CNN: Business Booming for Dog Smugglers Across Mekong River

THAILAND: -- Business is booming for dog smugglers across the Mekong River, and their crimes have become a focus of CNN News.

The Chinese New Year is a dangerous time for pet dogs in Thailand, as it is traditionally the time of peak demand for dog meat in Vietnam.

CNN interviewed John Dalley of the Phuket-based Soi Dog Foundation.

Dalley said about 98 percent of dogs that have been smuggled are domesticated, and many of them are stolen pets.

These dogs have been trained and respond to commands, and some of them were still wearing collars.

Previously, dog smuggling gangs would lure stray dogs from alleys, but currently smugglers are traveling across most of Thailand in search of dogs.

Some were bought, while others were snatched from dog owners due to soaring demand in the winter months, especially in Vietnam, where dog meat is regarded as a delicacy and one that is believed to bring good luck.

Dalley went on to say the recent floods in Thailand have also been a boon for dog-nappers where lost and displaced dogs were an easy target.

Some operators simply drove around to collect dogs for smuggling across to neighboring countries.

The trade is illegal in Thailand, but the Thai Veterinary Medical Association estimates as many 500,000 dogs are sold across the Mekong every year.

Once the dogs arrive in Vietnam, if they haven't died of suffocation or starvation en route, a painful death awaits them.

Dog meat aficionados claim that stress hormones tenderize the strong-tasting meat, and killing methods range from beatings to being skinned alive.

In Vietnam markets, each dog generally costs between 500 to 1,000 baht.

Purebred dogs will be shipped on to southern China and fetch a higher price.

CNN points out that dog smugglers are normally prosecuted under laws that prohibit the illegal trade and transport of animals, since there is no direct law against the practice.

However, while there are no direct animal cruelty laws in Thailand, prosecutors can charge smugglers with cruelty under Criminal Code laws.

Nevertheless, the reality is that smugglers often receive light sentences of just a few months in prison, and the thousands of impounded dogs that end up in quarantine centers sometimes find their way back onto the streets and in the dog meat circle again.

Dalley remarked that this issue is not about whether it is right or wrong to eat dog meat, but about an illegal trade worth millions of baht per year, organized by criminals, and that the way in which those dogs are transported and killed.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-26

If dog meat are in demand, why not just start up a dog farm, just like pig farm, chicken farm, turkey far, fish farm, ostrich farm, sheep farm, cow farm, croc farm and even tiger farm.

If dog meat are in demand, why not just start up a dog farm, just like pig farm, chicken farm, turkey far, fish farm, ostrich farm, sheep farm, cow farm, croc farm and even tiger farm.

Running a farm would be too much work. It's cheaper and easier to steal dogs... You don't find stray ostrich or croc (fortunately). So you need to run a farm, but you find plenty of stray dogs.

BTW, trying to steal my dogs would be classified as suicide par the BIB !

It's sad but reality.....we lost 5 dogs in 5 years.

dissapeared......neighbors sure they were 'o the table"

a farang owned dog is more atractive to poachers they told us.(more meat)

the dogs we have now have a rather big area for there own(safety)

only on our premis.....sad but treu

It has been said that the degree of civilization in a culture can be measured by how they treat their domesticated animals. Using this as a standard, one can surmise that both the suppliers and the recipients of dogs are the lowest form of pitiful life. It should also be noted that these cultures also perfected the torture of humans. As for those who glorify this practice online, I can only imagine how far you have fallen into your addictions to alcohol and other drugs. Your sense of humanity lies below that of pig s##t. If you are just trying to show off and convince others that you have no feelings for living creatures or a sense of morality, you have proven your point. There is a good reason that no bargirl will do you for less than 10,000THB.

Edited January 26, 201214 yr by jaltsc

Sometime else for Thailand to be proud of. But the BIB are all over this so never fear.

It has been said that the degree of civilization in a culture can be measured by how they treat their domesticated animals. Using this as a standard, one can surmise that both the suppliers and the recipients of dogs are the lowest form of pitiful life. It should also be noted that these cultures also perfected the torture of humans. As for those who glorify this practice online, I can only imagine how far you have fallen into your addictions to alcohol and other drugs. Your sense of humanity lies below that of pig s##t. If you are just trying to show off and convince others that you have no feelings for living creatures or a sense of morality, you have proven your point. There is a good reason that no bargirl will do you for less than 10,000THB.

Apart from that everything Ok Jaltsc.. and breathe one two threee

What do you 1st think of when you can't find your dog?

The Vietnamese ate it.

^{It´s time to boycott countrys eating dogs, by not going there as turists.}

^{For start I will never visit Vietnam, again.}

If dog meat are in demand, why not just start up a dog farm, just like pig farm, chicken farm, turkey far, fish farm, ostrich farm, sheep farm, cow farm, croc farm and even tiger farm.

Why limit this to non-human flesh ? Eat the poor !

^{It´s time to boycott countrys eating dogs, by not going there as turists.}

^{For start I will never visit Vietnam, again.}

That approach will narrow your choice. If vegans and vegetarians took the same view they'd need to live on the moon.

They eat dogs in Thailand too. And I'm more than partial to rabbit terrine.

We make sure our dogs only respond to English. They don't take kindly to people speaking other languages. They act agressively if you do and act like your best friend if you speak in English. Maybe this helps. Anyway, our land is protected like a prison yard with walls and barbed wire. Too many late night strollers around the village looking for frogs and such. Nothing gets in or out without us knowing about it. Paranoid maybe, but better safe than sorry. Especially since our fat old Lab looks more like a pig than a dog.

If dog meat are in demand, why not just start up a dog farm, just like pig farm, chicken farm, turkey far, fish farm, ostrich farm, sheep farm, cow farm, croc farm and even tiger farm.

Why limit this to non-human flesh ? Eat the poor !

OK, where do we draw the line. And who set the standard?

Other than snail, I know that the French eat horse meat and Camel foot, and calf head.

http://weird-food.com/weird-food-mammal.html

This is my first Police Service Dog. You can certainly try to eat him, but odds are, dinner is on you!!!!!

Edited January 27, 201214 yr by rmacdon61

It has been said that the degree of civilization in a culture can be measured by how they treat their domesticated animals. Using this as a standard, one can surmise that both the suppliers and the recipients of dogs are the lowest form of pitiful life. It should also be noted that these cultures also perfected the torture of humans. As for those who glorify this practice online, I can only imagine how far you have fallen into your addictions to alcohol and other drugs. Your sense of humanity lies below that of pig s##t. If you are just trying to show off and convince others that you have no feelings for living creatures or a sense of morality, you have proven your point. There is a good reason that no bargirl will do you for less than 10,000THB.

Apart from that everything Ok Jaltsc.. and breathe one two threee

It has been said that the degree of civilization in a culture can be measured by how they treat their domesticated animals. Using this as a standard, one can surmise that both the suppliers and the recipients of dogs are the lowest form of pitiful life. It should also be noted that these cultures also perfected the torture of humans. As for those who glorify this practice online, I can only imagine how far you have fallen into your addictions to alcohol and other drugs. Your sense of humanity lies below that of pig s##t. If you are just trying to show off and convince others that you have no feelings for living creatures or a sense of morality, you have proven your point. There is a good reason that no bargirl will do you for less than 10,000THB.

Apart from that everything Ok Jaltsc.. and breathe one two threee

And apparently all done without any drugs involved.

What do you 1st think of when you can't find your dog?

The Vietnamese ate it.

Or the Issan....

If dog meat are in demand, why not just start up a dog farm, just like pig farm, chicken farm, turkey far, fish farm, ostrich farm, sheep farm, cow farm, croc farm and even tiger farm.

Why limit this to non-human flesh ? Eat the poor !

OK, where do we draw the line. And who set the standard?

Other than snail, I know that the French eat horse meat and Camel foot, and calf head.

http://weird-food.co...ood-mammal.html

I think it's camel toe !

I can see two issues being resolved from this!