Thousands of dogs, many of them stolen pets, are captured and transported over long distances under horrific conditions to Yulin, a city in China's Guangxi Autonomous Region. There, they're held in crowded cages without food or water until they are killed. Often, they are beaten and their throats are slit in front of other terrified animals.
Most Chinese citizens reject this practice, and HSI is committed to supporting them in ending the festival.
Last year, thanks to overwhelming international pressure, Yulin authorities announced that they would not support the festival. The result was a subdued event and fewer dogs slaughtered than the previous two years. More recently, the authorities have claimed that the festival won't happen this year, but the dog meat traders will continue to stage the event with or without official endorsement.
Join the hundreds of thousands of advocates who have taken action against the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. Please sign our petition now to urge the Yulin authorities to intervene and end mass dog slaughter in the name of a festival.
Dear President Xi Jinping,
Subject: Please end the Yulin dog meat festival.
I respectfully urge you to end the mass slaughter and consumption of dogs for the annual dog meat 'festival' in Yulin to be held on June 21st. I was shocked to learn that thousands of dogs and cats, many of them stolen pets, are due to be slaughtered for dishes consumed at this event. These dogs and cats will suffer enormously — packed tightly together in tiny cages and driven for days without food or water on the arduous journey to Yulin, they will then be subjected to the terrifying and painful ordeal of being beaten to death in front of each other.
In addition to these serious animal welfare issues that a great many people in China and globally are concerned about, the mass consumption of dogs also threatens public health and safety by potentially spreading rabies and undermining China's efforts in controlling this horrifying disease. It is no coincidence that Guangxi province is amongst China's five worst affected areas for human rabies, and Yulin was among China's 10 worst affected cities for human rabies cases not long ago. The World Health Organisation also warns that eating dog meat increases the risk of contracting cholera 20-fold.
With the dog meat festival in Yulin causing such severe animal suffering, risking human health, damaging China's global reputation, and involving widespread illegal behaviour, as well as breaching China's own food safety laws, it is time for the Chinese Government to take firm action to end this event for good. In doing so you will clearly show your leadership in protecting the well-being of both people and animals, and demonstrate that China's global reputation as a progressive nation will not be besmirched by such activities.
[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
