International animal welfare campaigners are ramping up annual opposition to the Yulin dog meat festival in China as Animals Asia launches #ItsNoFestival.

Animal welfare advocates are looking to build on last year’s progress when sustained pressure saw a drastic reduction in the number of animals slaughtered as authorities distanced themselves from the furore and enforced food safety legislation.

Ahead of this year’s event on June 22, Animals Asia has launched #ItsNoFestival, an open letter asking dog meat traders to end the practice. The response will be shared publicly by Animals Asia in China via its social media platforms and – it is anticipated – by celebrities backing the cause.

The animal welfare charity claims that the dog meat industry is characterised by both criminality and cruelty. Dogs – frequently family pets – endure horrific cruelty between being snatched and slaughtered.

While media reports suggest that in previous years the Yulin authorities actively supported and promoted the festival, since 2013, they have taken an altogether different approach.

Official government websites posted statements distancing themselves from the event, while the local media said government staff and officials were instructed to stay away and a poster campaign subtly suggested the public did too.

The authorities also used their position to put pressure on dog sellers and dog meat venders by reminding departments responsible for food, live-stock and public security to be vigilant in their duties – in effect ordering them not to turn a blind eye to food safety violations rampant in the dog meat industry.

Media reports from 2014 claimed the number of dogs slaughtered at the festival fell from 10,000 to 2,000 that year after opposition from local and international dog lovers saw the authorities enforce food safety regulations.

Animals Asia founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE said:

“The international outcry and the brave campaigning of local groups has had a huge impact on Yulin culminating in last year’s progress. But the fact remains that thousands of dogs are expected to be slaughtered this June 22 in celebration of the summer solstice.

“The dog meat industry in China is synonymous with cruelty as both strays from the streets and family dogs from people’s homes are stolen, illegally transported and slaughtered without the necessary quarantine or food safety standards. This can directly lead to the spread of disease, including rabies, and the risk to human health is increased still further by the fact that the stolen dogs are often poisoned with cyanide and other dangerous toxins hugely damaging to those consuming the meat.

“This year we’ve heard claims that it’s no longer a festival.  That it’s just an unofficial gathering of those who like to eat dog.  They’re right – it is no festival – hence the name of our campaign. No festival should excuse cruelty as this does. No festival should actually do damage to the reputation of the hosts.  No festival should be as divisive as this.”

Irene Feng, Animals Asia China Cat and Dog Welfare Director said:

“Opposition to Yulin has grown remarkably in China in recent years as dog ownership and animal welfare awareness has increased. People have seen that change is possible after the Jinhua Hutou Dog Meat Festival was abandoned in 2011 following widespread protest. The people have seen that change is possible and they know that both the law and wider public opinion is on their side. If the campaigners remain steadfast, then it will only be a matter of time before the Yulin festival is cancelled too.”

According to local media, the Yulin Dog Meat Festival has been officially running since 2009 when dog meat traders took advantage of a local custom of eating dog meat to celebrate the summer solstice. In the following years, 10,000 dogs were slaughtered and consumed at dog meat feasts during each festival.

In recent years the festival has caused increasing controversy as dog meat eaters and animal lovers clash, sometimes violently over the sensitive festival.

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