This website, inspired by my personal journey, transcends my individual story to highlight the lives and experiences of voiceless animals who endure the full brunt of human insensitivity. Have you ever been struck by a lightning bolt? Though I haven't, I know exactly how it feels. My epiphany came while I was researching an unrelated topic online and stumbled upon information about the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China, also known as The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival. Held annually during the summer solstice in Yulin, Guangxi, this festival involves the consumption of dog meat and lychees. Since its inception in 2009, it spans about ten days, during which thousands of dogs, and sometimes cats, are consumed. Initially, I dismissed the gruesome details as sensationalized content, perhaps fabricated to shock readers. The images and descriptions seemed too horrific to be real: dogs dunked alive in boiling water or oil, crammed into small, rusty cages, killed in front of customers, and skinned corpses hanging upside down, still dripping with blood. But as I delved deeper, my skepticism gave way to an expanded, and mercilessly etched, view of reality. This festival was not only real but represented a widespread practice throughout Asia, involving an estimated thirty million dogs and ten million cats annually. Further research revealed that China banned the slaughtering and trade of dog and cat meat in 2020, citing immense animal suffering and the risk of disease epidemics such as rabies and cholera. Despite this, the sense of relief was short-lived. An article published by Humane Society International on June 5, 2023, carried the disheartening headline: “Ahead of China’s Yulin dog meat ‘festival,’ a new survey reveals fewer than 20% of Yulin residents oppose a dog and cat meat ban, and 70% say a ban would have no significant impact on their lives.” They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but I can attest otherwise. The second bolt hit me harder, within twenty minutes of my initial reading. My feelings of shock, anger, and helplessness over the fate of those dogs and cats returned with a startling realization: I was one of the “festival” participants. Every time I bought an animal product from the supermarket, I was complicit in the same cruelty, just to different sentient beings. I had grown up in a culture that normalized this behavior, and with every purchase, I endorsed the practices of the meat industry. Through my research, I discovered that consuming animal products is a choice, not a necessity. I wish I had realized this sooner. It is my sincere hope that my story sparks a moment of soul-searching for you, prompting reflection on the countless animals whose voices remain unheard.