For the past eight years, China has hosted the barbaric Yulin Dog Meat Festival where dogs are slaughtered alive then eaten. Mum-of-two Cindi McNeil-Regan is doing everything she can to rescue them....but she needs help
Watching her 25 dogs bask in the rolling acres of land at her rescue centre in Somerset, Cindi McNeil-Regan feels a rush of pride.
Many of them were once destined for slaughter at one of China’s horrifically cruel dog meat festivals- including Clover, a golden retriever and Ting, a Pomeranian-crossbreed.
And this month, one of the festivals will take place – the 10-day long Yulin Dog Meat Festival – where they "celebrate" the summer solstice by killing up to 15,000 dogs to eat, often torturing them first as shockingly the festival goers believe the meat is more tender if the dogs are terrified before they’re killed.
Following international pressure the organizers recently claimed dog meat will be banned from this year’s festival but Yulin Government Officers have confirmed that’s not the case.
Cindi, 43, says: "Each year we hear a rumour the festival will be banned but it’s a huge money spinner for Yulin so we fear it will continue for years to come."
But Cindi has made it her mission to help some of the dogs of China finally live a happy life.
Cindi says: “When I saw a photo of Ting I was horrified – he’d lost half of his fur, was blind in one eye and had a hernia.
"He’s nearly 12, and the rest of his life will be happy. He’s so affectionate, he loves cuddles and rests his head on my chest. Thinking about how he was treated breaks my heart.
"I had to do something to save as many dogs as I can. What we can do is limited, but we’ve already rescued 17 dogs from China in the past six months. We’re expecting another influx of pups as the festival approaches this month."
Cindi launched the Rushton Dog Rescue centre in Somerset in 2007, following the death of her partner, Timothy Rushton.
She and her daughter, Zoe, 24, now dedicate their lives to helping dogs in Spain, the UK and China.
She says: "Timothy loved animals and always wanted to start a rescue centre – so I fulfilled his wishes. My first dog was a beagle who needed rehoming from a pet shop and it snowballed from there. We’ve now rescued over 400 dogs!
"It’s been a struggle from the start. Not only was I continuing with my job in sales, but I was delivering takeaways at night to cover vet bills before the centre was fully established – all while raising two children on my own.
"I now live with 25 dogs that I’ve kept, either because I can’t bear to part with them or they aren’t suitable for rehoming, but I’d never change it."
Cindi started rescuing dogs from China last year. Every June, thousands of canines are slaughtered at the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in Guangxi Zhuang, China.
Many of them are stolen from their owners before being skinned alive, butchered and eaten as part of the event.
Cindi says: "Between 10 and 20 million dogs are killed for meat in China each year. I want this evil trade stopped, so I’m saving as many as I can."
Last May, Cindi got in touch with activists in China to kick-start the rescue process.
She explains: "The dogs we save are either freed from lorries on the way to the festival or bought from traders before they’re tortured. They’re placed in tiny shelters, which are so overcrowded that they encourage the spread of disease."
She liaises with the activists to identify dogs most in need, then spends between £1,000 and £3,000 per animal, paying for medical bills and flights to the UK, where they either live with her or are rehomed.
Cindi says: "The project in China has cost us £40,000 so far and I’ve spent hundreds of thousands running the centre – all from donations."
Despite finding the process rewarding, Cindi admits it comes at a price - she’s sacrified holidays and her social life to look after her animals. She says: "My work has affected my relationships – I doubt I’ll find a man who wants to share a bed with eight dogs. But this is my life and I love it."
And Cindi is determined to continue rescuing dogs this year. She says: "We’re fundraising to save more dogs and want people to keep campaigning against these festivals.
"It’s crucial to keep raising awareness of this issue and put pressure on China to change their attitude towards dogs."
How to help:
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