Cambodia: Largest Dog Slaughterhouse Closed

A second chance for ten dogs from Cambodia: the global animal welfare organisation VIER PFOTEN closed a dog slaughterhouse in Takeo Province on 27 October and took all the animals held there into its care. Among the animals rescued from a small cage were two dogs that the slaughterhouse owner had kept as lucky charms since they were puppies.

For over two years, they were forced to watch every day as their fellow animals were brutally killed, butchered, cooked and sold as bar snacks. The fate of these animals is not an isolated case — in Cambodia, an estimated three million dogs are slaughtered for their meat each year, often including stolen pets. VIER PFOTEN is fighting for an end to the barbaric dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia.

With over 2’000 dogs killed per year, the slaughterhouse was considered the largest dog meat supplier in the region.The operation also sold dried penises from black dogs, which are carried by men as lucky charms. Among the slaughtered animals were strays, but also pets, which were either stolen or traded in exchange for pots and pans. The slaughterer locked the dogs together in a tiny, rusty cage before cutting their throats. After VIER PFOTEN closed the slaughterhouse, the rescue team brought the dogs to the local VIER PFOTEN partner «Animal Rescue Cambodia». There they will receive medical care until they have found a new, safe home.

«We are relieved that we were able to close a slaughterhouse operation that caused such an unimaginable amount of animal suffering . The rescued dogs were in a terrible condition. The two dogs that had been sitting in the tiny cage for over two years could barely walk due to severe muscle atrophy in their legs.»

Dr. Katherine Polak, veterinarian and director

From dog slaughterer to rice farmer

During its research, the FOUR PAWS team encountered the owner of the slaughterhouse. He insisted that he wanted to exit the brutal dog meat trade and asked FOUR PAWS for help. Together, alternative solutions were developed. The man was provided with a plot of land on which he will grow rice and vegetables in the future. During the rescue operation, the FOUR PAWS team removed the cage and all slaughter tools.

Three million dogs killed annually in Cambodia

In Cambodia, there are no explicit laws prohibiting the trade in dog meat. Research shows that approximately three million dogs are killed for their meat in Cambodia each year. The majority of dogs are drowned, hanged, or stabbed. The dog meat trade is a profit-driven business. A live dog fetches between CHF 2 and CHF 3 per kilogram, while one kilogram of raw dog meat is sold for up to CHF 3.95. A dog meat dish costs less than one franc. In the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh alone, FOUR PAWS has documented over 110 restaurants offering dog meat. Men make up the majority of consumers. After a day's work, they consume the meat as a bar snack together with alcohol. Women, on the other hand, do not eat dog meat in public, but do so at home, often based on the mistaken belief that the meat has healing properties. Although the trade is flourishing, the consumption of dog meat remains a controversial practice among locals.

A danger to animals and humans

The rabies figures in Cambodia clearly show that dog meat is anything but healthy. Around 800 Cambodians die annually from the effects of rabies.The dog meat trade makes a significant contribution to this grim statistic, as it involves the transportation of infected dogs across the entire country and into cities. As a result, traders, slaughterers, and consumers are at risk of contracting rabies.

“The dog meat trade not only promotes extreme animal cruelty and illegal activities, such as the theft of pets. It is also a serious health threat to locals and tourists. If Cambodia truly wants to eradicate rabies, it can no longer afford to ignore the dog meat trade.”

Dr. Katherine Polak, veterinarian and director

FOUR PAWS' Fight Against the Dog Meat Trade

To sustainably end the trade in dog and cat meat in Cambodia and the rest of Southeast Asia, FOUR PAWS is launching a campaign at the international and national level. Through awareness work and cooperation with the responsible authorities and tourism associations, the demand for dog and cat meat is to be reduced and stricter animal protection laws introduced. In addition, FOUR PAWS supports local animal welfare organizations and communities with humane and sustainable programs for managing dog and cat populations.