Canine crusade: real-life animal meat trade survivors to share their stories at Hertfordshire festival 

A pioneering animal charity will shake paws with the public in North Herts as part of work to raise awareness of the horrific meat trade claiming the lives of dogs and cats across Asia.

NoToDogMeat will be at Hertfordshire's DogFest on Saturday (September 10) and Sunday (September 11), where the team will spread important messages about the barbaric industry of killing animals for meat. 

The charity's main aim is to change hearts and minds, and save as many animals as possible. 

NoToDogMeat works with and empowers local people to make a change in countries who carry out the torture - and visitors to the event at Knebworth House will have the chance to meet plucky pups who were saved from the butchers' block.

One such pooch is Felicity, a beautiful Samoyed who was liberated from her fate of being made into soup at China's Yulin Dog Meat festival back in 2018.

The snow-white hound walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival this year after NoToDogMeat received an award for its work to expose the dog and cat meat trade.

Julia de Cadenet, CEO of NoToDogMeat, set up the charity in 2009 after witnessing the evil practices first-hand.

She said: "It's important that dogs like Felicity are seen because they have such important tales to tell, and I know stories like Felicity's will ultimately change attitudes about the dog and cat meat trade.

"It's a heartbreaking fact that not all dogs and cats are as lucky as Felicity was and that's why we're continuing to raise our profile, speaking with the public about our vision and how they can help us rescue more innocent animals from a needless and painful end."

The charity, which has rescue shelters in China and Cambodia, holds United Nations Special Consultative status enabling it to advise at the highest level on the steps needed to end the cruelty once and for all.

To find out how you can help NoToDogMeat's cause, visit www.notodogmeat.com.