Actor and animal champion Peter Egan has added his voice to the campaign to end Yulin Dog Meat Festival and to end all dog meat eating.

Peter is an Ambassador for Animals Asia and has recently returned from the animal welfare charity’s bear sanctuary in Chengdu, China.

He said: “The Yulin festival has become a huge focus for animal lovers and the media for a month each year. What is vital is that we can’t let this issue disappear during the rest of the year. It’s estimated that around 10 million dogs are slaughtered by the dog meat industry in China alone.

“We know - from the diligent research by charities such as Animals Asia - that these dogs are stolen and transported vast distances in appalling conditions. We know that the industry is one that is run entirely on the basis of cruelty and criminality. We know that these dogs are not being eaten to ward off hunger - they are eaten for superstitious reasons. We know this is not ‘safe’ food as dogs are poisoned on the street and piled into trucks together where diseases spread. We know that ending the dog meat trade would end this vast cruelty. It would cut crime and stop putting the health of consumers at risk.

“Pressure has seen the number of dogs killed at the festival drop from around 10,000 to 1,000 in recent years. We need to keep that up - end Yulin and end dog meat eating.”

Peter Egan and Animals Asia are asking people to add their signature to an open letter to Yulin’s dog meat traders and asking them to share the website with friends and family so they too can add their support: http://www.animalsasia.org/endyulinfestival

 

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