The Yulin Dog Festival in China will be deadlier than ever this year — and it’s all because of a rumor that was reportedly fabricated by animal rights groups. Thousands of dogs are slaughtered annually during the summer solstice in Yulin for their meat to the horror of dog lovers around the world. Most people thought the killing of canines had been banned, but the reports were incorrect. The Yulin government never issued the mandate. An estimated 10,000 puppies will be slayed for their meat, but Marc Ching of the Animal Hope and Wellness is trying to save as many dogs as possible.

When Ching talked to International Business Times, he said he was in Yulin and that “dog meat is everywhere.”

“Those [animal rights] groups that said there was a ban and that the government placed restrictions, but that’s not true. I know it’s not true because we were out there,” he said. “These groups never met with the government.”

Ching reasoned that some animal rights groups might have lied about the ban going through so they could raise donations for their foundations, but he wasn’t entirely sure.

http://www.ibtimes.com/yulin-dog-festival-2017-be-deadliest-years-rumor-claimed-puppy-meat-was-banned-china-2554878