Police in Vietnam have rescued more than 500 cats after dismantling a suspected cat meat trafficking network in one of the country's largest animal welfare operations in recent years. Get today's headlines by email The raid, carried out in and around Ho Chi Minh City last week, followed an investigation into a series of pet thefts. Authorities detained nine suspects and uncovered hundreds of live cats allegedly destined for the meat trade, according to local media reports and animal welfare groups. Major Rescue OperationPolice discovered 45 cages containing around 400 live cats, along with four foam containers packed with ice that held about 80 dead cats. A further 21 live cats were recovered at another location, bringing the total number of animals seized to more than 500. Authorities said the suspects admitted collecting and trapping cats across southern Vietnam over the past three years, including in Ho Chi Minh City and the cities of Tay Ninh and An Giang. More than 40 rescued cats have since been reunited with their owners. However, animal welfare groups said dozens of animals later died because of the poor conditions in which they had been kept. Families Reunited With PetsKaranvir Kukreja, who leads a campaign against dog and cat meat consumption for Humane World for Animals, described the case as a stark reminder of the scale of Vietnam's cat meat trade. Phuong Pham, the organisation's country director in Vietnam, said thousands of cats are believed to be stolen, transported and slaughtered for meat across the country each month. Several of the rescued cats were pregnant, and some have since given birth while in police care. Chris Gindelhumer of Vietnam Cat Welfare, which is helping care for the animals, said the rescue effort had been emotional for both volunteers and pet owners. He said many families had arrived searching for missing cats, with some successfully reunited with their pets while others were unable to find them. Veterinarians and volunteers have been working continuously to treat and care for the rescued animals. Debate Over Cat Meat TradeThe consumption of dog and cat meat remains legal in Vietnam, although vendors are required to hold permits verifying the origins of the animals they sell. Some local authorities are seeking to reduce the practice. The city of Hoi An has been working with international animal welfare organisations to discourage dog and cat meat consumption. Following South Korea's decision in 2024 to ban the dog meat trade, Vietnamese officials said they planned to strengthen legal protections for pets and their owners. The latest rescue has also drawn public attention. An Pham, a graduate student and cat owner in Ho Chi Minh City, said the case had shocked many people and increased awareness of the issue of cat meat consumption. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 June 2026
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