Yulin Festival‘A Dog’s Dinner’

In the Western World， consuming dog meat is almost akin to cannibalism. The consumption of dog meat is considered barbaric and immoral， yet many Westerners are perfectly content to eat animals that have been factory farmed. The creatures reared in this particular fashion are at the disposable of cruel treatment and endure poor living conditions. Although we might tut and shake our heads in disapproval at the mention of this miserable subject， the majority of us still wouldn’t think twice about ordering a juicy chicken burger. I have briefly flirted with the notion of vegetarianism and although this consideration did not materialise， I understand its ethical basis. I also admire that vegetarianism applies an identical viewpoint to the consumption of all living creatures.

However， carnivorous individuals in the West view dogs differently to other animals. Dog is a man’s best friend - chicken and pork are not. It is this stance that has conditioned our way of thinking and so the choice to eat dog meat is culturally relative. Our adoration for the domestic dog is also undoubtedly rooted in aestheticism we wouldn’t dare entertain the idea of cooking our cute， furry， friends. Dogs have been assigned the position of being our loyal companions and this is one of the key factors that prevent them from being served up on our dinner plates. Many of those who eat meat are not concerned with the extensive evidence that proves that pigs are equally as sociable and smart as dogs. Pigs are not famed for being our trusty followers. If the notorious Yulin Dog Meat Festival assumed the title ‘Yulin pork festival’ I highly doubt there would be a backlash.

The Yulin Dog Meat Festival occurs on the eve of the Summer Solstice in China’s province of Guangxi. Locals and tourists can sink their teeth into the flesh of approximately 10，000 slaughtered dogs， alongside a multitude of additional native delicacies. Controversy surrounding the event has primarily been spurned by the crime， cruelty and risk of disease， which indisputably results from consuming the readily available dog meat. Although some deem the notion of eating dog meat to be un-ethical， this is not actually the prime concern. Animal activists are incensed by the sordid conditions that the dogs are forced to endure photos from the event reveal shocking images of the animals crammed into small cages with little to no room for movement. There is also an alarming lack of sustenance； food and water is a no-show. Severe health risks， such as the spread of rabies， pose a great risk to consumers of such meat this is a primary concern surrounding the event， as China does not have dog farms. Moreover， an abundance of criminals surface with the intent to pinch people’s pet dogs and serve them up with a side order of spicy sauce.

There is now a widespread delusion amongst the British that snacking on the flesh of a dog is as common as munching on a packet of Walkers crisps. The words ‘The Chinese will eat ANYTHING’ incessantly rang in my ears before my departure to Shanghai and I now wish to challenge this ill-informed stereotype. Approximately 50 million Chinese citizens are now converting to vegetarianism， for both environmental and ethical reasons. Furthermore， the restaurant menu’s I have encountered in the City are both predictable and tame in terms of meat， Beef and Pork have transpired to be local favourites. Admittedly， a negative portrayal of China’s consumption of dog meat swamps the media， including a plethora of angry online petitions to prevent the Yulin festival from recurring. However， animal activists do not simply contest the consumption of dog meat it is evident that greater concerns emanate from this yearly custom.

Despite the festival being an age-old tradition in Guangxi， many Chinese citizens oppose it， including the vast majority of Shanghai citizens. I have obtained some beneficial advice for all you British dog lovers out there do not book tickets for Crufts， take a trip to Shanghai instead. A multitude of beautifully groomed breeds can be discovered scampering along the streets of the city and in my experience， most owners are perfectly happy to be papped with their pets！ Although PETA recently blasted popular music icon Lady Gaga for adorning her pet puppy in jewels， it appears to me as though kitting dogs out in trendy attire is clearly a sign of affection in the city of Shanghai. The citizens residing here take great delight in pampering their pooches miniature shoes （very ‘Jimmy Chew’， if you will）， bejeweled collars and neon ear bows are obligatory accessories. I have also been witness to the tiniest of pups being carted around in prams or even draped over their owner’s shoulders. However， once in close proximity of what initially appear to be woolen scarves， the wagging tails and lolloping tongues shatter this illusion.

Strolling down a side street in Pudong， I passed what appeared to be a lavish hotel upon first glance. Complete with faux marble floors， potted plants and white washed walls， this grand building transpired to be the local Vets - a far cry from the picture Western media paints of China’s treatment of dogs. Although the dog days are not quite over in Yulin， the only doggy bags you’ll find in Shanghai are designer purses doubling up as mobile homes for hounds.