"Nightmare" video shows caged cats and dogs awaiting fate before China's 'cruel' meat festival
WARNING: UPSETTING FOOTAGE AND IMAGES. The annual event sees up to 10,000 dogs and cats slaughtered in just a few days
A sickening video shows caged cats and dogs waiting to be slaughtered before China's meat festival - which sees up to 10,000 animals killed in a few days.
The annual festival takes place in Yulin, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and is celebrated each year in June.
But a new report from the Humane Society International (HSI) suggests the animalsare actually being slaughtered all year round - not just during the event.
With 11 weeks to go until this year's festival, HSI China Police Specialist Dr Peter Li has travelled from Beiing to Yulin, bringing evidence of slaughter.
HSI estimates that as many as 300 dogs are killed for food every day, many of them beaten to death in public, including near schools and children.
It claims that the video footage was taken between March 29 and April 2 in two slaughter operations in Yulin.
Dog meat is believed to be readily available in restaurants around the city.
One restaurant owner told HSI that whenever he needs dogs, he simply calls a trader and dogs are provided immediately.
There is a constant supply with at least one truck every day bringing live dogs from areas outside the city and other parts of the country.
HSI also believes that is likely both cats and dogs are being stolen to meet the demand for food.
The Yulin authorities have now confined the slaughtered to the days of the festival only, and deny any kind of activity taking place outside of the event.
But Dr Li said: "This was one of the most harrowing visits I’ve ever made to Yulin.
"The dogs and cats I saw were visibly traumatised, their spirits broken from their terrifying ordeal.
"It’s hard to imagine their mental suffering, watching other dogs being killed, disemboweled and dismembered in front of them.
"It was like a scene from a nightmare that will haunt me forever.
"It shocked me to see how close these awful scenes are to local schools, with a high risk of young children being exposed to sounds and sights of extreme animal suffering.
"And it is apparent from the volume of dogs, and animals wearing pet collars, that Yulin remains a hub for dog and cat theft.
"It is astonishing that this illegal and cruel trade is tolerated, and so HSI is joining hands with our Chinese animal group partners to urge the Chinese government to crack down on the trade in time to halt the Yulin festival once and for all.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments always welcome!