The dispute between dog lovers and dog-meat lovers has escalated over a festival that is set to begin on June 21 in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Dog meat is commonly served on local dinner tables in the city of Yulin.

And every year during the summer solstice, the locals put on a festival, eating dog-meat hotpot and lychees and drinking strong liquor. The festival attracts thousands of diners every year.

The other side of the story, however, has animal rights groups and dog lovers calling for an end to the practice, citing cruelty, morality and food safety.

"Not only are dogs people's best friends, but because there is no dog meat quarantine, a lot of the meat sold at the festival comes from animals that have been stolen or abducted from households, posing a threat to public safety," said Zheng Zhishan, a campaigner with the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The debate was heightened this year on social media.

People's Daily started the discussion of whether the festival should be stopped on June 5, getting several Chinese pop stars to protest the festival using their accounts on the Sina Weibo micro-blogging service.

Proponents of eating dog meat, however, think the reaction has been overblown.

"Why don't those who are against us stop eating pork or beef first?" a local resident named Zhang Lian wrote on his micro blog account.

But due to the protests, some restaurants offering dog-meat dishes in Yulin have covered the character for "dog" on their signs.

On Tuesday, Xinhua News Agency reported that a group claiming to be from Guangdong province broke into a dog-meat restaurant in Yulin, trying to save dogs. They were later arrested.

Southern Metropolitan Daily reported on Thursday that three local hospitals issued notices that their staff should not eat dog meat in public.

On Monday, the local government released a statement pointing out that it does not organize the festival but that it is put on by residents and restaurants.

Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University, said better communication between the locals and the animal lovers is needed to avoid conflicts.

"Animal protectors should see there is more complexity in the issue, instead of simply confronting the locals, which will not help," he said.

"The local government and festival supporters should hold open discussions with the opposing parties, giving the public their legitimate reasons."

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Dogs caged at a market in Yulin, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, wait to be slaughtered ahead of a local festival that is dedicated to eating dog meat hotpot and lychees. Wu Hailang / for China Daily