Chinese animal activists petition White House against dog meat festival in Guangxi
It is widely believed that dog meat can boost men’s sexual performance - as it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat impotence
China’s dog lovers and animal enthusiasts, fretting over the looming “Dog Meat Festival” - an annual event held Yulin, Guangxi on June 21- have pulled every string possible to avert what they call “a bloody celebration.”
”They use knives to kill the dogs which are alive,” it reads, “Then people would like to burn the dogs, which are conscious, so they can eat them.”
“This petition isn’t meant for political reasons,'' explained its creator, who identified herself as “Alalei” on a pet forum. “I simply hope our government will stop turning a blind eye to this horrible tradition.”
The Yulin locals traditionally celebrate the day of Summer Solstice, when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky - by eating dog meat and drinking lychee wine, says a programme produced by the city’s TV station.