Yulin dog meat festival begins despite rumours of ban

A controversial dog meat festival has begun in the 
Chinese city of Yulin, despite earlier reports it had 
been cancelled or toned down this year.

The Lychee and Dog Meat festival takes place annually 
in Guangxi province.

Earlier this year, US campaigners claimed that vendors 
had been told by authorities not to sell dog meat.

But stall holders had told the ERICGOSSIP they had heard nothing about this from officials. On 15 May, city officials confirmed there was no ban.


Is dog meat still for sale?

Yes. On Wednesday, reports from Yulin said dead 
dogs could be seen hanging from meat hooks at 
stalls in Dongkou market, the biggest in the city.

There were also reports of a heavy police presence 
on the streets.

One activist in the city told the ERICGOSSIP she was prevented  by police from entering the Dashichang 
market where she believed live dogs were on sale.

In previous years there have been scuffles between 
stall owners and activists trying to rescue the dogs slated 
for slaughter.

The city of Yulin is not the biggest dog meat consumer 
in Guangxi province though. It is only since the festival 
started around 10 years ago that the city received national 
and international attention.

What's wrong with dog for dinner?

It is all about accusations of animal cruelty and 
changes in attitudes to dogs in China.

Residents and vendors say the dogs are killed in a 
humane way and that eating them is no more or less 
cruel than consuming pork, beef or chicken.

Eating dog is an old tradition in China, South Korea and 
some other Asian countries. Those in favour of it are upset 
by what they say is foreigners interfering with local traditions.

In Chinese culture dog meat is said to be beneficial during 
the hot summer months.

Even many who do not eat dog defend the practice as 
long as the animals are not stolen or killed in an 
inhumane way.

But critics say the dogs are transported from other 
cities in small, cramped cages ahead of the festival and brutally killed.

Activists also allege many of the dogs are stolen pets.

Protests against the festival come both from abroad 
and from within China. The number of pet dogs in the 
country has skyrocketed in recent years with 62 million registered canine companions.

This has gradually changed many people's opinion on 
eating dog meat.

Why the confusion this year?

In May, US activists had claimed there was a ban on 
the sale of dog meat this year. This was not the case.

The Yulin government has repeatedly said that it does 
not officially organise the festival so cannot prohibit it. 
Eating dogs is not illegal in China.

The local government is unhappy though about the widespread annual media coverage.

In 2016, they banned the slaughter of dogs in public in
anticipation of protests.

This year, reports said there was less public 
slaughtering taking place, though the scale of the event 
was not immediately clear.

Activists estimate that in peak years, about 10,000 
dogs and cats were killed and eaten during the 10-day 
festival.