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Ricky Gervais hits out at Chinese Yulin Dog Meat Festival with new animal rights campaign

The comedian has denounced the cruelty of the festival, which sees tens of thousands of dogs slaughtered

Tuesday 16 June 2015 12:45 BST

Ricky Gervais joined the Soi Dog Foundation campaign (YouTube)

Ricky Gervais has launched a new animal rights campaign, protesting against the cruelty of the Yulin Dog Meat festival.

Gervais, who is a staunch supporter of animal rights, has joined a campaign to put an end to the Chinese festival.

Every year, around 10,000 dogs, many of which are stolen pets, are slaughtered in the Guangxi province.

Some reports claim that 500,000 lbs of dog meat is consumed annually.

The festival will be held on 22 June to celebrate June solstice.

Humane Society International has launched a petition to put international pressure on the event, and has named a saved dog Ricky in honour of the comedian.

A statement released by Gervais said: "My friends at Humane Society International are working tirelessly to end this cruel trade all over Asia, and they desperately need your help.

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

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1/13In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

A cat climbs up the cage at the slaughterhouse, trying to escape. This cat was later rescued by Peter Li

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

A slaughterhouse butcher transfers a cat to a cage, to be handed off to Peter Li. Shortly after, Li rescued the cat from the slaughterhouse

AP/Humane Society International

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Two kitchen knives are shown stuck in an iron cage, which are used to butcher dozens of dogs and cats every day. These knives have to be sharpened daily due to the number of animals they're used to slaughter

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Caged dogs sit on the side of Renminzhong Road, waiting to be transferred to a slaughterhouse in a narrow alley

AP/Humane Society International

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Workers are shown getting the day's dog and cat meat prepared for sale in the morning

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Dog meat is displayed in the marketplace

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Residents pick their dog meat from a stand on Riverside Road

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

A woman on her moped transports more than 10 dogs, which had just been slaughtered, to her market shop for sale

AP/Humane Society International

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Hundreds of pet dogs await their own death in a slaughterhouse, while they watch as their companions are slaughtered in front of them

AP/Humane Society International

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

A group of cats from Sichuan Province arrive at Renmin Middle Road on a truck, and wait to be transported on carts to a slaughterhouse in a narrow alley

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

A truck arrives in Yulin with nearly 1,000 dogs of various breeds crammed into narrow wire cages with no space to extend their limbs. According to the driver, the truck came from Sichuan, 800 miles west of Yulin. The traumatized dogs waited in silence for the next stop on their journey

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Dogs are hung up for sale for meat in Dong Kou market, as a dog looks on

In pictures: Inside the Yulin cat and dog meat trade

China

Peter Li holds a puppy's collar found at a slaughterhouse

AP/Humane Society International

"I’ve seen the footage that HSI has captured on video, and it breaks my heart. I will never forget the look of bewilderment and fear on the faces of these poor animals — the dogs and cats await a horrible fate. No animal deserves to be treated like this."

HSI notes that the majority of Chinese citizens oppose the festival.