DUBAI: Dogs scheduled for Chinese dinner tables were saved last week when 200 animal lovers rushed to their rescue, a sign that animal rights is growing in strength in the Asian country. One driver, who spotted the doomed animals crammed into the back of a truck, swerved in front of the vehicle on a motorway in Beijing. The man then managed to hold up the lorry long enough to alert other animal rights activists using his blog. Local media said 520 of the pups — set to be slaughtered — were eventually freed on Friday after an animal-protection group purchased them for £1,650. The rescue was the latest in a string of high profile actions by Chinese pet lovers eager to put a stop to their country's ancient tradition of eating dog. There have also been regular reports of animal lovers intercepting trucks filled with THOUSANDS of cats en route to markets in southern China where cat meat is very popular. Local media said many of the dogs that were rescued still had collars with bells and name tags, indicating they had been stolen from their owners. Dog and cat meat are an age-old delicacy in China — traditionally said to keep people warm in winter. Local authorities in the country are believed to be looking into ways they can ban the sale of domesticated animals to restaurants. The dogs were taken to local pounds where they will be put up for adoption. BM
