Dogs and cats killed despite protests

A cat slaughterhous in Yulin. Photo / AP

Thousands of cats and dogs have been slaughtered at the Yulin Festival despite official promises to end the practice.

Hundreds of traders gathered in China's southern Guangxi province for the annual feast, where dogs are served with lychees to mark the summer solstice. Local authorities failed to honour pledges to ban the feast after an online petition signed by half a million people.

Dogs are served with lychees to mark the summer solstice. Photo / AP

Animals are kept dozens to a cage before being electrocuted, burned and skinned.

Campaigners blockaded streets, raided slaughterhouses and bought animals.

"Workers were blow-torching the carcasses to make them shiny and ready for shipment to restaurants," said Peter Li, a campaigner for the Humane Society China.

"There were some dogs still alive in wire cages, but they looked exhausted, emaciated and dirty." Yang Xiaoyun, 65, paid about 7000 yuan ($1634) to save 100 dogs.

Andrea Gung, head of the Duo Duo Animal Welfare Project, and videographer Eric Peltier stayed to save animals and record their conditions, but were chased away by locals.

Humane Society International's China specialist Peter Li. Photo / AP

Last year, Yulin officials announced plans to ban public slaughter and advertising using the words "dog meat". But business went ahead as usual for many vendors.