Yulin, a city in southern China, celebrates the summer solstice by throwing a festival that involves the slaughter and consumption of as many as 10,000 dogs. Not everyone in China supports such practices, however; 65-year-old Yang Xiaoyun, a retired teacher who runs an animal shelter in Tianjin, traveled more than 2,400 km (1,500 miles) and spent more than 7,000 yuan ($1,100 or €990) to save 100 dogs from certain death.

Rumor, a German shepherd and winner of Best In Show at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, is fed steak at Sardi's in New York, U.S., February 15, 2017. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

A glamour model Lacey Banghard attends a photocall for PETA to encourage pet owners to have their cats and dogs sterilised at Picadilly Circus on January 22, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie)

A bulldog named Munch, left, and a puppy named Dominique attend a news conference at the American Kennel Club in New York, Wednesday, January 30, 2013. The club announced their list of the most popular dog breeds in 2012 where the bulldog takes the fifth place spot from the Yorkshire terrier. (Photo by Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

Katjinga, a Rhodesian ridgeback dog who lives on a 20-acre farm in Germany, adopted an abandoned pot-bellied piglet in August 2009. The tiny black piglet, named Paulinchen, had been so small at birth that her mother likely overlooked it. Katjinga's owner, Roland Adam, found the piglet alone and cold and brought it to his 8-year-old dog. (Photo by Fame Pictures)

A three-week-old chihuahua puppy named Tom Thumb poses in a tea cup on April 7, 2009 in Renton, Scotland. The pup, which measures eight inches long, is thought to be one of the smallest dogs born in the UK and is just two inches short of a world record. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

A seven week old Daschund cross puppy waits to be re-homed at the Cheshire Dogs Home on January 4, 2010 in Warrington, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Old Heidelberg, Dog with Pipe, 1905. (Photo by Detroit Publishing Company)