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.

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)

Vegetarian 19-year-old model Courtney Stodden gets ready to serve veggie hot dogs wearing a lettuce bikini during a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) free veggie dog handout on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, July 16, 2014. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP Photo)

A dog waits as his companion fills out their ballot at Eastern Market in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024. (Photo by Allison Robbert for The Washington Post)

A hot air balloon floats over farm fields south of Washington, Ill., as the sun slips behind clouds on the autumn afternoon of Wednesday, September 24, 2014. (Photo by Ron Johnson/AP Photo/Peoria Journal Star)

Daniel Cheong, a dog behaviorist and trainer, steps over a leash as he walks a pack of dogs in Arlington, Va. on November 13, 2018. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

“Takeru Kobayashi (born March 15, 1978) is a Japanese competitive eater. He held the world record for hot dog eating for nearly six years, and holds several other eating records, including four Guinness Records for hot dogs, meatballs, hamburgers, and pasta”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Takeru Kobayashi challeges 2011 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition contestants via satellite at 230 Fifth Avenue on July 4, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)