The first draft of a law against animal abuse, aiming to protect animals from being hurt or killed in a cruel manner, was completed by a group of experts and was due to be raised for legislation in April, local media reported earlier this year.

The proposal included jailing people who eat dog meat for up 15 days. While many Chinese enjoy rich dog meat, especially during cold winters, some object to the practice in some regions of beating dogs to death to release the blood into the meat.

Preserved dog meat is an accepted cuisine in some parts of Guangdong province as certain breeds of dogs are raised up to 3 or 4 months old and slaughtered on farms, local media reported. Eating dog is a socially acceptable practice in parts of southern China .

Dog meat has been a source of food in some areas of China from around 500 BC, and possibly even earlier.

A man hits a dog that is about to be slaughtered in the backyard of his home in Beijing
A man hits a dog that is about to be slaughtered in the backyard of his home in Beijing March 26, 2008. The man breeds dogs partially as pets and partially for food delivered to restaurants. Reuters
A truck carrying dogs can be seen travelling along a road on the outskirts of Beijing
A truck carrying dogs can be seen travelling along a road on the outskirts of Beijing June 28, 2011. The first draft of a law against animal abuse, aiming to protect animals from being hurt or killed in a cruel manner, was completed by a group of experts and was due to be raised for legislation in April, local media reported earlier this year. The proposal included jailing people who eat dog meat for up 15 days. While many Chinese enjoy rich dog meat, especially during cold winters, some object to the practice in some regions of beating dogs to death to release the blood into the meat. Reuters
CHINESE VENDORS SELL DOGS AT A WILD ANIMAL MARKET IN GUANGZHOU.
Vendors at a wild animal market in Guangzhou, the capital of China's southern province of Guangdong, sell dogs to be served as food, January 8, 2004. A waitress in southern China was declared a suspected SARS case on Thursday, and in Hong Kong three members of a television crew were being tested for the deadly virus, raising fears of a new outbreak days ahead of Asia's biggest holiday. Reuters
2. Dog population in China
In 2009, there were over 58 million pet dogs in 20 major cities of China. Reuters
9. How much does it cost
Dog meat costs about 24-2 RMB/kg. It is comparable to pork (23-27 RMB/kg), cheaper than beef (32-34 RMB/kg), and more expensive than chicken (13019 RMB/kg). Reuters
A dog is wrapped for sale at a market in the Baiyun district in China039s southern city of Guangzhou September 16, 2004.
A dog is wrapped for sale at a market in the Baiyun district in China's southern city of Guangzhou September 16, 2004. In southern China, it doesn't matter if an animal is an endangered species. As long as it walks, wriggles or jumps, it's good enough for the pot. Photo taken September 16. Reuters
CHINESE VENDORS PREPARE TO WEIGH DOGS TO BE SOLD AS FOOD AT AN EXOTIC GAME MARKET IN GUANGZHOU.
Chinese vendors prepare to weigh dogs to be sold as food at an exotic game market in Guangzhou Janaury 15, 2004. World Health Organisation experts on a fact-finding mission in the capital of Guangdong said on Friday they found evidence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus in such markets. Reuters
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