Well, for a start it dealt with the stealing of dogs and secondly it had a maniac obsessed with the killings of innocent puppies.

But the movie had a happy ending. This, sadly isn't a movie.

It is real. More gruesome. And has many maniacs, real players and not actors.

Welcome to China! the land where you starve dogs, mistreat them for days and then eat them, all while exhibiting your sadistic nature to the rest of the world and acquiring their wrath in exchange.

So what is this gruesome festival and why does it have all animal lovers united against it?

The Yulin Dog Meat Festival is a 10-day event which takes place annually from June 21-30 in the Yulin, Guangxi, China.

The festival began in 2009.

In just eight years, it is one of the most hated food festival in the world.

The organisers have been able to rile almost every animal lover with their atrocities.

Slamming the festival, Marc Ching, founder of Animal Hope & Wellness, a Los Angeles-based animal rights advocacy group, in his column for Forbes wrote: "What makes the festival and the entire dog meat trade so grotesque is that dogs are purposely tortured. There is a belief that the adrenaline released through the pain makes the meat more tender and provides health benefits."

Busting the myth, he said, "But the truth is quite the opposite. The majority of the dogs are extremely sick, with distemper, parvo, canine influenza, cuts, broken limbs, infections, worms and parasites. This alone is enough of a reason to end the horrific practice."

Ching stated that most people in China are unaware of the gruesome practice and when told about it, they have expressed shock.

"When I’m here in China, most people I talk to have never even heard of the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. They are shocked to learn that it's happening right here in their country. Most of them have pets of their own and have never tried dog meat. And never would," he said.

According to a study conducted by Humane Society International, it has been found that most of these dogs are stolen from backyards or plain snatched from their owners.

The group also rescued some 1000 dogs on Tuesday, set to be slaughtered in the ongoing festival.

Despite negative criticism and dozens of petitions against it, the festival is going strong.

One reason for it is the Chinese culture.

Eating dog meat isn't an offence in China, unlike in most nations.

The tradition is almost 400 years old.

So for a change to happen rightaway, it has to be a cultural change, feels Animals Australia.

In their recent blog about the festival, the Victoria-based organisation said, "Without cultural change, any victory is likely to be short lived. Because unless those who have grown up eating dogs learn to widen their circle of compassion to recognise dogs as 'friends',  not 'food' — China's dogs will always be at risk. And events like the Yulin dog meat festival will continue."

Banner Image: animalsasia.org