Over 500 dogs being delivered to a butcher house were saved by a Chinese animal protection organization and redeemed with 100,000 yuan (15,300 U.S.dollar) Friday.

The dogs are scared and reluctant to get off the truck at a care center of the China Small Animal Protection Association in Beijing, April 16, 2011.

The incident then triggered debate among Chinese netizens about the necessity of pouring so much money and efforts into saving dogs.

On Friday, a truck loaded with over 500 dogs were stopped by volunteers from animal protection organization on Jingha expressway Beijing section.

Beijing Times reported these dogs were being delivered to slaughter houses in the city of Changchun, northeast Jilin province and would be eventually served on dinner tables.

After negotiations with the truck driver, pet service provider Leepet Holding Corp. and a philanthropic foundation, Shangshan Foundation purchased these dogs, each paying 50,000 yuan.

Dogs were then delivered to the headquarter of China Small Animal Protection Association (CSAPA), being taken care of and waiting for adoption.

After the "dog saving mission" was reported, Chinese net users debate over whether saving dogs worth so much efforts and money while there are still many poor and needy people in China lacking assistance.

Some net users ague the dog saving mission is placing overt attention to animals while lots of needy people are still left unattended.

A microblogger "Xiaowulaitajie" said on China's twitter-like website, weibo.com, "Dogs are saved, adopted and they attracted media spotlight. We'd better spend such money and take such efforts in helping the needy people."