet now and the number of people against it and want Yulin festival to be banned is increasing. This year too, communities have gathered to protest against the festival and are trying their best to get it banned. It is said that in 2016 even the Yulin government tried to stop the festival but failed.

•  There is an incessant debate about the dog being a friend or food.
•  Dog lovers, animal welfare societies and anti-dog eaters keep signing petitions.
•  Chinese people and Celebrities shame Yulin festival.

The number of dogs that are slaughtered has reduced. It has come down from 10,000 to 1000 in 2018. But everyone is still unable to say whether this practice in the name of tradition will ever stop or not. Many media houses raise voice against Yulin festival and protesters have become a huge community together on social media.

Let us be a part of it too and be more ethical in treating animals all around the world. Let us make the world a better place.