Every year, 15,000 helpless dogs and puppies are brutally murdered in the mistaken belief that eating their flesh will help people stave off the heat of summer.

These pitiful animals, many of which are stolen pets, are beaten, skinned and boiled alive as part of the Yulin dog meat festival in China. 

Their deaths are deliberately terrifying, because it is believed that the rush of adrenaline this produces makes them taste tender and sweet.

The Sun believes this is wrong.

With few animal protection laws in China, there is no-one to speak up for the wretched victims of this barbaric slaughter. That's why we are calling on our animal-loving readers to sign our petition against the cruelty.

We are calling on the Chinese government to outlaw the Yulin festival once and for all - to save any more poor creatures from suffering such a horrific death.