Ending the dog and cat meat trade needs to be done soon

Dr. Karan Kukreja, Head of Companion Animals Campaigns for Southeast Asia at Four Paws, emphasized this at the "Journey to Compassion - Support for Dog and Cat Welfare in Vietnam" held December 9 in Hanoi.

Vietnam makes progress in improving animal welfare.

The event, which was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, localities, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and tourism companies, aimed to honor Vietnam's progress in improving companion animal welfare as well as strengthen partnerships and cooperation between parties at both the national and international levels in committing to ending the dog and cat meat trade.

The conference highlighted the growing support from people and communities in Vietnam for ending the dog and cat meat trade. Since 2019, Four Paws has received more than 2.2 million signatures worldwide, including 250,000 signatures from Vietnamese people, calling for an end to trade in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

This event also allowed international delegates to share their experiences banning the dog and cat meat trade. Lin Sileap, the Livestock and Animal Health Committee, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, shared about the challenges and successes of the dog meat trade ban in Siem Reap in 2020.

Lola Webber, an independent expert on the dog and cat meat trade and an advisor to Humane Society International (HSI) in the campaign against the dog meat trade in Korea, provided delegates with insights into the context of the dog meat trade in Korea and the efforts and progress leading to a groundbreaking ban on the dog meat trade in Korea in January 2024.

Matt Backhouse, Four Paws Head of Stray Animal Care in Southeast Asia, said that ending the dog and cat meat trade requires the efforts of each province and city. Hoi An is a model to aim for. This work needs specific and clear instructions, creating a legal corridor for communities or localities to implement when there is no extended support from international organizations.

Positioning Vietnam as a leading country in sustainable tourism practices

Also, at the workshop, tourism experts, animal health institutes, and local authorities discussed and shared opinions to assess the impact of the dog and cat meat trade in Vietnam - a tourist destination.

Vu Huong Giang, Operations Manager & Sustainability Coordinator of Easia Travel, said international tourists are increasingly interested in animal welfare and ethical tourism practices. Easia Travel has made great efforts to raise awareness among customers about the dog and cat meat trade and how to properly treat companion animals to ensure safety and provide friendly tourism experiences, such as food tours that do not involve dog and cat meat. Collaboration with organizations such as Four Paws and government agencies is essential to create change across the industry while positioning Vietnam as a leader in sustainable tourism practices.

Tran Thi Hong Trang, Hoi An Agricultural Technical Center, emphasized that Hoi An City becoming a dog and cat meat-free city has improved the city's tourism image and aligns with the country's sustainable tourism development goals. While negative perceptions about ending the dog and cat meat trade still exist, they could undermine Vietnam's efforts to attract international visitors.

Veterinarian Vuong Tuan Phong, Hanoi Gaia Pets Clinic & Resort, shared the idea of ​​building a pet industry in Vietnam to make Vietnam a pet-friendly destination when more and more tourists want to bring their pets when traveling. Hoi An City (Quang Nam province) can be a model for this model. In addition, there is support for job conversion for those who used to trade in dog meat to contribute to building friendly and sustainable Vietnamese tourism.

The opinions, experiences, and sharing of delegates attending the workshop brought many opportunities and valuable information to contribute to building a Vietnam that is friendly to humans and animals, with no more dog and cat meat trade.

Four Paws is committed to continuing to cooperate with the Government and relevant parties to propose solutions to trafficking risks, aiming to end the dog and cat meat trade in Vietnam.

Four Paws has been working in Vietnam since 2019 to address the dog and cat meat trade risks. Every year, an estimated ten million dogs and cats are captured, transported, and slaughtered for their meat in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Most of these animals are stolen pets or communities, and stray animals are taken from the streets to supply the trade.