ACTIVISTS will set fire to a 'dog' in Southampton city centre as part of a campaign against eating meat.

Animal rights campaigners will roast the fake dog in Above Bar Street on Thursday morning.

During the protest outside Metro Bank, PETA supporters will wave a banner reading: “If you wouldn’t eat a dog, why eat a pig? Go vegan!”

PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is an animal rights organisation.

Its motto is “animals are not ours to eat”.

The group claims that each person who goes vegan saves the lives of nearly 200 animals every year and helps prevent future pandemics.

Furthermore, the group states that SARS, swine flu, bird flu, and COVID-19 all stemmed from confining and killing animals for food.

PETA Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner said: "When it comes to the capacity to suffer and feel pain and fear, a dog is no different from a pig, a chicken, or a cow.

“PETA is urging anyone repulsed by the prospect of chowing down on dog meat to extend that compassion to all other animals and go vegan.”