Mistreated: After agreeing to sell the cat to Peter Li, the slaughterhouse worker hooked it by its neck (pictured) to place it in a wire cage for him




Inhumane: The investigation carried out by Humane Society International (HSI) found cats and dogs are still being brought to the city in wire cages which are so small some animals (pictured) die on the journey




Trapped: Once they arrive in Yulin, the dogs (pictured) are beaten to death before their meat is sold at the annual festival held on June's summer solstice




Brutal: While in Yulin last week, the HSI investigation discovered hundreds of slaughtered dogs impaled on spikes and cats crammed so tightly into tiny wire cages 'they could not breathe' (pictured)




It is legal to eat dogs in China and the country has no law protecting the welfare of pets, but its Ministry of Agriculture has strict rules which require cats and dogs to have 'health certificates' before they are transported




The Chinese public - particularly younger generations - has turned against the trade and many protests have been held in recent weeks which forced some slaughterhouses to close down their operations