About 100 dogs in southern Chinese city of Yulin owe their lives to a
woman, Yang Xiaoyun, a retired school teacher and an animal advocate.
Xiaoyun paid about $1,100 to save from the annual dog meat festival on Saturday, June 20, 2015.
This picture taken on June 20, 2015 shows animal-loving Yang Xiaoyun (C) going around buying some 100 dogs at a market in Yulin, in southern China’s Guangxi province. Yang has paid more than 1,000 USD to prevent around 100 canines from being eaten ahead of a dog meat festival which has provoked outrage worldwide
65-year-old Xiaoyun, according to AFP reports, travelled 1,500 miles
to Yulin from her home in Tianjin to secure the dogs. She has
reportedly been rescuing stray animals since 1995 when she pulled an
almost drowning and abandoned kitten from a river. She launched her dog
and cat sanctuary called the “Common Home for All” in 1999.
Xiaoyun has also sold her home so she can take in more animals which
she houses in a rented space. She refers to the animals as her children
and prepares their meals. Her shelter houses almost 1,500 dogs and 200
cats.
The Yulin dog meat festival dates back to 2009 although there is a
historical precedent for the festival in China. Xianoyun’s selfless act
has been commended by international observers and activists. The
festival, which coincides with the summer solstice, each year claims the
lives of about 10,000 dogs.
She is reported to be gearing to open another sanctuary in Yulin.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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