FourPaws

 

 

A new online platform has been launched in Cambodia to help combat the dog and cat meat trade, allowing residents and tourists to anonymously report incidents of animal cruelty, pet theft and illegal meat markets. The initiative, led by international animal welfare group FOUR PAWS, aims to curb a practice that affects millions of animals and poses serious public health risks.

 

The tool, now active across Cambodia and Vietnam, enables users to log sightings of restaurants, markets and suspected trafficking operations linked to the dog and cat meat trade (DCMT). It follows a successful pilot in Vietnam’s Quang Nam and Da Nang provinces, where nearly 600 reports were filed between late 2022 and 2024, impacting over 9,700 animals.

 

“The strong community involvement of citizens and tourists highlighted the urgent need to expand this tool across borders,” said Rebecca Dharmpaul, DCMT Specialist at FOUR PAWS. The organisation hopes the platform will provide a clearer picture of the trade and support collaboration with governments and stakeholders.

 

In Vietnam, 23% of reports involved pet theft, while 22% concerned cruelty at DCMT restaurants. Thirteen percent flagged the use of poisoned bait to capture animals. Most incidents occurred on weekdays, suggesting that trafficking is treated as a full-time business.

 

Phan Thanh, a campaigner for companion animals at FOUR PAWS Vietnam, stressed the emotional toll of witnessing such cruelty, particularly on children. “This tool is not only about protecting animals, but also shielding locals and tourists from traumatic experiences,” he said.

 

Beyond ethical concerns, the trade carries legal and health risks. The mass transport of unvaccinated animals in poor conditions increases the spread of zoonotic diseases. A 2022 investigation by FOUR PAWS identified Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province as a major trafficking hub.

 

In Cambodia alone, an estimated three million dogs are slaughtered annually for meat. FOUR PAWS launched a campaign last year to end the trade, and this reporting tool marks a new step in that effort — empowering the public to speak out and drive change.

 

 

-2025-09-26

<deleted>storm is ahead, I know. But in all fairness, all those eating any kind of meat (pork, chicken, beef etc.) are not qualified to comment on this - I think. 

You're either a vegetarian (or vegan), that's fine. But if you are a non-vegetarian, then it is hypocritical to "exclude" dogs and cats. 

Some cultures do not touch turkey, others love it. Same with rabbits, insects, snakes - the works. 

Some animals have been considered domesticated, proving their worth as pets, disable animals, police and military dogs, for quite a long time. Plain and simple, some people will eat just anything, and just anything isn't food. I'm not talking about a starvation situation but a modern world, where most can afford normal food or obtain it with government help. This is besides the fact that it's not regulated and spreads disease. Of course some treat women as secondary, which shows just how behind some still are as far as being civilized.