The dog and cat meat trade
Tens of millions of dogs and cats are slaughtered for human consumption in Southeast Asia each year, the great majority of them stolen pets or community animals. The trade is a welfare and a public-he
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
The dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia handles an estimated 10-30 million dogs and several million cats per year, most of them stolen or trapped community animals; it is a serious welfare crisis and a public-health risk implicated in rabies transmission.
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Donate todayKey Facts
- Vietnam, Cambodia and parts of Indonesia are the main contemporary trade hubs.
- Most animals are stolen pets or community dogs and cats, not farmed.
- WHO has formally linked the dog meat trade to rabies transmission.
- Hanoi, Siem Reap and several Indonesian cities have made formal commitments to phase out the trade.
- Effective response pairs slaughterhouse closures with alternative livelihoods for workers leaving the trade.
The scale of the trade
Reliable estimates place annual dog-meat consumption in Vietnam alone at 5-10 million dogs, with several million more in Cambodia, China, Laos and parts of Indonesia. Cats are also slaughtered in large numbers, particularly in northern Vietnam — see our briefing on the Vietnam cat meat trade.
Where the animals come from
The myth of dedicated dog and cat farms is largely wrong. The trade is overwhelmingly supplied by theft of pets, trapping of community dogs and cats, and cross-border smuggling from neighbouring countries. Welfare in transit is universally poor.
What ends the trade
City-level bans (Hanoi's 2018 commitment, several Indonesian cities since), enforcement against the supply chain, and most importantly alternative-livelihood support for the workers — slaughterhouse closures without livelihood support displace the problem rather than end it.
Popular questions
The dog and cat meat trade questions
Related search answers that connect this topic to WARN welfare guidance, rescue explainers and action routes.
Rescue & Welfare
What is the dog and cat meat trade?
The dog and cat meat trade slaughters millions of dogs and cats annually — mainly in parts of Southeast and East Asia — often using stolen pets and methods that would breach animal welfare laws in many countries.
Rescue & Welfare
How do you report animal cruelty abroad?
Report animal cruelty abroad by documenting safely, noting the exact location, date, business name and species, then contacting local authorities, a recognised local rescue, tour operator, platform or embassy if there is immediate danger. Do not confront people or buy animals.
Rescue & Welfare
How can I help street dogs abroad?
Fund verified CNVR and veterinary partners, avoid supporting culling programmes, and give to organisations that publish partner names and programme budgets — rather than informal “rescue tourism” without welfare standards.
Rescue & Welfare
What should you do if you find a stray dog?
If you find a stray dog, keep yourself safe, avoid chasing, check for ID from a distance, contain the dog only if it is safe and contact the local dog warden, council, shelter or vet scanning service. Do not simply keep the dog.
Rescue & Welfare
Should you feed stray cats?
Feeding stray cats can help, but only if it is part of responsible care: neutering, health monitoring, clean feeding stations and local rescue coordination. Feeding without neutering can increase colony size and long-term suffering.
Rescue & Welfare
What should you do with an unwanted pet?
If you cannot keep a pet, do not abandon or release them. Contact the original rescue or breeder, a local shelter, a vet or a species-specific rescue, and be honest about health, behaviour and urgency.
