“You Don’t Need Dog Meat to Celebrate”

Christy Griffin
2 days ago
2 min read

Positive Change Is Happening in Yulin

The infamous Yulin Dog Meat “Festival” has ended for the year — but our commitment to ending this cruelty is as strong as ever.

Hope is now rising from unexpected places, and it’s worth celebrating.

*A local company in Yulin celebrated the summer solstice without dog meat.*

A few days ago, one of our team members in China came across a powerful social media post. A dog lover proudly shared that his company celebrated the summer solstice with a bountiful banquet — but no dog meat. Instead, they shared a bold message: “You don’t need dog meat to celebrate the summer solstice.”

This may seem like a simple sentiment, but it's revolutionary in a place like Yulin. Just a few years ago, it would have been nearly unthinkable for a company to publicly take such a compassionate stance. Now, the tide is clearly turning — and businesses are stepping up to lead the change.

The shift is showing up in pop culture, too.

*A comedian recently went viral on social media for his joke making fun of dog eaters.*

A Yulin-born stand-up comedian recently went viral for this biting joke: “Whenever people learn I’m from Yulin, they ask, ‘Why do your people still have this backward dog-eating practice?’ My answer? ‘Well... it’s just like how some dogs like to eat sh*t.’”

The audience laughed, but the point hit home. This wasn’t an animal activist — it was an ordinary citizen using humor to call out a cruel and shameful practice. And he wasn’t alone. His post was widely shared and praised, showing just how ready people are to speak out against the dog and cat meat trade.

These moments reflect a broader societal shift we have witnessed over the past decade.

In 2016, Yulin banned government employees from attending dog meat banquets.
In 2018, local schools prohibited students from bringing dog meat to campus.
Now, companies and comedians are taking public stands.

Make no mistake: this is progress.

Yes, old habits can be hard to break. Yes, change takes time. But we’re seeing important signs of change and a rising generation of people who believe that dogs and cats are family, not food.

At Duo Duo Project, we’ve always believed that cultural change is possible when it’s powered by compassionate outreach and humane education. With your support, that’s exactly what’s happening.