An emotional video captures the moment a group of animal rights activists save more than 1,000 dogs destined for slaughter at the barbaric Yulin Festival in China.

The festival, which starts today, sees Chinese traders bring animals from all over the country to be butchered and sold for their meat.

In the footage, a group of rescuers are seen carrying some of the dogs to safety.

The animals appear to have been kept in a dark cage and squeal in terror as they are approached by humans.

(Article by Steve Myall and Kara O’neil, republished from //www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/animal-rights-activists-rescue-1000-8263013#rlabs=17%20rt%24sitewide%20p%249)

The dogs were being kept in dark and dingy cages as they awaited their fate

Sadly, the heartbreaking scenes are all too familiar in Yulin, where it’s estimated that around 10 million dogs are slaughtered by the dog meat industry in China alone.

Dog is a popular winter food in parts of China and Korea, where the rich meat is believed to help keep people warm.

The video was shared on social media by The Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation.

It has been viewed almost 413,000 times in just 48 hours.

The animals were to be slaughtered as part of the Yulin festival

On Facebook, a caption read: “We just rescued over 1,000 dogs from Yulin.

“A thousands breaths that would die here in the dark.

“These dogs, they are brothers. They are sisters. They are fathers and mothers. They are children. they deserve a chance.

“All life deserves a chance.”

The festival has attracted international attention and petitions from Hollywood stars who want to get it banned.

Yulin Dog meat festival preparation

Dogs are transported for thousands of miles, often through extreme terrain and temperatures, to the slaughterhouses.

Celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen are among the prominent figures to campaign against the event, with many branding it “barbaric”.

The animals are sold for their meat – a popular delicacy in rural China

The RSPCA said it is working with Chinese authorities in an effort to stop cruelty to dogs and other animals by creating new laws in the country.

Eating dog is typically something done by older members of rural Chinese communities and is not widespread in other parts of the country.

Read more at: //www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/animal-rights-activists-rescue-1000-8263013#rlabs=17%20rt%24sitewide%20p%249