Rescue & Welfare
What is the dog and cat meat trade?
The dog and cat meat trade slaughters millions annually — often using stolen pets and methods that breach welfare standards enforced elsewhere.
In brief
The dog and cat meat trade slaughters millions of dogs and cats annually — mainly in parts of Southeast and East Asia — often using stolen pets and methods that would breach animal welfare laws in many countries.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
Dog and cat meat consumption occurs mainly in parts of Southeast and East Asia, though not universally across those regions. Animals are transported long distances without food or water before slaughter; disease risk and cruelty are systemic. Several cities and provinces have introduced bans or commitments to end the trade; enforcement and alternative livelihoods remain uneven. Rescue partners need quarantine space and veterinary care for animals seized in raids — a gap WARN appeals aim to fund.
10M+
Dogs killed for meat annually in Asia (est.)
Millions
Cats also affected in parts of Vietnam and China
Stolen
Companion pets trafficked alongside strays
Zoonotic
Rabies and cholera risks from trade — WHO concerns
Quick facts
| Geography | Parts of China, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia — not all regions or cultures |
|---|---|
| Sources | Stray dogs, farmed dogs and stolen companion animals |
| Transport | Long journeys without food, water or ventilation |
| Welfare | Methods often breach standards enforced in many countries |
| Policy trend | Shenzhen, Zhuhai and other cities banned dog meat; Vietnam debate ongoing |
| Rescue need | Seized animals require quarantine and veterinary care |
Key takeaways
- Millions of dogs and cats killed annually — mainly parts of East and Southeast Asia.
- Stolen companion animals feed the trade alongside strays and farmed dogs.
- Transport and slaughter conditions breach welfare standards common elsewhere.
- Some Chinese cities banned dog meat; Vietnam and South Korea see policy shifts.
- WHO cites rabies and disease risk from unregulated trade.
- Seized animals need quarantine and veterinary care — underfunded after raids.
How the trade operates
Dogs and cats are sourced from streets, rural farms and theft of companion animals — collars are sometimes removed before sale. Traders transport animals crammed in cages on trucks for hours or days without adequate food, water or ventilation. Markets and slaughterhouses process animals in conditions that would breach animal welfare laws in many countries. The trade is distinct from mainstream food systems — it operates in regulatory grey zones even where not explicitly banned. Disease transmission — rabies, cholera, other pathogens — concerns WHO and national health authorities because handling and consumption create zoonotic pathways.
Policy shifts and remaining gaps
Shenzhen and Zhuhai in China banned dog and cat meat consumption in 2020; the Ministry of Agriculture reclassified dogs as companions rather than livestock in the same year — signalling policy direction without a national ban. South Korea’s court ruled killing dogs for meat illegal under existing animal cruelty law; legislation to phase out the trade progressed. Vietnam sees growing domestic opposition and local bans in some areas, but national enforcement remains inconsistent. Bans without alternative livelihoods for traders and without rescue capacity for seized animals create implementation gaps WARN partners address through quarantine facilities.
Stolen pets and enforcement raids
Pet theft feeds the trade — families lose companion animals to kidnapping rings supplying meat markets. Microchipping and reporting theft help individual cases; enforcement raids on trucks and slaughterhouses seize surviving animals needing immediate veterinary care. Quarantine isolates disease risks before rehoming. Rescue centres in Vietnam and elsewhere overflow after successful raids — funding gaps delay treatment. WARN’s Southeast Asia briefings document cat and dog meat trade rescues and link donors to veterinary care and shelter space for confiscated animals awaiting adoption or sanctuary.
How donors can help
Funding quarantine veterinary care, shelter construction and post-raid rehabilitation delivers direct welfare outcomes for seized animals. Supporting organisations that work with local policymakers on humane alternatives addresses trade sustainability. WARN does not conflate cultural generalisations with welfare facts — the trade causes documented cruelty regardless of geography. Donors should verify partners publish seizure response budgets and rehoming policies. Appeals targeting Vietnam cat rescue and broader Southeast Asia dog welfare fund practical field needs rather than awareness-only campaigns.
What WARN does
WARN appeals and newsroom briefings fund partner quarantine and veterinary care for dogs and cats seized from meat-trade raids in Southeast Asia — shelter space, treatment and rehoming where possible.