Content warning: This post and episode discuss animal cruelty, including the sexual abuse of animals, as well as violence, threats and trauma. Please read and listen with care.
In Part 1, Hayley, founder of Harbin Slaughterhouse Survivors, told us how the dog meat trade changed her life. In Part 2, we go further: into the rescues that went wrong, the laws that make intervention so hard, and what it costs a person to keep showing up.
It's the most difficult conversation we've had on Under the Fur. It's also one of the most important.
1,300 dogs, one truck, one night
Hayley begins with a rescue in Guangzhou involving 1,300 dogs on a single truck. What should have been a victory got caught up in a fraudulent fundraising operation, and then came a night of panic as rescuers tried to move the dogs to safety. Not all of them survived.
It's a hard story to hear. It shows how chaotic and fragile rescue work is, and why the people doing it need support long after the headlines fade.
The personal cost of speaking out
Hayley talks openly about what years of field work have done to her: harassment and threats around Yulin, and an emotional aftermath that doesn't switch off when she goes home. She has seen things she can't unsee, and she's honest that the trauma stays.
She also explains a choice that rescuers face more often than most of us realise: step in and save the animal in front of you, or document what's happening so there's evidence to drive change for thousands more. Neither option feels like enough.
Why the police so often can't step in
One of the most frustrating parts of the conversation is about the law. Hayley explains what she understands to be the legal loopholes around dog trading, slaughter and restaurants, and why rescuers are so often told by police that there's nothing they can do.
There is progress, though. Hayley says weekly monitoring of dog markets has led to a requirement that traded dogs must have vaccination records, with a reported fine of around $5,000 for each dog without them. It's a small rule, but it shows that steady pressure can work.
Protecting the survivors
Hayley talks about the sexual abuse of dogs she has encountered, and about the decision her team made to protect rescued animals' privacy instead of sharing their images. These dogs have been through enough, and their dignity matters.
How you can help today
Hayley's final message is practical. You don't need to give a lot to make a real difference. A recurring donation of £1 or £2 a month helps feed, treat and care for the rescue's dogs, and gives the charity the steady income it needs to plan ahead.
DONATE TO HARBIN SLAUGHTERHOUSE SURVIVORS → https://www.harbinshs.com/donate
If you can't donate, you can still help:
Share this episode with someone who cares about animals
Follow Harbin Slaughterhouse Survivors on social media and amplify their posts
Speak up. Talk about it, write about it, don't look away
