The traditional Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China begins on the eve of the summer solstice, which occurs on June 20 this year, marking the beginning of the festival’s storied history.
The festival, which involves the sale of live and dead dogs for human consumption, was scheduled for this year, but animal rights groups were cautiously optimistic that the event would not take place as a consequence of recent legislative changes in China.
Many animal advocacy groups, such as Humane Society International, think that the reclassification of dogs from livestock to companion animals in China as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic is a step toward the prohibition of the eating of dog meat in the country.
Additionally, two Chinese towns, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, have outlawed the consumption of dog and cat meat at the same time as China has updated its classification system for dogs, according to a report. According to Reuters, China’s government is now crafting new regulations to criminalize wildlife trafficking and protect companion animals, which the outlet claims will be implemented in the near future.
However, despite the fact that Wendy Higgins, spokesperson for Humane Society International, described the classification change as a “game-changer moment for animal welfare in China” in The Guardian, and despite the fact that China’s appetite for dog meat is waning, according to Reuters, the Yulin Dog Meat Festival was able to proceed as scheduled this year.
The Yulin Dog Meat Festival will take place for 10 days in 2020, however animal rights groups are convinced that China’s efforts to legally protect companion animals would result in the festival being phased out as early as the next year, despite the fact that it takes place in 2020.
The Humane Society International’s Peter Li expressed his hope that Yulin will change “not just for the sake of the animals, but also for the health and safety of its people” in a recent interview with Reuters.
“Allowing big groups to trade in and consume dog meat in crowded markets and restaurants under the pretext of a festival constitutes a very significant public health hazard for the general public,” the governor said.
The traditional Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China begins on the eve of the summer solstice, which occurs on June 20 this year, marking the beginning of the festival’s storied history.
The festival, which involves the sale of live and dead dogs for human consumption, was scheduled for this year, but animal rights groups were cautiously optimistic that the event would not take place as a consequence of recent legislative changes in China.
Many animal advocacy groups, such as Humane Society International, think that the reclassification of dogs from livestock to companion animals in China as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic is a step toward the prohibition of the eating of dog meat in the country.
Additionally, two Chinese towns, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, have outlawed the consumption of dog and cat meat at the same time as China has updated its classification system for dogs, according to a report. According to Reuters, China’s government is now crafting new regulations to criminalize wildlife trafficking and protect companion animals, which the outlet claims will be implemented in the near future.
However, despite the fact that Wendy Higgins, spokesperson for Humane Society International, described the classification change as a “game-changer moment for animal welfare in China” in The Guardian, and despite the fact that China’s appetite for dog meat is waning, according to Reuters, the Yulin Dog Meat Festival was able to proceed as scheduled this year.
The Yulin Dog Meat Festival will take place for 10 days in 2020, however animal rights groups are convinced that China’s efforts to legally protect companion animals would result in the festival being phased out as early as the next year, despite the fact that it takes place in 2020.
The Humane Society International’s Peter Li expressed his hope that Yulin will change “not just for the sake of the animals, but also for the health and safety of its people” in a recent interview with Reuters.
“Allowing big groups to trade in and consume dog meat in crowded markets and restaurants under the pretext of a festival constitutes a very significant public health hazard for the general public,” the governor said.
