Early preparations are already underway in Yulin. Dogs from all over the country - mostly stolen pets, some still wearing their name tags around their necks, as well as strays rounded off the streets by greedy traders - are crammed in small, dirty wire cages and shipped to Yulin, some from as many as 1, 500 miles away. The journey can take up to three days and is devastasting: just imagine yourself siting like a cucumber in a jar, with your limbs sticking out of a cage, barely able to breathe. This is what these dogs are going through. For the dogs that make it to their destination, the true nighmare has only started to unfold. They are put on display in the street, waiting to be selected by hungry customers - the canines are then cooked in front of the buyers - this scheme guarantees the freshness of the meat, but is also a show for local people passionate about dog meat and tourists alike.
