Dog slaughterhouse owner in China closes facility ahead of Yulin festival

A dog slaughterhouse owner in southern China has closed his facility and begun transitioning to a new livelihood with support from animal advocates, just days before the start of the annual controversial Yulin dog meat festival.

Launched by local traders in 2010, the Yulin festival, held annually around late June in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is widely regarded as a commercial campaign to boost sales rather than a long-standing tradition. It has long been condemned for animal cruelty, the theft of pets, illegal transport, and public health risks, with around 3,000 dogs reportedly killed for human consumption during the festival, which typically spans about 10 days.

On June 7, a slaughterhouse owned by a man using the pseudonym Huang was shut down under a legally binding agreement with animal protection groups after he had killed more than 15,000 dogs since its opening.

The site supplied dog carcasses to restaurants and markets during the Yulin event, with June reportedly accounting for 70 per cent of its annual revenue.

Nine dogs were rescued from the property, including three still wearing collars.

The closure was led by China’s Vshine Animal Protection Association, with support from the international charity Humane World for Animals.

Huang is considering starting a breakfast business selling rice porridge, fried dough, and steamed buns.