To turn up the heat and give Meatopia attendees something to chew on, PETA supporters pitched up outside the barbecue festival and ‘grilled’ a lifelike ‘dog’.

A banner reading “If You Wouldn’t Eat a Dog, Why Eat a Pig?” pointed out that pups and pigs are the same in all the ways that matter:

Meatopia festival: animal rights activists ‘barbecue’ a dog to make a point

PETA senior campaigns manager Kate Werner said:

Pigs have long memories, love their families, and wag their tails to express joy, just like the dogs we share our homes with. PETA urges anyone disturbed by the idea of cooking a canine to extend that compassion to all animals and please go vegan.

Pigs are soothed by music, love playing ball, sleep in ‘pig piles’, and even enjoy getting massages. Yet in the meat industry, workers chop off piglets’ tails, clip their teeth with pliers, and castrate the males – and the animals endure intense confinement before slaughterhouses slash their throats.

PETA calls on the public to go vegan

Each person who goes vegan spares nearly 200 animals every year, reduces their chances of developing serious health concerns like heart disease, and lowers their carbon footprint.

PETA offers free vegan starter kits to help anyone thinking of making the switch.

Its motto reads, in part, that:

animals are not ours to eat or abuse in any way.

The group points out that “Every Animal Is Someone”, and offers free ‘Empathy Kits’.

Featured image and additional images supplied