“Heroes Rescue 19 Canine Friends from a Horrific Slaughterhouse in Preparation for the Dog Meat Festival”

Vshine activists in collaboration with Humane Society International rescued 19 dogs that were emaciated and filthy from an illicit slaughterhouse located in the vicinity of Yulin, China.

Chinese activists have saved nineteen dogs from being slaughtered in an illegal slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Yulin, China. Vshine, a China-based group and official partner of Humane Society International (HSI), facilitated the rescue mission. The Yulin Dog Meat Festival, which began in 2010, takes place every summer solstice and results in the killing of thousands of dogs. Despite reduced interest and a lack of support from the government, the festival continues. The canine rescue occurred just one week before the scheduled start of the 2023 Yulin Dog Meat Festival. In a separate incident, 386 dogs were rescued from a crowded truck on their way to the same festival.

The HSI reported that the rescue team entered a disturbing scene at the slaughterhouse. According to Teng, one of the activists involved in the operation, it was one of the dirtiest and bloodiest dog slaughterhouses they had ever encountered. The team arrived too late to save five dogs who had already been killed. The surviving dogs were found severely dehydrated, dirty, and matted, but nonetheless delighted to see their rescuers. Some dogs were subdued and shaken. However, the team managed to save them all and provide them with medical care, food, water, and love. These dogs were just moments away from being killed for the Yulin markets. Among the 22 dogs rescued from the dog meat farms, there were 17 Golden Retrievers that will be flown to the U.S. to find loving homes.

Activists from Vshine who visited a slaughterhouse in China, comforted the dogs and moved them to clean cages before taking them for veterinary care. Out of the 19 dogs rescued, three are being looked after by a local animal group while the remaining 16 are at Vshine’s veterinary shelter in north China. HSI is lending additional support to ensure the dogs receive proper medical attention and find new homes. HSI’s China policy specialist, Dr. Peter Li, expressed his gratitude towards the Chinese activists for their efforts and called for an end to the cruel dog meat trade. According to a survey conducted by HSI, 81% of Yulin residents did not object to a ban on the dog meat trade when asked if Yulin should follow the example of Shenzhen, which prohibited the trade in 2020.

A group of compassionate individuals saved 386 dogs from a packed truck that was headed for the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. The rescue team managed to intercept the vehicle and free the animals from their cramped and cruel confinement. Thanks to their efforts, these dogs have been given a chance at a better life, away from the horrors of the meat trade.