51 DOGS RESCUED FROM THE DOG MEAT TRADE IN VIETNAM

Dr. Katherine Polak, Head of Stray Animal Care Southeast Asia for FOUR PAWS

The dog meat trade is big business in Vietnam and threatens the lives of millions of dogs every year, many of them pets. Every day, pets are violently snatched off the streets, from yards, and even while out on a walk with their owners. These unlucky dogs make a brutal journey to slaughterhouses, markets, and restaurants, where a gruesome death awaits them. But times are changing, and the brutality and illegality of pet theft is no longer being tolerated by Vietnamese authorities.

In a landmark case, police in Thanh Hoa Province received a tip off regarding a gang of dog thieves believed to have stolen thousands of dogs since the beginning of the year. On September 15, 2019 the police successfully carried out the largest ever bust of a dog theft ring in Vietnam, resulting in the seizure of 51 dogs. According to the police, the gang carried stun guns and other sharp weapons, and rode motorbikes through residential areas late at night shooting dogs roaming outside. Police arrested a total of 16 suspected gang members and questioned more than 40 susp​ects. The gang not only brutalized neighborhood dogs, but also caused outrage among local people, particularly pet owners.

Following the interception, Police struggled to properly care for the confiscated dogs given their limited capacity for animal care, so the Asia Canine Protection Alliance (ACPA), of which FOUR PAWS is a member, stepped in to offer assistanceThere were 13 dogs in need of immediate medical care due to severe wounds sustained during capture. Dogs with painful open wounds were anaesthetised, treated, provided pain medication and antibiotics, and housed in a temporary shelter for ongoing treatment.

The Asia Canine Protection Alliance is an international alliance of four animal protection organizations committed to ending the illegal trade of dogs in Vietnam: FOUR PAWS, Animals Asia, Humane Society International, and Change for Animals Foundation. ACPA is working to build collaborative relationships with the governments throughout Southeast Asia where the dog meat trade is prevalent, and has already secured a moratorium on the trade in dogs between Thailand and Vietnam. 

Following the confiscation, the police publicised the bust throughout the province using local media so that stolen dogs could be reunited with their families. 

Over the course of 2 weeks, all 51 dogs were successful reunited with their owners, who were devastated by their pets’ disappearance.

This bust pets a major precedent as dog theft is rarely treated as a criminal offense in Vietnam unless the canines are valued at more than VND2 million ($86).

“These arrests will hopefully go a long way in deterring future dog theft in Thanh Hoa Province, and potentially throughout all of Vietnam. While the dog meat trade is often defended as ‘culture’ or ‘tradition’, the reality is that there are significant health and societal impacts associated with the trade and these are becoming of ever-growing concern within Vietnam and internationally.”

Earlier in the week, the Food Safety Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City urged locals to stop eating dog meat in an effort to improve Vietnam’s national image with tourists. They also warned the local community of the health risks posed by consuming the unregulated meat. This followed a similar call by the Hanoi People’s Committee last year.

In addition to membership in ACPA, FOUR PAWS also runs a ‘Cats Matter Too program‘ in Central Vietnam with local charities PAWS for Compassion and Vietnam Cat Welfare to improve veterinary training, animal welfare education, and provide free spay/neuter services.

Heartbreaking! The dog was attacked by thousands of parasites, unable to eat or drink for many days.

Blossom, the dog, was discovered by an OrphanPet volunteer in Greece. She had been a stray for weeks, if not months, and had been wandering the streets. The poor puppy was in appalling condition.

Her tail had a chain wire lodged in it that had been there for a long time. Her tail grew enormously bloated as a result of the chain being so firmly wrapped around it.

She was also coated in thousands of ticks, which made matters worse. They performed a blood test and discovered that her blood was extremely thin as a result of the tick bites. She wouldn’t have lasted much longer if they hadn’t saved her. Blossom’s time was running short, and they realized they needed to act quickly to assist her.

They gave her a blood transfusion and ended up having to amputate her tail after bringing her in. They worked diligently and methodically to remove as many ticks as they could one by one, but it took them nearly a week to remove every single dead tick.

Her transformation is absolutely mind-blowing. She is now very healthy and has made new doggy friends along the way. And best of all? She was adopted!

She’s now settled into her forever home and relishing her second shot at life. She would not have lived if this volunteer hadn’t found her and brought her in. Thank heavens for OrphanPet’s kind rescuers!

In the video below, you can see her rescue. It’s simply incredible!

https://youtu.be/EBAJ3YZ35Rc

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