Authorities keen to keep the peace as tensions simmer in Yulin a day before the dog meat festival which now looks sets to start.

Parked just outside the toll station on the way into Yulin this morning - very noticeable beneath a blue awning - is a car with the logo “China Animal Health Inspection”.

Away from the city centre it’s a reminder that the authorities are keen to be seen doing their job. The dog meat trade is notorious not just for its cruelty and criminality but also for its tendency to cut all corners to maximise profits.

In the past rescuers have used the fact that dog trucks have lacked the required paperwork as a reason to demand they hand over their animals. In theory, the authorities in this case will be able to do the same thing. If, of course, their remit goes beyond just being seen.

In the city itself hotel rooms are charging premium rates. Many are full. It is, however, possible that the “Stop the Yulin festival” movement has now become bigger than the meat trade itself. Such is the interest, rooms are now also full of media, animal charity representatives and local activists. 

While it’s being reported that the dog meat consuming has already started - the truth is that it never ended. Yulin has an appetite for dog meat throughout the year. The question is - what will tomorrow and the start of the festival bring?

There can be little doubt now that dogs will die in their hundreds at least. Dogs that had been ripped from loving families or from streets - often drugged and poisoned, and certainly transported hundreds of miles in tiny cages before an inhumane slaughter. It’s a far cry from the days when it’s believed over 10,000 died, but the sheer amount of animal pain and suffering is almost unimaginable and certainly unacceptable. 

While their slaughter will remain largely hidden, the bodies of dogs are already everywhere. Tomorrow their transportation and preparation will almost certainly lead to flashpoints.

With that in mind - and echoing their Animal Health Inspection colleagues - law enforcement officers are also out in force already. Not so visible, but still clearly in attendance, are plain clothes officers as well as private security guards.

For the authorities, the main aim is to stop any potential violence. While the selling of dog meat remains legal they have no power to stop trading unless other laws are contravened.

Even gathering these pictures, people stepped up and blocked our camera. While tomorrow, visiting dog eaters will be welcomed with open arms - today out-of-towners taking photos spells trouble. But there is some local opposition - including this animal hospital with its Animals Asia posters.

In terms of positive news - the well-known Dong Kou Market was reported to be quiet in comparison with last year. There appeared to be less stalls. Early reports had suggested the opposite - that the “Stop Yulin dog meat festival” campaign had actually boosted trade - but it’s too early to make a call on whether that is the case or just angry defiance by the traders.

For Animal Asia founder Jill Robinson this year’s campaign to end Yulin festival was characterised by the growth of opposition within China.

She said:

“Just this morning a new poll was release saying that 64% of the Chinese population wanted the Yulin festival to end - the statistics also included the fact that 69.5% of Chinese people had never eaten dog. It follows the recent handing in of 11 million signatures within China asking the authorities to stop the festival. Earlier this year nine million Chinese also backed proposed legislation to end all dog meat eating.

“With all this in mind we have to hope that this year’s festival will be reduced. That is our best hope. That year by year those turning their back on this cruelty will cut traders’ profits to the point that this slaughter becomes no longer viable. The early indicators are that the festival will be smaller but it’s far too soon to be sure - there could yet be a nasty surprise.

“Last year we released our reports that comprehensively mapped the dog meat trade. What that has done is crystalise the issues that clearly show why it must end. We are talking about an industry that relies on dog theft, that cares so little about its customers that it poisons the meat they are eating. We now know there are no large scale dog farms just broken hearted families who have their companions snatched.

“In terms of ‘tradition’ there is nothing left for people to defend. This is little more than organised crime and the government are now aware of this. They also now know how popular a move it would be to end the dog meat trade once and for all.

“The campaign to end this dog meat festival has effectively raised awareness of the cruelty of the trade. What is vital is that no one turns their back on this cruelty in the weeks and months after Yulin. 10 million dogs are estimated to be slaughtered every year in China by the dog meat trade. We can stop dog meat eating - we are closer than ever.”

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