'Horrible' Yulin Dog Meat Festival Protest Outside Chinese Embassy In London Attracts Hundreds
Mass Protest Outside Chinese Embassy Shows Just How Many People Oppose The Yulin Dog Meat Festival
Kathryn Snowdon— The Huffington Post UK
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Hundreds of protestors gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in London on Friday to oppose the Yulin Dog Meat Festival.
Demonstrators stood on the pavement outside the embassy from 2pm, holding banners and chanting slogans, while motorists tooted their horns in support.
Up to 10 million dogs are believed to be killed for their meat in China every year and some 10,000 canines and cats, many of whom are reportedly stolen pets still wearing their collars, are killed for the festival.
Millions of people from across the world, including Ricky Gervais and Simon Cowell, signed the petition calling on the Chinese government to stop the festival this year, but it went ahead anyway.
There is now growing pressure on the Chinese government to stop the festival, which has been running since 2010, from taking place next year.
One of the organiser's of the London demonstration, Dominic Dyer, told the crowd he felt "horrified", along with millions of other people around the world by the dog meat festival.
He said: "It's a horrible, horrible business, and we are here to make our voices heard."
The Huffington Post UK approached the Chinese Embassy for comment but did not receive a response.
Similar protests were held outside Chinese Embassies across the world on Friday, with dozens gathering outside the buildings in Dublin and New York.
Two kitchen knives are shown stuck in an iron cage, which are used to butcher dozens of dogs and cats every day. (credit:HSI)
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Yulin Dog Meat Festival(03 of15)
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A cat climbs up the cage at the slaughterhouse, trying to escape. This cat was later rescued by Peter Li, China Specialist with HSI. (credit:HSI)
Yulin Dog Meat Festival(04 of15)
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A slaughterhouse butcher transfers a cat to a cage, to be handed off to Peter Li, China Specialist with Humane Society International. Shortly after, Li rescued the cat from the slaughterhouse. (credit:HSI)
Yulin Dog Meat Festival(05 of15)
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In a slaughterhouse, hundreds of pet dogs await their own death, while they watch as their companions are slaughtered in front of them. (credit:HSI)
(06 of15)
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Yulin Dog Meat Festival(08 of15)
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At 7am on May 26th, a woman on her moped transports more than 10 dogs, which had just been slaughtered, to her market shop for sale (credit:HSI)
Yulin Dog Meat Festival(09 of15)
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Dogs hung up for sale for meat in Dong Kou market, as a dog looks on (credit:HSI)
Yulin Dog Meat Festival(10 of15)
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Caged dogs sit on the side of Renminzhong Rd., waiting to be transferred to a slaughterhouse in a narrow alley. (credit:HSI)
Yulin Dog Meat Festival(11 of15)
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At 6am on May 26th, a group of cats from Sichuan Province arrive at Renmin Middle Road on a truck, and wait to be transported on carts to a slaughterhouse in a narrow alley. (credit:HSI)
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Yulin Dog Meat Festival(13 of15)
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Peter Li, China Specialist with HSI, looks at a cage crammed with cats meowing for life, at a hidden slaughterhouse. (credit:HSI)
Yulin Dog Meat Festival(14 of15)
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On a truck parked on Renminzhong Rd. are caged dogs, waiting to be transferred to a slaughter house in the narrow alley. (credit:HSI)
Yulin dog Meat Festival(15 of15)
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Peter Li, China Specialist with HSI, is shown here with two dogs he rescued from the slaughterhouse. (credit:HSI)