Where can I get more information about this seizure or about the dog meat trade in general?
Please refer to our web stories for more information:
Dog Meat: A Tough Trade to Swallow
New Law Offers Greater Protection for Dogs in the Philippines
Dog Meat in the Philippines: One Step Closer to Extinction
Isn't this a cultural practice? Isn't it ''normal'' in Asia to eat dogs?
While it is difficult to ask other countries to change their culture (and this is often what is claimed by countries when outsiders protest the consumption of dog meat), HSI is chiefly opposed to the commercialization of the practice and the inhumane and brutal methods of slaughtering.
What may have once been only a cultural practice of eating dog meat has grown into a commercial industry in the Philippines.
Commercial dog meat consumption in the Philippines has been banned since 1998. Weak penalties and a lack of enforcement permitted this illegal industry to flourish—currently up to 500,000 dogs a year fall victim to this trade.
The majority of Filipinos find the illegal dog meat trade disturbing—hence new legislation that passed this year known as the Anti-Rabies Law of 2007 that drastically strengthens the penalties for this crime.
So why target the Philippines?
The government of the Philippines instituted the new Anti-Rabies Law in 2007 in response to demands from Filipino citizens and animal welfare groups. This law includes increased penalties for those involved in the dog meat trade.
Aside from adding harsh penalties, the law also takes aim at stopping the spread of rabies and other zoonotic diseases, educates the public on dog bite prevention and safety, opens the door for more involvement by qualified animal welfare workers, and provides communities with the opportunity to learn more about becoming responsible pet owners.
Additionally, the legislation brings the welfare of animals into the national spotlight, accentuating the responsibility we have as humans to ensure animals' wellbeing.
What is HSI doing to help stop this trade?
HSI and our supporters are encouraging the Philippines government to allocate the necessary enforcement, education and infrastructure to finally put an end to this trade.
We are asking our supporters and those concerned to write the President of the Philippines and urge her to make these necessities a priority.
HSI is prepared to assist in:
- training law enforcement
- running awareness campaigns related to the new law and the dog meat trade
- aiding in the development of appropriate sheltering and care for the dogs seized in the trade.
What steps are taken to educate the Filipinos about humane slaughter of food animals? Why are you concentrating on a small industry when there are millions of farm animals are slaughtered in the U.S. and world every year?
There are a few laws and governing bodies that oversee slaughter in the Philippines and regulate the way food animals are raised and killed. However, because the dog meat trade in the Philippines is illegal, there are no government regulations concerning the slaughter of these animals. They are slaughtered in very brutal ways, and many suffer from disease, sickness, exhaustion prior to their death.
HSI also works in countries around the world to help farm animals. Several of our current programs include working with governments in Southeast Asia to implement
humane slaughter practices, and campaigning for cage free eggs in
India and
Mexico. In addition, we have started discussions with the Philippines National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) regarding improved humane slaughter techniques for farm animals.
For information about what you can do in the U.S. for farm animals, please visit the HSUS’ Factory Farming Campaign.
Where is the demand for dog meat coming from? Is it hidden in other meats?
The majority of Filipinos do not consume dog meat. However, a city in the north called Baguio still has a thriving demand for the product. Most of the dog meat trade is on the black market, with dogs being shipped north from regions south of Manila.
The transporters and the slaughterhouses for the dogs are hard to locate, but the meat is openly sold in markets and in a number of restaurants in Baguio.
Sellers are aware that it is illegal, so they are secretive in their dealings. When our investigators inquired about the type of meat that was being sold by a dog meat vendor at the market, he responded, "goat meat."
What happened to the dogs shown in the video footage?
The healthiest and most adoptable dogs found permanent refuge at two shelters in the Philippines. Brown-Brown and the nearly deceased dog highlighted in the footage are recovering nicely in those shelters. Unfortunately, many of the dogs had to be humanely euthanized due to disease, sickness and suffering from their strenuous and terrifying ordeal.
Local organizations, such as Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and the Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC), promote adoption and responsible pet care in many of their campaigns. As a result, there is a growing pet culture and greater awareness of animal welfare in the Philippines.
HSI believes that this increased awareness and more adoption programs in the Philippines are the primary means to improving the lives of the country's dogs in the long-term. Therefore, we will continue to work with and support local organizations.
Have there been alternative economic proposals brought to the families, towns, and societies that depend on the dog meat trade?
The workers themselves know that this is against the law, so it shouldn't be a profession in the first place. However, it is the responsibility of the Philippines government to ensure that that trade workers are able to recover from any loss of profit and are able to find a different line of sustainable work that does not break the law.
What about other countries in Asia?
The Philippines is not the only country where the dog meat industry is found, but it has the most potential for making significant changes at this time. Vietnam, Korea and China are also at the center of the debate over the consumption of dogs and cats.
China is of particular interest because of the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing. It is the hope of animal welfarists around the world that the attention from this event and China's desire to more strongly enter the global market will place pressure on the Chinese government to implement animal protection laws. Currently, none exist.
It's a different story in Korea, where the consumption of dogs and cats violates specific animal protection laws, but the enforcement of this law is poor. Many Koreans claim that the brutal slaughter of dogs and cats is a cultural right. Many also claim that consuming these animals can cure some ailments, even though this has never been medically proven and the majority of Koreans abhor these cruel practices. CARE-Korea, Voice for Animals, Korean Federation for Environment Movement, and Animal Freedom Korea address these issues.
We are working to raise the status of cats and dogs in China, South Korea and elsewhere in Asia. Our colleagues at Animals Asia Foundation have great educational outreach projects, such as their Dr. Dog program.
Better animal welfare in Asia is on its way, but it will be a gradual improvement. The best way we see to improve the lives of animals in Asia and reduce the suffering of animals there is to support the work of local groups and networks confronting this issue on the ground. We have already noticed a change in the youth of Asia, and now—with new animal welfare organizations popping up throughout these countries—we see much promise ahead for animals. It will be a persistent challenge, but we will continue to pursue projects to end the suffering of all animals all over Asia.
Besides writing the President of the Philippines, what more can I do to put a stop to this trade?
You can do more by spreading the word to friends and family. Forward our action alerts, volunteer to help animal welfare organizations in these countries, and stay updated with HSI on our website.
