Just days before China’s annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival, the lives of 29 dogs and five cats were rescued from a cruel fate — being tortured, and then eaten.

Humane Society International (HSI), along with partners in China, negotiated for the release of the frightened animals, who were being held captive at a slaughter facility in Yulin. Stuffed into cages and living in filth. Some of the dogs wore collars, suggesting that they had been stolen from their homes. A cheaper alternative to breeding dogs for meat.

“The police presence is heavy in Yulin right now, and the atmosphere is very tense, so this was not an easy rescue,” Peter Li, HSI’s China policy specialist, said in a statement. “The dogs and cats were clearly afraid, especially the older dogs who looked very fearful. It’s shocking to think that if we had not been there, all these animals would have been beaten to death and eaten.”

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Despite national and international protests, culminating in a petition with more than 11 million signatures, the Yulin Festival began yesterday.

Hundreds of animals are killed in the weeks leading up to the festival, with thousands more doomed during the so-called festivities, which last for a little over a week.

The most disturbing component of the so-called festival is the way in which the animals are treated before being eaten — horrors include being strangled and boiled alive, due to the belief that such torture makes the meat more tender.

The Chinese government has never overtly supported the festival, but has taken little action to stop it — until now. This year marks the first that the government has formally written a decree pledging to shut down the festival, rather than deny its existence.

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“The dog meat festival, though not promoted by the local government, is a private and spontaneous activity,” a representative of the Yulin government said

“However, the Yulin authorities and relevant government agencies will take immediate actions to prevent it from happening again,” the letter read.

But for the 34 animals who were recently rescued by HSI, all of that horror is behind them. They were taken to shelters, where they’re being bathed, fed and cared for.

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“Once they realized we weren’t there to hurt them, but in fact we would make their suffering stop at last, they very quickly responded with licks and wagging tails,” Li said.

Some of these animals will find loving homes in China, while most will be flown to the U.K. and U.S. to find families there.

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About the Author

Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy.

Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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