Nine people were arrested by the authorities in , after the identification and rescue of more than 400 destined for slaughter.
The operation is seen as one of the biggest blows in recent years against the country’s illegal cat meat trade, but animal welfare groups warn that thousands still fall victim to theft and smuggling every month.
Phuong Pham / Humane World for Animals Viet Nam
The police investigation was launched after a barrage of complaints about pet thefts in Ho Chi Minh City. According to authorities, the nine arrested confessed to trapping and collecting cats from all over southern Vietnam for the past three years.
During the raid, officers were confronted with a grisly sight, finding 45 cages containing around 400 live cats, as well as four styrofoam coolers containing around 80 dead animals.
At the same time, another 21 live cats were found in a different location. In total, more than 500 cats were seized in one of the country’s largest animal rescue operations in recent years.
Relief but also sadness for the owners
So far, more than 40 of the rescued cats have already been returned to their owners.
“It’s really heartwarming to see how many families from Vietnam come looking for their pets,” said Chris Gindelhumer of Vietnam Cat Welfare.
“But it’s also heartbreaking, because a lot of people looked for their cats but never found them.”
Legal status and risks to public health
Although the consumption of dog and cat meat is legal in Vietnam, traders are required by law to hold valid licenses proving the origin of the animals.
Currently, several cities in the country are working with animal welfare organizations to end the practice, while government officials are considering stricter measures to protect pets.
According to data from the organization Humane World For Animals, it is estimated that every year in Vietnam about 5 million dogs and 1 million cats are victims of illegal trafficking and brutal slaughter for their meat. A poll by the same organization showed that almost 40% of the population consumes dog meat and 21% cat meat.
However, the organization points out that citizens’ reactions against this trade are constantly increasing, as this activity poses serious risks to public health, mainly the spread of rabies.
