China's Yulin Dog Meat Festival continues despite global outrage

The annual dog meat festival in Yulin, China went on despite a major online campaign to put a stop to the highly controversial event. Protesters campaigning against the event outside a government office, Monday, were disbanded forcibly by unknown men. According to reports, an AFP photographer said there were about 20 men who went and warded off the animal rights activists from the area.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The annual festival was condemned by various animal rights organizations, even on social media, encouraging people to take part to stop the alleged brutal killings of thousands of dogs for the event.

With signs reading "Crack Down on Illegal Dog Meat Trade" and "Punish Illegal Dog Transport" snatched out of their hands, about 10 activists were chased away from the front of the government office, according to AFP.

There are currently no laws that prohibit the consumption of dog meat, which pushed the protesters to bring out slogans calling on attention from local government officials to enforce existing laws on health and related administrative areas. Most of the dogs caged and scheduled to be butchered at the event were reportedly stolen pets.

"Many of these animals are stolen pets, and most of the dog meat trucks coming in are in total breach of China's very clear laws on animals for human consumption. How much longer can China simply allow the Yulin authorities to flout the law like this?" asked the director of the Washington D.C.-based Humane Society, Adam Parascandola, in a statement.

The Humane Society reported there are about 10 million dogs butchered annually for consumption in China, while up to 10,000 are killed solely for the Yulin festival. During a protest in another part of Yulin hundreds gathered at a market where dog traders sell the animals.

As of Monday afternoon, the petition in Change.org already garnered 3.8 million signatures, according to AFP.

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