Harrowing video footage has exposed the shocking practices of Vietnam’s wet markets, documenting the barbaric slaughter of dogs and cats for their meat.
The dog meat trade has long sparked controversy, with The Humane Society estimating that five million dogs and one million cats are “captured, stolen, trafficked and slaughtered to provide meat for human consumption” every year in Vietnam.
In a new investigation, animal rights group Lady Freethinker traveled to the country’s capital, Hanoi, and visited the markets to document the abuse as part of their campaign for a ban.
Founder Nina Jackel said: ‘The conditions we found were heartbreaking, no animal should be treated like that. Dogs visibly trembled in fear as they saw other dogs being slaughtered right before their eyes.”
Some of the kittens and puppies they saw crammed into cages still wore collars, indicating they were stolen pets.
Harrowing video from non-profit organization Lady Freethinker has exposed the shocking practices in Vietnam’s dog meat markets
The Humane Society estimates that five million dogs and one million cats are captured and eaten in Vietnam every year
Founder Nina Jackel said: ‘The conditions we found were heartbreaking, no animal should be treated like that.’
As polls show public sentiment towards the practice is shifting in Vietnam, the charity is calling for a ban on the trade, following a similar act in South Korea.
The nonprofit’s researcher made several visits to markets and restaurants in Hanoi’s city center and observed “extreme suffering of dogs and cats.”
They said: ‘Meat from the animals was processed onto the cages of live dogs, with blood dripping onto the faces of the frightened animals.
‘One dog was repeatedly hit on the head and then thrown into a waste bin.
‘The dog appeared paralyzed in an unnatural position and suffered several labored breaths as it appeared to slowly die on top of the bodies of two other dogs.’
“Workers grabbed struggling dogs by the neck with long metal tongs, hit them repeatedly in the head with a giant bat while they were tied up, and then walked to the next dog in the cage,” they said.
Eating dog meat is a long-standing tradition in Vietnam, especially in the north of the country.
Dog is a popular dish for special occasions, parties and reunions and is believed to have a wide range of health benefits, from boosting virility to providing daily protein and energy.
Many of the kittens and puppies they saw caged were still wearing collars, indicating they were stolen pets
One of the cats photographed wore a bright blue collar
Meat was processed on top of the cages of live dogs
Workers grabbed the struggling dogs by the neck with long metal tongs and beat them
A poll commissioned by Humane Society International in September 2023 found that 40 percent of the Vietnamese population eat dog meat, while 21 percent eat cat meat.
They found that dog meat is most popular among men in northern Vietnam, while cat meat dishes are particularly common around Hanoi.
Jackel said, “Animal cruelty is not species specific. The conditions we found were heartbreaking and no animal should be treated that way, just like pigs and cows.
‘Conditions on the farm are terrible and we are campaigning for all animals.’
Every few years there is outrage over the dog trade, but polls show growing negative sentiment towards the trade among young Vietnamese people.
More and more young people have come to support a ban on dog and cat meat and do not believe that cat and dog meat are part of Vietnamese culture.
A recent one A Humane Society poll shows that 68 percent of people support a ban on the dog meat trade.
In addition to animal welfare concerns, there can also be serious consequences for human health.
One dog the charity saw was repeatedly hit over the head and then thrown into a bin
There is also a risk to human health, as the WHO warns that eating dogs can cause cholera
Recent polls by charities show that the majority of Vietnamese citizens support a ban
Jackel said: “Very recently it was reported locally that a man working in the dog meat trade in Vietnam died of rabies from a bite.
‘Clearly there is a risk to human health associated with this. The World Health Organization has warned that the slaughter and consumption of dogs poses risks to human health, including rabies and cholera – it is not limited to the health of dogs.”
In addition to health concerns, there have been many reports of people having pets stolen and sold for meat.
Some of the animals the charity saw were wearing collars, indicating they were pets and had recently been stolen, while others were strays or bred for their meat.
Jackel said: ‘These animals are often stolen companions, so in addition to the cruelty of the slaughter, there are also human families missing beloved pets.’
In January, South Korea’s National Assembly unanimously approved a motion to ban slaughing, breeding, trading or selling dogs for human consumption, from 2027.
In January, South Korea’s National Assembly unanimously passed a motion to ban the dog trade by 2027
Jackel is campaigning for a ban on the practice in Vietnam as well
Now Lady Freethinker is campaigning for a ban on this practice in Vietnam as well.
Vietnam has previously taken steps towards a ban. In 2018, Hanoi announced that they would completely phase out dog meat consumption by 2021.
But Jackel said, “That clearly didn’t happen.”
She added: ‘I hope that with these findings we can encourage the Government to look at this again and enforce a ban.
‘The evidence is clear: dogs and cats suffer enormously from the Vietnamese meat trade, and human health is also at risk. I urge the government to take action to stop this cruel and dangerous industry.”