'This should be everyone's cause': Lisa Vanderpump asks members of Congress to formally condemn 'barbaric' Yulin Dog Meat Festival

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:18 EST, 15 September 2016 | Updated: 22:29 EST, 15 September 2016

She's best known for being a reality star on Bravos' Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.

But on Wednesday, Lisa Vanderpump used her celebrity to appeal to U.S. lawmakers to formally condemn China's annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival.

'The beauty of this cause is that it is universal. It transcends party lines, state borders and political stances,' she told a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. 'It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or a Democrat; our cause should be everyone’s cause.'

Her pet cause: Lisa Vanderpump went to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to to appeal to lawmakers to pass HR 752 that formally condemns the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China

Her pet cause: Lisa Vanderpump went to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to to appeal to lawmakers to pass HR 752 that formally condemns the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China

In May, Congressman Alcee Hastings, a democrat from Florida, introduced House Resolution 752 calling for lawmakers to condemn the festival and urge China to end the dog meat trade.

Wednesday's event was designed to increase bipartisan support for the resolution that could then lead to a vote on the House floor.

'As a country, we are judged by our actions and our beliefs. If we turn our heads and do nothing, we are condoning that this Festival continues,' Vanderpump told the audience of lawmakers, lobbyists and media.

'By not doing anything, we are silently giving Yulin our blessing. We, as people, should not stand passive while watching this barbaric practice continue.'

The reality star and restaurateur has been working with Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings to urge China to end the dog meat trade. They're pictured on Capitol Hill with one of her pups

The reality star and restaurateur has been working with Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings to urge China to end the dog meat trade. They're pictured on Capitol Hill with one of her pups

'It must stop': During the presentation to members of Congress, lobbyists and media, the group showed some of the horrors of the dog meat trade that they described as 'barbaric'

'It must stop': During the presentation to members of Congress, lobbyists and media, the group showed some of the horrors of the dog meat trade that they described as 'barbaric'

She was joined at the event by Hastings and other animal rights activists including John Sessa, the executive director of the Vanderpump Dog Foundation.

Sessa explained that the point of the resolution is to bring pressure to bear on Chinese officials to enact changes that would protect dogs.

Speaking to DailyMail.com ahead of the hearing, Sessa said: 'There's no real governing body for animal rights. A vote would show that we are, as the United States of America, against the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, and we can't condone this any longer.' 

Bringing pressure to bear: John Sessa, executive director of the Vanderpump Dog Foundation, said the goal was to persuade China to enact changes to protect dogs. He's pictured in December 2015 with a dog rescued from Yulin

Bringing pressure to bear: John Sessa, executive director of the Vanderpump Dog Foundation, said the goal was to persuade China to enact changes to protect dogs. He's pictured in December 2015 with a dog rescued from Yulin

During the past season of RHOBH, Vanderpump has used the show as a platform for her crusade against Yulin. 

In fact, she revealed earlier this year, the willingness of the show's producers to allow her to publicize her dog rights agenda was one of the reasons she decided to remain part of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. 

Platform: Dog lover Vanderpump, 55, dotes on her own pets and has used her reality show this year to publicize the horrors of the Yulin festival and the need to stop it

Platform: Dog lover Vanderpump, 55, dotes on her own pets and has used her reality show this year to publicize the horrors of the Yulin festival and the need to stop it

 

 

 

 

 

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