China’s Dog Meat Festival: Man Rescues 1,000 Canines from Gruesome Event

By Carlo Monzon
Yulin Dog Meat Festival
A vendor smokes behind a display of dog meat at a dog meat market on the day of a local dog meat festival in Yulin, Guangxi Autonomous Region, June 22, 2015.  REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File photo

The Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China is now well underway and is expected to kill about 10,000 dogs during the controversial event. Due to the controversial and gruesome nature of the festival, a man from Hawaii recently traveled to China to rescue dogs from the slaughterhouses.

Activist Marc Ching of the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation recently went to Yulin along with his companion Valarie Ianniello to try and disrupt the inhumane festival. In their efforts, they were able to successfully free about 1,000 dogs which were about to be slaughtered for the event.

On his Facebook account, Ching posted graphic videos depicting the terrible conditions that dogs go through in China during this time of the year.

"This is live. This is now," he posted. "The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, and the Tree of Life - we just rescued over 1,000 dogs from Yulin. A thousand breaths that would die here in the dark. A thousand lives that would bleed like blood left there upon the ground."

"These dogs, they are brothers," he continued. "They are sisters. They are fathers and mothers. They are children. They deserve a chance."

Ching's rescue mission in China was his seventh one to Asia this year. In most of his trips, he usually goes undercover as a dog-meat buyer in order to infiltrate slaughterhouses and this cruel industry.

However, because he is known to disrupt their operations, Ching has experienced getting severely beaten up and hospitalized as he traveled around Asia to shut down slaughterhouses in various countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea.

This experience, however, is not enough to deter him from pursuing his goal of rescuing dogs from certain death and torture, which usually involves getting burned alive using blowtorches or getting beaten by baseball bats as they hang by their necks.

"There's this moment where you come into the slaughterhouse and the dogs are screaming and when you rescue them they know who you are," he told L.A. Weekly. "And it's the most beautiful thing ever. That moment's actually pretty addicting."

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.

Top Stories