Carrie was joined by actress Jenny Seagrove, singer Sandi Thom, wildlife presenter Anneka Svenska, dog behaviourist Victoria Stilwell, Made in Chelsea’s Lucy Watson and TV vet Marc Abraham. MP Rob Flello tried to deliver the petition, but to everyone’s shock, the Chinese Embassy door stayed firmly shut. Two heavily armed guards were posted outside.

Sadly the number of signatures almost matches the amount of dogs and cats killed annually every June, when millions of animals are snatched ruthlessly off the streets of China, some pets still wearing their collars, crushed into chicken crates and transported hundreds of miles without food or water to their torturous end in Yulin.

When they arrive, they are traded off to vendors who have been known to extend the length of death by causing pain to the animals in a bid to trigger the release of more adrenalin which is said to tenderise the meat. Photos of these horrors are on the Internet and shared regularly – they include showing dogs being boiled alive, fur burn off while the animal is still conscious, dogs being skinned alive, beaten over the head with metal hooks and throats being slit with dull blades.

Marc Ching of The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation has travelled to Yulin and reported on his website that he has witnessed crucified dogs nailed to walls, as well as animals left to die slowly in a loose noose so as to induce fear and panic. He has also seen vendors casually skin victims alive while smoking cigarettes and chatting like it’s an every day job. Dogs can be seen wagging tails to the bitter end, as they have been raised as much loved pets in households around China. Marc Ching is out in Yulin again this year and HSI has offered to support his work.

Last year, The Chinese Government washed its hands of any named association with the festival, however it has done nothing to actively shut it down. Until the Government bans it or we see a change in people’s attitudes in China, this cruel event will continue each year.

There is good news though, as numbers of animal activists in China is on the rise with many citizens stopping bikes and trucks carrying crushed dogs and cats in order to liberate the victims. Hope lies with the younger generations who find it hard to tolerate this violent belief system.

To highlight why the Yulin festival should be banned by China, HSI has revealed five key facts about the annual slaughter:

1. It’s not a traditional festival but was ‘invented’ in 2010 by dog traders to boost profits;

2. Before the festival started, Yulin had no history of mass dog slaughter and consumption;

3. Every year, 30 million dogs are killed across Asia for their meat, some 10-20 million in China alone, and thousands die just for Yulin;

4. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the dog trade spreads rabies and increases the risk of cholera 20-fold;

5. Dog meat is eaten by no more than 20 per cent of the Chinese population.

Despite the petition not being accepted by the London branch of the Chinese Embassy, Humane Society International will persist with this campaign and the petition is now being posted to the London Embassy. The original will be presented to The Chinese Government directly by an HSI representative.

Source: Anneka Svenska