Animal activists stage protest in Beijing against China’s barbaric annual dog meat festival which sees tens of thousands of canines beaten to death and cooked

By TRACY YOU FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 11:16, 10 June 2016 | UPDATED: 19:24, 10 June 2016

“Nobody will die if dog & cat are taken off the menu!!!”

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 

• Around 30 animal campaigners carried out the protest today in bid to stop Yulin dog meat festival in China
• The controversial festival sees as many as 10,000 animals butchered and eaten on summer solstice  
• A petition signed by over 11 million people has been submitted to the authority, animal charity claimed
• During the event, activists called Yulin in rural Guangxi Province a ‘scumbag’ and ‘a total embarrassment’ to China
  
  

A group of animal activists staged a protest today in Beijing in a bid to stop a Chinese dog-eating festival set to occur later this month.

This must stop: A group of around 30 animal activists staged a protest today in Beijing in a bid to stop the Yulin dog meat festival

The demonstration, initiated by three animal protection groups, submitted a petition allegedly signed by over 11 million people, calling on the Chinese authorities to end the Yulin dog meat festival.

The annual festival, which takes place in south China’s Guangxi Province, sees tens of thousands of animals beaten to death, cooked and sold on the market to celebrate summer solstice.

Around 30 activists carried out the protest outside of the Yulin government office as the petition was presented to the authority by three animal charities: Humane Society International, VShine and Beijing Mothers Against Animal Cruelty.

Pictures from today’s event show animal campaigners, many of whom brought their own pet dogs, holding signs saying ‘Scumbag of China’ in English and ‘Shame on Yulin’ in Simplified Chinese.

Wendy Higgins, the Director of International Media at Humane Society International, said over 11 million signatures had been collected worldwide through the internet to demand the festival to stop.

The petition also included signatures gathered by four other international animal welfare organisations. They are RaiseURPaw in Canada as well as the Duo Duo Project, Care2 and Avaaz from the United States.

The petition has been accepted by officials from the Yulin government in Beijing, according to Ms Higgins.

Peter Li, the China Policy Expert at Humane Society International, attended the protest in Beijing today.

Mr Li told MailOnline:

‘There was a huge presence of police, but our hand-in went very peacefully. It was a great feeling to join with our Chinese partner group activists in Beijing today, there was a tremendous sense of determination to get our voices heard to the global media, and to let the world know that many people across China want the brutal Yulin dog meat festival shut down.

He added: ‘We gave a show of strength and defiance against the dog thieves and the blatant animal cruelty, to say loudly – you will not steal our best friends! 

‘I hope that the authorities listen, they really should do as the strength of public upset about Yulin and the trade here in China is really growing.

‘Next stop for me is Yulin, where I have been a number of times before, for the grim task of visiting the slaughterhouses before the festival starts.’

Sickening feast: Residents in Yulin tucked in their dinner made with dog meat during last year’s festival. Many of the animals, which were caged and beaten before being slaughtered, are thought to be stolen pets!

Xu Yufeng, founder of Beijing Mothers Against Animal Cruelty who were also present at the protest, said: ‘Yulin is a total embarrassment to China. 

‘Its failure to stop mass dog slaughter and mass dog consumption shows that the local authorities are not doing their job to protect the people, especially young children.

‘We urge the Yulin authorities to stand on the right side of history and to end the “festival” in the interests of public security, food safety, social morality and China’s reputation.’ 

Another member of the protesters, Pan Danyang from China-based small animal protection group VShine, said:

‘This is the third year of our participation in the nation-wide campaign against the Yulin dog meat festival. ‘Since we have over the last few years helped accommodate dogs rescued from the dog meat trade, we know Yulin’s dog meat market relies on dogs from suspicious sources. ‘I hope that Yulin authorities will take actions to stop the dog trucks from going into their city so that the mass slaughter on the summer solstice day won’t happen.’

Visitors play with rescued dogs at a shelter ran by Yang Xiaoyun in Tianjin, China, July 8, 2015. Yang said she spent 300,000 RMB (48,248 USD) to purchase 500 dogs to rescue them from dog meat dealers at Yulin’s annual dog meat festival last month. She keeps more than 1,000 dogs in her shelters, mostly abandoned or she purchased from dog meat traders. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

 

To learn more & signn other petitions, please visit the following, just a handful of sites that contain very informative material:-

•  https://twitter.com/2016yulin
• http://stopyulinforever.org/
• http://blog.change.org/gb/feed/more-than-19million-people-back-petition-calling-for-an-end-to-the-yulin-dog-meat-festival
• http://www.wildlifeplanet.net/stop-the-yulin-2016-festival.html
• http://www.wildlifeplanet.net/400-dogs-and-cats-saved-from-slaughter-at-the-yulin-dog-meat-eating-festival.html
• http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/08/activists-to-picket-chinese-embassy-over-massive-dog-meat-festival/

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3634923/Animal-activists-stage-protest-Beijing-against-China-s-barbaric-annual-dog-meat-festival-sees-tens-thousands-canines-beaten-death-cooked.html

 

Discovery of pit bull with ears cut off leads to arrest of mother and her son

Arrested Booking photos

A mother and her son have been arrested and charged with animal cruelty for allegedly cutting off the ears of a pit bull at a home in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, earlier this week, reported Thursday’s publication of Georgetown and Beyond. The suspects arrested this week have been identified as 57-year-old Myrtle McGee Daniels and her 37-year-old son Scotty Bruce Tyler.

Daniels and Tyler allegedly used scissors to lop off the dog’s ears inside of a home on Seaboard Road in Andrews – an investigation was launched after photos of the bloodied dog were posted to Facebook on June 4, and subsequently shared countless times by outraged individuals.

The original investigation was started by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Department, but later was transferred to the Williamsburg County Environmental Services Department when it was discovered that the alleged abuse took place in Williamsburg County.

The injured dog, named “Brick,” was found on Wednesday and he is receiving veterinary care. According to ABC 15 News, donations for Brick’s veterinary expenses can be mailed to: Valiant Animal Rescue & Relief at PO Box 13477,Charleston S.C. 29422

Mother and son were taken to the Williamsburg County Detention Center – the case remains under investigation

News Link:–http://www.examiner.com/article/discovery-of-pit-bull-with-ears-cut-off-leads-to-arrest-of-mother-and-her-son?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Couple Pleads Not Guilty to 17 Counts of Animal Abuse – Not First Run In With Animal Control

“If you love your pets, you don’t clear off on holiday & leave the poor things alone! If they don’t get a serious sentence & all the dogs taken from them, they will carry on abusing!! Laws have to change to stop this type of thing happening again…an Animal Abuse Registry could stop repeat offenders etc.”

By News Staff – Reporting by Kainani Stevens – kstevens@abc6.com

An Exeter couple appeared in court Wednesday facing 17 counts of animal abuse.

Accused of 17 Counts Of Animal Abuse & Neglect – Kathleen and Donald Perkins

Police say the couple went on a two-week vacation, leaving their dogs locked up at home, alone, without enough food or water. This is not the first run-in the pair have had with animal control.

Both Kathleen and Donald Perkins plead not guilty in court, accused of the 17 counts of abuse and neglect.  The Perkins’ operate Celie Kennels out of their Ten Rod Road home, breeding golden retrievers for over a decade, according to their website.

Last week, 10 golden retrievers, six papillons, and one cat were removed from the Exeter home after State Police received a call from a concerned neighbor. Animal Control responded and found the dogs in “unsafe” conditions.

“The dogs were in crates barely big enough for them, standing in urine and feces. Their paws were raw and they had little or no water,” said Sgt. David Bassignani of the Rhode Island State Police.

All the dogs and the cat are being housed at several shelters across the state and will remain there until the judge rules on the case. Several neighbors of the Perkins’ have contacted animal control in the past.

“We have in the past had calls made by concerned citizens about the living conditions of the animals,” said Dr. E. J. Finocchio, Director of the RISPCA. The pair are due back in court on January 13th.

News Link:–http://www.abc6.com/story/30769351/couple-pleads-not-guilty-to-17-counts-of-animal-abuse

Teenage thug jailed for 17 weeks after torturing two husky dogs is told by judge: ‘I wouldn’t trust you with a goldfish’

“What a pitiful outcome of this degenerate waste of space. It is well documented that those who harm animals; more often than not, end up hurting people. They should have made an example of this POS & enforced more jail time. Animal abusers need to see heavy penalties being dished out; if there is any hope of trying to stop them! Would be ABUSERS need to think of the consequences before they even think about hurting an animal! William Legget admitted “he didn’t know when to stop“ what happens next time he gets mad, just how far will he go then?….probably too far & an innocent life will end!!”

By KEILIGH BAKER FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 19:08, 22 January 2015 | UPDATED: 01:49, 23 January 2015

• William Legget, 19, tied a dog up before punching, stamping and kicking it
• Then turned on his puppy, which he beat before threatening her with knife
• Puppy named Nala suffered a broken hip, jaw, cheek and a fractured skull
• Legget said the dogs had been ‘naughty’ and he didn’t know when to stop

Judge jailed Leggett and told him he is ‘not a decent human being’

The huskies abused by Legget – Nala  suffered a broken hip and Balue (below) was also beaten

William Legget, 19, of Bedminster, Bristol, tied adult dog Balue to a bannister and punched, stamped and kicked her before turning on his puppy Nala, who he beat and threatened with a knife.

The older dog  (above) escaped serious injury but Nala suffered a broken hip, jaw, cheek and a fractured skull.

William Legget has been jailed after being caught on CCTV beating and severely injuring his husky dogs, http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/22/24F3A12600000578-0-image-a-3_1421952243911.jpg

District Judge Lynne Matthews jailed Legget for 17 weeks after telling him he was ‘not a decent human being’. She said she was ‘staggered’ by his cruelty and imposed a life ban on him keeping any animals, adding she ‘would not trust him with a goldfish’.

She also said the case should be reported to social services after hearing that Legget had a young child. Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard the beatings took place at Legget’s former home in Gravesend, Kent, in February last year.

Legget appears to have grabbed one of the dogs by the head or neck in this CCTV still

When he was arrested Legget told police the dogs had been ‘naughty’ and said his only fault was not knowing when to ‘stop telling them off.’ Judge Matthews said: ‘With the puppy it wasn’t a slight fracture but the bone has broken away. ‘The veterinary surgeon said that break was a result of extreme force. You applied that extreme force.’

An X-ray image of the broken hip bone suffered by husky puppy Nala after a brutal beating from Legget 

Broken Bone

Legget admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two counts of failing to protect it from pain, suffering and injury.

John Stokes, defending, said his client had both emotional and behavioural problems but had a partner and a young child to look after.

The huskies abused by Legget – Nala (pictured left) suffered a broken hip and Balue (right) was also beaten

Legget was jailed for 17 weeks. Both dogs have now been re-homed.

News Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2922185/Teenage-thug-jailed-17-weeks-torturing-two-husky-dogs.html

Puppies dumped in a box outside San Antonio ACS, investigators need help

“Somebody must know who these puppies belong to, imagine if they had died from the cold; could you live with that on your conscience? If they have done it once, they will do it again…please help find those born without a heart & make them pay! Everybody knows there are charity’s that will take your dogs if you can’t care for them. To simply leave them in a box outside a shelter isn’t good enough, they could have died due to weather conditions; it’s just a cowardly way out, for someone who doesn’t give a SxxT about living sentient beings…& it makes me so fxxxxxg mad!!

By Sharon Ko, KENS 53:23 p.m. CST January 24, 2015

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Animal cruelty investigators are asking for the public’s help to find the person responsible for dumping puppies outside Animal Care Services.

Friday morning, a veterinary technician discovered the puppies in a cardboard box with a plastic bag tied around it. ACS named them the seven dwarfs after the Snow White fairytale.

“Leaving them outside, unattended, and nobody is around. And the weather conditions are bad where they could potentially die,” said Audra Houghton, ACS field operation supervisor.

ACS asks anyone who has information about the person who left the animals to contact the organization at (210) 207-4PET (4738).(Photo: KENS 5)

In 2014, ACS issued more than 5,000 citations for animal cruelty and sent 42 cases to the district attorney‘s office. Animal cruelty investigators said San Antonio can do better. They said it comes down to public education.

“That’s probably what the biggest issue is. We have owners who can’t necessarily afford to care for their pets and don’t think they can afford to. Those are all things that can be remedied. So our officers try very hard to educate the public,” said Houghton

Abandoning animals is considered a misdemeanor with a four thousand dollar fine and up to a year in jail. The puppies appear to be two-month old Spaniel blends. ACS says the puppies are not old enough to be adopted yet. ACS asks anyone who has information about the person who left the animals to contact the organization at (210) 207-4PET (4738).

News Link:–http://www.kvue.com/story/news/state/2015/01/24/puppies-dumped-in-a-box-outside-acs-investigators-need-help/22279603/

Advocates wait outside Olympic Animal Sanctuary to see conditions for dogs: Arrest Made

FORKS, Wash. — It’s a noble cause: Give sanctuary to dangerous dogs whose only other option is being euthanized. But critics say the man who runs the Olympic Animal Sanctuary has failed that mission and the many dogs in his care should be removed.

Despite concerns over living conditions for dogs at a Forks, Wash., dog sanctuary, town officials have elected not to shut down the Olympic Animal Sanctuary (OAS) – this morning, animal advocates from Dogs Deserve Better arrived to see the dogs’ living conditions first hand.

Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne and Rescue Coordinator Robin Budin arrived to the “sanctuary,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The organization had placed a dog named “Sonny,” in the care of OAS and following claims that the dogs at the sanctuary are neglected, they have decided that they want the dog back.

The following was posted about the women’s attempt to see Sonny:

Steve Markwell’s vehicle was not on the premises but he sent two policeman to ensure that we did not trespass on his property. We bear signs saying “We are here for our tour” and “We’d like to see Sonny now”, These are perfectly reasonable requests.

It is 29 degrees here right now and we are told the building isn’t heated. We can hear all the dogs barking. They will bark all day while we are here. We will stay here until three in hopes that Markwell will give us a tour and our dog back.

In September, KOMO News conducted an investigative report on the sanctuary, which has come to be known to many as the “sanctuary of sorrow.”

Critics have accused OAS, which is owned and operated by Steve Markwell, of housing dogs in small, dirty crates and pens. Markwell could not disprove the critics when KOMO News investigators arrived because he denied them entry.

Former volunteers for OAS told KOMO News that OAS is:

• A hell hole for these animals
• An absolute nightmare

Even a Forks police officer found the living conditions to be less-than-ideal.

Despite the statements from former volunteers and a local police officer, the authorities and town officials have done nothing to shut OAS down.

Click here to follow Dogs Deserve Better on Facebook…updates will be posted when/if Markwell allows the women inside to see what the living conditions are for the dogs in his care.

Links to officials in Forks, Wash., here.

On Thursday morning, a recount of what took place on Wednesday was published, including photos taken by the women who were hoping to see the conditions inside – read more here.

I am human, if you see a typo, please let me know. Questions, comments or story ideas can be emailed to Eims1@live.com.

Suggested by the author:– The horror for dogs in Washington ‘sanctuary’

News Link:–http://www.examiner.com/article/advocates-wait-outside-olympic-animal-sanctuary-to-see-conditions-for-dogs

About Dogs Deserve Better:-

Dogs Deserve Better, 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA/Chase Pet Protector Award, is a voice for chained and penned dogs, whose sadness speaks only through the eyes. Bring dogs into the home and family! Visit the site at DogsDeserveBetter.org

Mission

Bring dogs into the home and family through education, rescue and rehabilitation, awareness campaigns, fencing solutions, and grassroots legislation. To donate today to support our efforts on behalf of chained dogs, visit http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/donations2.html

Company Overview

Dogs Deserve Better, 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA/Chase Pet Protector Award, is a voice for chained and penned dogs, whose sadness speaks only through the eyes. As the days become years, many of these dogs sit, lay, eat, and defecate within the same 10-foot radius. Chained by the neck, they exist without respect, love, exercise, social interaction, and sometimes even basic nourishment. They live as prisoners, yet long to be pets.

Description

For general information you can contact info@dogsdeservebetter.org.
For information on volunteering or fostering you can contact volunteer@dogsdeservebetter.org. For information on getting help for dogs in need and adoption information you can contact rescue@dogsdeservebetter.org. To report a chained or penned dog near you and ensure information gets directly into the caretaker’s hands, find the address and fill out this form:-http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/chainedaddresses.html

Above:–http://freesonny.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/the-protest-calvary-arrives-and-meanwhile-back-in-the-nosebleed-seats/

More protesters arrive in Forks Wa for the dogs at OAS Sunday December 8. Robin Budin and Tamira Thayne watch from 500 feet due to the infringement of their right to free speech

Face Book site for Dogs Deserve Better, updated news etc:–https://www.facebook.com/dogsdeservebetter

Listen to the mournful cries of the dogs waiting for help. When will it arrive…ever?

Arrested for the Dogs at OAS in Forks Washington, December 6, 2013

Published on 8 Dec 2013 arrested 

On December 6, 2013, Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne was peacefully protesting on behalf of the dogs trapped in cages at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, Washington. She was arrested due to a bogus restraining order filed by the sanctuary founder in an attempt to silence her and interfere with her constitutionally protected rights of free speech. 

Many have been trying to get help for these dogs for at least two years. Complaints have been filed by former volunteers and neighbors, and Forks Police did investigate, finding horrendous conditions, in November 2012 but never followed through with a cruelty arrest. Instead, they made a deal with the founder of OAS that he would cut down the number of dogs to 60. This deal has not been honored, and rescue groups attempting to get dogs returned to them from the warehouse conditions have been denied. 

Rescue exists for every dog in the facility, and groups stand by to get their dogs returned or released to other rescues for evaluation and rehabilitation whenever possible. Yet OAS refuses to allow anyone inside to see conditions or to return any dogs.

During the time that DDB founder Tamira Thayne and rescue coordinator Robin Budin protested outside the facility from December 4-6, no one was observed entering or leaving the premises to care for the dogs. No dogs were walked, and only one dog was visible in the outside yard. The dogs cried in unison repeatedly all throughout the day. They were not allowed in and instead were met by police to ensure they didn’t trespass. We are told the warehouse isn’t heated, and even if it were there are large gaps in the wall panels and windows upstairs remain open even in driving snow and temperatures in the lower twenties. 

To learn more and see how you can help, visit these pages:http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/sonn…. Help is needed for legal fees for DDB founder Tamira Thayne and Robin Budin, due to the attempts to thwart their free speech with restraining orders and the subsequent arrest and jailing of Tamira Thayne.

Visit this facebook page, which is the most comprehensive and up to date site for the history of the efforts to free the dogs at OAS. Thank you for caring about these dogs:-https://www.facebook.com/pages/OAS-li…

A dog’s life at Olympic Animal Sanctuary is portrayed as wonderful, with the dogs residing at the facility being well cared for.  Photos on this site show the true life of a dog at Olympic Animal Sanctuary, and that reality is much different than the pretty picture that is verbally painted on the organization’s website.

No dog should live like this!

Read More & See The Living Conditions of These Poor Dogs:- http://olympicanimalsanctuary.info/

Animal Rescue Corps made the incredible offer to the City of Forks providing a safe alternative for removal of the dogs, but, as of November 2013, Forks Authorities have continued to refuse their offer.

Please join in our effort to bring an end to their suffering and get them safely rescued and into facilities where they will be better taken care of, or forever homes, if they are deemed adoptable.

Please contact the authorities listed in the link below — ask elected officials why they are allowing the dogs to remain in these conditions and why they aren’t adhering to animal abuse laws:-  http://olympicanimalsanctuary.info/be-their-voice.html

News link:- Critics trying to rescue dogs from ‘sanctuary of sorrow’:- http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Former-supporter-calls-Forks-dog-sanctuary-a-torture-chamber-224972202.html?tab=gallery&c=y

FORKS, Wash. — Pressure continues to build on a controversial dog shelter in Forks that’s accused of severely mistreating its animals.

A lawsuit has now been filed against the man who runs the Olympic Animal Sanctuary, accusing him of “failing to provide adequate and humane care” for a dog named Leroy and refusing to give back the dog placed there temporarily.

Video & News Link:–http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Critics-trying-to-rescue-dogs-from-sanctuary-of-sorrow-232958271.html?tab=video&c=y

Olympic Animal Sanctuary files restraining order against women who want their dog back:- http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/olympic-animal-santuary-blocks-women-from-rescue-group-who-traveled-cross-country-to-get-their-dog-back