400 dogs rescued ahead of sickening 'dog meat festival' in China

Animal protection organisation Humane Society International (HSI) confirmed the rescue  and called it 'an amazing operation dealing a heavy blow to the city's dog and cat meat traders'.



More than 400 dogs and cats were saved from being slaughtered, cooked and served at restaurants.

The animals were squeezed into tiny rusty cages at the back of a heavy truck as they were being transported in the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.

The rescue operation in the evening of May 26 took place a month before China's annual dog meat festival, which is due to take place in the neighbouring Guangxi Province on summer solstice.

The dogs have now been sent to a warehouse for temporary safety.