NGO vows to stop dog, cat meat trafficking in region

Representatives of FOUR PAWS, an international animal welfare organization, have pledged to fight tooth and nail to put an end to dog and cat meat trafficking in the region.

According to a report by FOUR PAWS, an estimated 10 million dogs and cats are captured, transported, and slaughtered in Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia every year for their meat.

Born Bun Chheang, Southeast Asia Campaign Advisor from FOUR PAWS, said the animal welfare group has been receiving requests from Cambodians seeking action against meat trafficking.

“The public has been communicating through social media, informing us of dog and cat meat trafficking activities and asking us to work with the government to ban the illegal trade permanently and effectively,” he said.

He added that according to FOUR PAWS research in 2022, only 12% of Cambodians regularly eat dog meat, and research in 2021 shows that 90% will support the ban.

Bun Chheang also said that the Siem Reap province took a historic decision of banning the trafficking and consumption of dog meat and set it as a model for other provinces in Cambodia.

He also said that more action would be taken to combat the trafficking by working in coordination with the governments, NGOs, the private sector and local communities of Cambodia and Vietnam to stop the dog meat trafficking involving the two countries.

Karan Kukreja, FOUR PAWS Head of Campaigns Southeast Asia (Companion Animals) said: “We are also launching a campaign to stop the dog meat trade in Cambodia. The dog and cat meat trade poses various risks, such as direct and indirect risk of rabies, epidemics arising from the trafficking, etc.”