Tomorrow will be a very hard day. June 21st is the annual Yulin Dog Meat "Festival." Every year, images from Yulin remind us why we started this fight in the first place, and why we cannot stop until we end the dog and cat meat trade for good.
But today, instead of focusing on the cruelty, we want to share something else with you: HOPE.
Thanks to supporters like you, we are seeing signs that attitudes in Yulin are changing.
For the past 13 years, Duo Duo Project has worked alongside courageous local animal advocates in Yulin. Together, we have taken on one of the most difficult challenges imaginable: changing a century-old dog-eating tradition.
Real change does not happen overnight. It happens one conversation, one family, one child, and one community at a time. That is why, since 2013, your support has helped us build a strong local team that works in Yulin year-round, not just during the "festival."
Together, we have:
- Visited schools to teach kindness, empathy, and respect for animals.
- Organized community events where local families can meet dogs and cats up close, often for the very 1st time.
- Provided alternative work opportunities for local women so they don’t have to work in the dog and cat meat trade.
- Helped train young veterinarians who will become animal champions in their own communities.
- Built relationships with lawyers, educators, business leaders, and policymakers who share our vision of ending the dog and cat meat trade.
Today, your gift will be doubled through a special matching challenge provided by one of our generous supporters. All gifts will be matched up to $5,000 while funds last.
Today, we are seeing evidence that these efforts are working.
At the height of the Yulin Dog Meat "Festival," more than 10,000 dogs were reportedly killed in a single day. Last year, local activists estimated that the number had fallen by approximately 70%.
Like you, we wish it could end tomorrow. But ending a century-old practice requires persistence, patience, and long-term commitment. When the Yulin Dog Meat "Festival" first captured worldwide attention more than a decade ago, millions of outraged people let their voices be heard through protests and petitions, and animal organizations from around the world rushed to help.
But after the headlines faded and the cameras left, one reality remained: changing a century-old tradition would require years of patient work inside Yulin itself.
That is why Duo Duo Project stayed. For the past 13 years, we have continued to support local activists, educate children, train veterinarians, and build a local movement for lasting change.
We did not stay in Yulin because the work would be easy. We stayed because we believed change was possible. And because the dogs and cats in Yulin were counting on us.
Even more encouraging, a recent survey conducted by our Yulin team found that only 26.8% of respondents believed the dog meat trade and "festival" would continue for some time and 66.6% believed it would eventually disappear into history.
But the fight is not over. Tomorrow (June 21), thousands of dogs will still suffer and die as dog and cat meat profiteers try to keep this deplorable industry alive.
Progress may not be as fast as we wish, but it is real. The future is moving in the right direction, but we cannot get there without you.
Today, as Yulin approaches once again, we are asking for your support to help us continue this vital work.
Your gift today will help us:
- Continue year-round education and outreach programs in Yulin.
- Support local activists working on the front lines.
- Train the next generation of veterinarians and animal advocates.
- Expand community programs that help change attitudes toward dogs and cats.
- Build the long-term movement needed to end the dog and cat meat trade for good.
Will you make a special gift today to help us stay the course and continue building lasting change in Yulin? Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar you give will be matched, doubling your impact for dogs and cats.
Dog eating in Yulin is a century-old habit. It took generations to create this problem. But with the dedication of our Chinese team, the courage of local activists, and the support of compassionate people like you, we are convinced we will see the end of it in our lifetime.
Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing that change is possible. And thank you for being part of a movement that is giving dogs and cats a brighter future.
Our best friends are counting on us.
With gratitude,
P.S. Every year, the Yulin Dog Meat "Festival" reminds us how much work remains. But it also reminds us how far we have come. Please make a special gift today and help us continue building the future that dogs and cats deserve. Double your impact today!