Posted on 06/07/2014 5:37:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The annual festival, slated for June 21, involves eating dog meat hotpot and lychees and drinking strong liquor on the summer solstice. It is a cherished tradition among Yulin residents. Thousands of diners are expected to crowd streets and enjoy the feast. [Photo: Weibo.com]
Animal rights activists, lawyers, celebrities and food safety experts are lobbying to stop an upcoming festival that serves dog meat in Yulin, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The annual festival, slated for June 21, involves eating dog meat hotpot and lychees and drinking strong liquor on the summer solstice. It is a cherished tradition among Yulin residents. Thousands of diners are expected to crowd streets and enjoy the feast.
Animal rights activists estimate that more than 10,000 dogs are killed during the festival, which has angered dog lovers and spurred criticism online.
Chinese pop stars, such as Chen Kun and Yang Mi, have begun protesting the festival on their accounts on Sina Weibo, a popular micro-blogging service.
"Most of the discussion is centered on the emotional or sentimental aspect of eating dogs," said Zheng Zhishan, a program officer with the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "But it is more important to look at the food safety aspect."
Liu Lang, director of the Beijing Small Animal Veterinary Association, said dog meat is not listed in the food quarantine and inspection for supervision, which creates safety risks in the processing and eating of dog meat.
The Ministry of Agriculture issued a quarantine regulation on dogs and cats last year, requiring laboratory quarantine for the animals before they are transported.
"But in practice, this regulation is not well enforced," Liu said.
Liu said the laboratory quarantine would cost 200 yuan to 300 yuan per dog ($31.80 to $47.70).
"Local residents cannot afford that price if all the dogs eaten at the festival went through such a quarantine," he said.
He added that butchers slaughtering dogs could get infected with rabies if the dogs are not properly quarantined, which would put the butchers' lives in danger.
Activists fear that high demand is encouraging the abduction of strays or pets. Officials, however, contend that the canines bred for the dinner table are raised by local dog farms.
An Xiang, an animal rights lawyer in Beijing, said that according to his research and investigations, there are no such dog farms. All the dogs are raised in households and abducted from streets.
The protest has been going on for several years but the festival has never stopped. Last year, activities in protest of the festival included open letters to the Yulin government, recruitment of celebrities to condemn the practice and even a petition to the president of the United States.
Local residents are not happy, either.
"It is our tradition and our right to eat dog meat. If we are cruel and brutal, what about those who eat pork, beef and chicken?" said Wei Zhengde, a 28-year-old Yulin resident.
I think they have a point.
What about the richness of diversity and the appreciation of other cultures?
I think some old South Koreans still eat dog, they came from when S Korea was an impoverished 3rd world country.
The way I understand it there are dogs that are specifically bred for food. I have no problem with it. If they eat dog meat as part of thier diet why should I care?
I’ve heard that eating dog makes you feel warm all over.
In some country in S. or Central America, women keep guinea pigs in the kitchen in cages. Thankfully they kill them before they deep fry them. Yuck.
Because dogs are man’s best friend and you are short on friends.
:>)
Nope plenty of friends both human and canine. I just dont see why I should force my views morals on somebody else. I would never eat dog because culturally its abhorrent to me.
Some of the slogans coming out of the dog meat festival:
“Labrador- it’s what’s for dinner.”
“Whats for chow? Chow!”
“there’s schnauzer in the schnitzel!”
“come to our festival and wok your dog”
CC
I ate dog in Korea, and it took the bark right out of me. I started shaking hands with everyone I met. I scratched my....nevermind...in broad daylight. And, worse, I had this uncontrollable urge to urinate every time I saw a hydrant.
Dog meat should be banned.
Why? Its thier country. Here yes. But over there? Again why should I care?
Worst thing was when I started trying to smell all the girls behinds. mmmmm butt it was good. ;)
Haha now thats fuuny.
Good sport.
Had an uncle that ate dog all the time.
Killed him.
Well, one day he stepped off the curb, sat down and threw his leg over his shoulder and a bus ran over him.
I trust Resident Obastard already has his invitation to the feast?
A guy is driving around Oklahoma and he sees a sign in front of a house: “Talking Dog For Sale.” He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard.
The guy goes into the backyard and sees a Labrador Retriever sitting there.
“You talk?” he asks.
“Yep,” the Lab replies.
“So, what’s your story?”
The Lab looks up and says, “Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running.
“But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security wandering near suspicious characters and listening in.
“I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.”
The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.
“Ten dollars,” the guy says.
“Ten dollars? This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?”
“Because he’s a damn liar. He never did any of that stuff.”
Not a festival I would attend. Ate dog in the P.I. and it was in a tribal setting. Gristle, rancid and a far chewier morsel than jerky. All the same, the company was great but the food could have been better.
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