The annual 10-day festival in Yulin usually attracts thousands of visitors, many of whom buy dogs to eat them, but this year activists in favor of animal rights say their numbers are smaller.
As the Chinese government drafts new legislation to ban wildlife trade and protect domestic animals, activists hope this year will be the last year of the festival.
"I hope that Yulin will change, not only for the sake of the animals but also for the health and safety of its inhabitants," said Peter Lee, a policy expert at Humane Society International, an animal rights organization. "Allowing mass gatherings to buy and sell dog meat in crowded markets and restaurants in the name of a festival is a big risk to public health," he added.
The monster, believed to have come from the bats before crossing into a market in Uhan, forced China to reconsider its relationship with the animals and now Beijing has pledged to ban the sale of wild animals, according to AMPE.
In April, Shenzhen became the first Chinese city to ban the consumption of dogs, and more are expected to follow.
China's Ministry of Agriculture has also classified dogs as pets from previously considered farm animals, although it is unclear whether this change will affect the Yulin market.
Zhang Kiankian, an animal rights activist, said it was a matter of time before the dog meat festival was banned.
"From what we conclude from our discussions with meat traders, officials have stated that in the future the consumption of dog meat will not be allowed," he said. "But banning dog meat consumption will be difficult and time consuming."