Our prayers have finally been answered!
The barbaric Yulin festival that sells dog meat as food will finally be brought to justice following the persistent campaigns against mistreatment of the animals. Restaurants, street vendors, and market traders will be forbidden to sell the meat at the Chinese festival, and stand to pay 100,000 yuan, as well as face the risk of arrest if caught breaking the new law.
According to various sources, the ban will take effect a week before the festival on the 15th of June. Over 10 million dogs and 4 million cats are butchered every year in China, and are then sold as ingredients for traditional national dishes.
Credit: NY Daily News
Activists have traveled to China to rescue the animals from slaughterhouses in the past, and have been moderately successful. The American activistΒ Marc Ching, along with his companion, Valarie Ianniello have reportedly saved 1000 dogs. This was achieved by buying dogs from sellers and then shipping them back to the US for rehabilitation, and even persuading slaughterhouse owners toΒ back the cause.
As of last month, Taiwan became the first Asian country to ban people from consuming the meat. The ban is part of an amendment to animal protection laws, which also covers the selling, possession or purchasing of cat and dog meat. Anyone found guilty of consuming the meat can be charged with a fine of between NT$50,000 (Β£1,300) and NT$250,000 (Β£6,500)
As of this moment, the ban on the festival is only temporary- but it is a definitive step in the right direction.