Over the course of the year, the Chinese cat and dog meat trade will be responsible for the death of up to 20 million cats and dogs.

Activists have uncovered horrific abuse in the industry, including dogs being urinated on, beaten, stabbed, and boiled alive.

Many dogs are stolen from families, stacked on top of each other in crates, and transported for days without food or water. The most recent investigation of the Yulin slaughterhouses adds to the mountain of evidence showing that using animals for food is inherently violent and unethical.

The US government is currently in strategic dialogue with China on a variety of global affairs. Additionally, China is feeling the pressure to stop the cat and dog meat trade and sales are falling.

The time is now for President Obama to raise the issue of the cat and dog meat trade with Chinese officials and publicly condemn the industry. Like so many of us, President Obama is a dog lover.

This is his opportunity to leave a legacy for the cats and dogs and cat and dog lovers of the world and show that animal abuse — no matter the species or country — is always wrong.

They stayed on the floor through the late hours of the night because they understand that this is a pivotal time in our country’s history. Ninety percent of Americans agree that something needs to be done, so this is no longer about politics. It’s about consensus. And it’s time for the GOP to get with the program.