China is preparing for its annual dog meat festival on June 20, in the city of Yulin, where thousands of dogs and cats are slaughtered. Animal activists from a coalition of groups have called for the banning of the festival, which they claim symbolises the cruelty and lack of hygiene associated with the largely unregulated industry. An estimated 10-20 million dogs and cats are killed in China for their meat. Horrific images have emerged of the cruelty used to kill dogs, which in some cases involves their being put into boiling pots while still alive and being clubbed to death. Restaurateurs argue the consumption of dog meat is part of the Chinese culture, while those opposing the festival claim it all started in 2010 and has nothing to do with culture or tradition, but was devised to make businesses wealthier. The local government has not officially condemned the event or demanded its ban and it trying to avoid any confrontation with local businesses. Avvaz has started a global online petition to stop the event. The petition (here) reads:

‘For the Yulin dog meat festival, some dogs are stolen from their owners and beaten or bled to death. Then they’re hung upside down from hooks, a slit cut from their anus and skin ripped off their bodies, and sold to be eaten. When our numbers are great enough, Avaaz will take out ads, work with influential celebrities, run the first independent national poll on dog-eating in China, and put this issue on front pages everywhere until Chinese authorities act’