The Heartwarming Story of the Chinese Meat Market Dog Rescue

You all may have heard of several countries, where their food choice is very weird and strange. When we talk about this, the Chinese meat market dog rescue comes at the first place. It is also easy to believe that China has the world’s largest consumer meat market. The consumption of meat in China has been increasing since the 1900s. Although the per capita consumption of meat in China is, lower, when we compare it to America. 

You can find every kind of meat in the Chinese meat market. You may also find meat you may not have even thought about, that’s how strange it is. This place is no less than heaven for non-vegetarians, who love every kind of meat. The Chinese meat market sells meat of dogs, cats, snakes, rats, pigs, and more. The market is popular for beef, mutton, seafood, and especially pork. 

Let’s now talk about the infamous Chinese dog meat market. No, doubt dogs are the most beloved animal in the whole world. Eating dogs in China is more of a cultural tradition. But this thing is quite brutal, and after seeing this, some Chinese activists who are, partners with Humane Society International acted against it.  They aimed to rescue the dogs and cats and stop the trade as well.

In this blog, you will find how the dogs were rescued from meat markets and when this mission started. And if you want to know whether China still sells meat dogs, then read this blog till the end.

When Did The Rescue Dogs Mission Begin?

It was in 2010 when dog meat traders in China started the “Yulin Dog Meat Festival’. Their hidden purpose was to increase sales and earn money by selling dog meat. Due to this, people around the world were upset, and even the domestic public was against this festival. Some people may not be aware of this, but according to reports, around 70% of Yulin’s population doesn’t consume dog meat. 

The killing of dogs continued till 2016, when until Yulin govt. break their silence and send the written pledge to end this festival. They put more effort into stopping the dog trucks at the checkpoints, so they don’t enter the city. Later on, the government ahead of the Yulin Dog Meat Festival prohibited the sale of dog meat by restaurants, street vendors, and market traders.

Chinese Meat Market Dog Rescue

Starting in 2018, a group of activists in China began working hard to rescue dogs from places where they can get hurt. In 2018, they saved 375 cats from Tianjin. The next year, they saved 62 dogs in Yulin. These dogs got the help they needed at a shelter supported by Humane Society International.

In 2021, something incredible happened. A truck filled with 68 scared dogs was stopped just before it reached Yulin, and got rescued. Then, in 2022, police in a city called Shaanxi teamed up with activists to stop a truck carrying a whopping 386 dogs on their way to Yulin.

Top Dog Meat Trade Rescue Adoption Programs

Here are some top Dog Meat Trade Rescue Adoption programs- 

1. Humane Society International

HIS is a popular organization, and you may have heard of it. Their work is to save dogs and cats and provide them with homes to live in. They ensure that rescued dogs get the right medical care. They also work hard to provide them with new families to adopt the rescued dogs.

2. Big Dog Ranch Rescue

Next is the “Big Dog Ranch Rescue” organization. They rescue dogs and help them find new homes. You can directly visit their shelter for adoption. The adoption process includes background checks and verification of pet policies.   The cost to adopt a dog varies based on certain factors age, breed, etc.

3. Soi Dog Foundation

They have dogs and cats available for adoption. The best thing is they also help with adopting dogs and cats from overseas. This foundation works in partnership with others to make sure many dogs find new families.

4. China Rescue Dogs

China Rescue Dogs aims to save dogs from the meat trade. Their job is to bring these dogs to the U.S. and Canada and help them find a good home. They help all dogs, no matter if they look different, or old.

5. Korean K9 Rescue

Korean K9 Rescue is a volunteer-driven dog rescue in Queens, New York. They're a non-profit group that helps dogs in need. They work to rescue dogs from South Korea. These dogs are often homeless or have been treated badly. They mainly help dogs find homes in New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles.

The Impact Of Asia Meat Rescue On Our Lives

In some parts of Asia,  dogs are being killed for their meat. This is something terrible, as it causes a lot of pain and suffering for these dogs. There's an organization called Big Dog Ranch Rescue that went to Asia in 2019 and saved over 1,000 dogs.

The Heartwarming Story Of Vita

The incident took place in 2013 when Animal Equality investigators found vita in Zhanjiang, China. They found her in a slaughterhouse, where the owners of that slaughterhouse were planning to kill her. The good thing that happened was Vita being saved. What made Vita's story even more special was that she was pregnant. Yeah, you read that right, everyone realized she was going to be a mom. The story of Vita reminds us that some dogs and cats still need help.

Several organizations are still working to help more dogs. The rescue has a positive impact on our lives, as these innocent creatures are saved from a terrible fate. What’s more satisfying than rescued dogs that are getting a chance to live happily? The Chinese meat market dog rescue operations also taught us how important can be lives of animals. The activists with Humane Society International showed us the way to stop cruel behavior.

How Many Dogs Are Killed For Meat In China?

The answer to this question is that around 10-20 million dogs are killed in China each year. As said before, many people in China do not eat dogs. There are only a few places in China, where people eat dogs. Currently, China doesn’t have an anti-animal cruelty law. But, in 2020, positive changes were made. The cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai in China introduced bans on dog and cat meat consumption.

Does China Still Sell Dog Meat?

Yes, China is still selling dog meat, although the slaughters of dogs have decreased a little.  There has been a tradition of eating dogs for a long time. Every year the Dog Meat Festival takes place in Yulin, during this festival, dogs and cats are sold for people to eat.

We all can observe from the reports that the people of Yulin and other places in China don't support the trade of dogs and cats. Also, they don’t mind the ban on dog meat; they are okay with the ban. Most of them want the government to take action to stop this trade. As of now, we can only appreciate the work of activists who make sure the dogs are safe and protected.

(By Simran Singh)