Police Raid Dog Meat Ring in Vietnam

A little over a week ago, there was a raid in the southern province of Tay Ninh in Vietnam, with police arresting five men and seizing 47 dogs, including 32 who had already been killed for the sale of their flesh. Most of the dogs were stolen animal companions.

Vietnam rarely punishes dog thieves nor any of the other people involved in buying and selling stolen meat, as stealing animal companions is not considered a criminal offense unless the market value of an animal happens to exceed VND2million, which is a little less than $100 USD.

Because dog meat consumption involves stolen pets and horrific slaughter methods, many people within Vietnam and around the world have criticized dog meat consumption. With rising pressure, legislators are considering a provision that would criminalize pet theft.

With an estimated killing of five million dogs yearly, Vietnam is the second largest consumer of dog meat in the world after China, with roughly 20 million dogs becoming victims there.

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