A global animal welfare organization, Four Paws, has initiated a campaign in three major Vietnamese cities to end the trade of dog and cat meat for human consumption, according to state media reports. The Vienna-based group highlights the cruel treatment of animals and the health risks associated with consuming their meat, such as rabies and other diseases.
Titled “Journey of Love,” the campaign aims to educate people in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and Hanoi about the negative aspects of the dog and cat meat industry. “We believe now is the time to take immediate action against dog and cat meat trading activities, especially given the increasing incidence of diseases and epidemics,” said Phan Thanh Dung, an officer from Four Paws’ Companion Animal Campaign, as quoted by the Vietnam Law Newspaper.
Each year, approximately 6 million dogs and cats are caught, transported, and slaughtered for their meat in Vietnam, according to Four Paws. Many of these animals are stolen from communities or are strays taken off the streets. Vendors in wet markets openly sell both dead and live dogs and cats, which are crammed into cages and await slaughter for human consumption.
While the sale and consumption of dog meat is legal in Vietnam, the government had banned cat meat consumption in 1998 but reversed this directive in 2020. Consuming dog and cat meat poses risks of infections from diseases and parasites such as E. coli and salmonella, commonly found in contaminated meats.
Animal rights groups and local activists have been campaigning against the trade due to the poor conditions in which the animals are kept and the inhumane killing processes. In late 2023, Four Paws and the People’s Committee of Hoi An closed one of the city’s last remaining dog meat restaurants.
A survey conducted by Four Paws in early 2021 revealed that 91% of Vietnamese respondents believed the government should ban the dog and cat meat trade. Additionally, 95% stated that eating dog and cat meat is not part of Vietnamese culture and supported ending the trade.
