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Controversy

The end of China's 600-year-old dog-eating carnival

As dog ownership increases in China, many view the annual dog-eating festival as cruel and unusual

posted on September 23, 2011, at 12:52 PM


Caged dogs on a truck on the outskirts of Beijing: After an online uproar, government officials canceled a dog-eating festival planned for Oct. 18 in Jinhua City, China. Photo: REUTERS/Reinhard KrauseSEE ALL 42 PHOTOS

The local government in Jinhua City, China, has decided to end a 600-year-old tradition — butchering, cooking, and eating dogs at an annual festival. Here's what you should know:

How did this tradition begin?
According to legend, a Ming dynasty military leader was trying to invade Jinhua in 1389. To avoid detection, his troops killed all the area's dogs so their barking wouldn't alert the local population. After the successful invasion, "the army held a celebratory feast and served the meat from the slaughtered dogs," says the International Business Times.

And they kept killing dogs year after year?
Yes. As many as 10,000 dogs were eaten each year by attendees at the celebration. "Dogs would be stabbed, strangled and even read rest of the story at link below

Sources: Global Post, International Business Times, LA Times
http://theweek.com/article/index/219...ating-carnival

So China has finally decided to end its practice of eating dogs....if only the Koreans would follow suit. Having done my share on the ROK, it was pretty horrifying seeing the open markets. I'll just leave it at that.