Trade ban appeal · Vietnam · Cambodia · Indonesia · Malaysia

How to Help End the Dog and Cat Meat Trade

Vietnam alone kills about a million cats for meat each year — many stolen pets. Help fund partner-led rescue and advocacy across Southeast Asia.

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Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia are the funded geography
You do not get a named dog or cat
This is rescue and advocacy, not a confirmed unit cost for one surgery

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Trade ban appeal · Vietnam · Cambodia · Indonesia · Malaysia · one-off or monthly

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Supports the rescue-to-sanctuary journey for a trafficked animal.

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Your gift£50 · Dog and cat meat trade — Southeast Asia

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In brief

Give on this page to help end the dog and cat meat trade. Your gift funds partner-led rescue, safe-house capacity and legal advocacy across Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. An estimated ten million dogs and cats are killed for meat in the region each year — many of them stolen pets. You do not get a named dog or cat. Cancel a monthly gift any time.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated August 2026

~1M

Cats killed in Vietnam each year

~5M

Dogs killed in Vietnam each year

~10M

Dogs and cats across the region

Countries in WARN’s focus

Figures: open-source welfare investigations (2020); WHO rabies data. See sources below.

Who should skip this

This is not the right page if you want

Rehoming a dog or cat from the trade into a UK home this week — contact a local registered rescue for that.
A named kennel dog or cattery cat with photo updates. WARN does not offer that. Symbolic wording is adopt a dog and adopt a cat.
Karachi street-dog CNVR. That is Karachi street-dog appeal — a different programme, not this trade appeal.
Gift Aid or a UK charity receipt — that is registration status, not this page.
Posting food, cages or medicines from Britain unless a partner has asked in writing.
Funding a meat-trade business, a cull, or a named surgery invoice. This page helps fund rescue and advocacy, not a unit cost.

How to help end the dog and cat meat trade

Give on this page. This URL funds partner-led rescue, safe-house capacity and legal advocacy against the dog and cat meat trade in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia, not a named pet and not UK rehoming. Read the regional split, skip the parcels, then pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

1

Confirm you want trade-rescue fieldwork, not a UK pet

Stay here for partner grants across Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. If you wanted a UK dog or cat, stop and call a local registered rescue. Street dogs in Karachi are Karachi street-dog appeal. Monthly sponsorship wording is sponsor a dog and sponsor a cat.
2

Give on this page

Choose one-off or monthly, pick an amount, pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Stripe emails a receipt. Entry-tier gifts pool across the programme — they are not a named-animal invoice.
3

Or give monthly if partners need a calendar

Monthly is what lets partners keep safe-house beds and interception teams on a calendar. Symbolic adoption wording is adopt a dog and adopt a cat. Unrestricted monthly without this appeal is monthly giving.
4

Skip parcels unless a partner asked

Do not post food, blankets or equipment from Britain unless a partner asked in writing. Money buys supplies where the animals live. That is faster than a parcel. Trade briefings: newsroom briefing and newsroom briefing.

Why does the dog and cat meat trade need ending?

An estimated ten million dogs and cats are killed for meat each year across Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia — many of them stolen pets, not strays. Vietnam is the scale centre: roughly five million dogs and about one million cats a year — the largest documented cat-meat trade in the region. Cambodia is a major dog-meat market. The trade is not subsistence; it is an organised commercial industry that profits from theft, extreme animal suffering and weak enforcement.

Animals are transported in inhumane conditions — crammed into wire cages, often without food or water for 18 hours or more — and killed in ways that fall far below any accepted humane-slaughter standard. The trade also poses serious public health risks: unvaccinated animals mixed at live markets are a recognised route for rabies and other zoonoses.

WARN funds vetted local partners across Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia — rescue operations, safe-house capacity and legal advocacy, with Vietnam’s cat-meat trade a primary rescue pressure point. Read the regional trade briefing and the Vietnam cat meat trade explainer.

Cats crowded in stacked wire cages after a Vietnam meat-trade seizure — Cats held in stacked cages after a Vietnam meat-trade seizure — the conditions partners work to interrupt.

What does the trade look like?

Five realities define the dog and cat meat trade. They overlap — stolen pets feed transport networks, and transport networks amplify disease risk.

Theft from families

Demand outstrips the stray supply in many areas, so collectors sweep pet dogs and cats from yards and village streets. Owners often watch their animals taken — the trade is organised crime, not subsistence.

Field investigations document stolen pets as a major supply source

Transport cruelty

Animals are crammed into wire cages on trucks and motorbikes, often without food or water for journeys of 18 hours or more — sometimes across national borders.

Documented transport conditions in open-source welfare investigations (2020)

Inhumane slaughter

Documented methods include drowning, hanging, beating and blowtorching — far below any accepted humane-slaughter standard and causing extreme suffering.

Practices documented in multi-country welfare investigations

Rabies and zoonotic risk

Unvaccinated dogs and cats of unknown origin are mixed at high density in live markets and backyard slaughter points — a recognised route for rabies and novel zoonoses.

WHO: dog-mediated transmission dominates human rabies worldwide

Weak or inconsistent law

Laws vary by country, province and city. Some municipalities have banned or committed to phase out the trade, but national enforcement remains patchy — and traffickers exploit the gaps.

Hanoi, Hoi An and Siem Reap among cities moving to end the trade

Where does the trade operate?

Dog and cat meat trade by region
Region / country	Scale (est.)	Legal status (overview)	WARN scope
Vietnam	~5M dogs and ~1M cats/year — largest cat-meat trade	No national ban; some cities phasing out	WARN in-network — primary cat-meat and rescue focus
Cambodia	~3M dogs/year; Phnom Penh hotspot	Partial city commitments; weak national law	WARN in-network
Indonesia	Share of ~10M regional total	Growing advocacy pressure; enforcement inconsistent	WARN in-network
Malaysia	Smaller documented trade	Legal pressure increasing; enforcement gaps remain	WARN in-network
China and Korea	Separate national trades	Varies by province and city	Educational context only

Scale estimates: open-source welfare investigations (2020). WARN operational scope for this appeal: Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Country pages: Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Dogs versus cats in the trade

Dogs versus cats in the meat trade
Factor	Dogs	Cats
Estimated regional share (VN/KH/ID)	Majority of ~10M total	Roughly one million/year in Vietnam alone
Typical source	Stolen pets and strays	Stolen pets and community cats
Transport	Wire cages on trucks; long journeys	Often smaller cages; same route networks
Public health risk	Rabies amplification in live markets	Same zoonotic concerns at slaughter points
Rescue need	Quarantine, vaccination, behaviour support	Quarantine, FIV/FeLV testing, socialisation
Reform trend	Urban youth turning away; city bans spreading	Cat-meat trade less visible but growing concern

Quick facts about the trade

Quick reference facts about the dog and cat meat trade
Stolen pets	Many animals are owned companions taken from yards — not strays
Transport	Documented journeys of 18+ hours without food or water
Rabies link	WHO: dogs cause >99% of human rabies; trade routes undermine control
WARN focus	Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia — rescue, safe-houses and legal advocacy
Reform momentum	Cities including Hanoi, Hoi An and Siem Reap have moved to end the trade locally
Attitudes shifting	2020 Hanoi survey: 44% of respondents said they would refuse dog meat in future

What does WARN fund?

WARN funds partner-led work across Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia — interception, safe-houses and the legal advocacy that turns seizures into lasting reform.

Rescue and interception

Funding partner operations with local authorities — including Vietnam cat-meat seizures — to intercept transport and confiscate animals before slaughter.

Safe-house capacity

Secure holding for rescued dogs and cats — quarantine, vaccination and behaviour support before rehoming, with Vietnam’s high cat-trade volume a core capacity need.

Legal advocacy

Supporting lawyers and NGOs across Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia pushing for formal trade bans and stronger enforcement.

Community behaviour change

Education and demand-reduction work so reform comes from affected communities, not outside pressure alone.

From the WARN newsroom

What a gift provides

Choose an amount on this page. These are contribution claims — they help fund the work named below. They are not a named-animal invoice.

Contribution claims, not a named-animal invoice. There is no confirmed unit cost for one cat surgery or one dog CNVR on this page.
Gift	What it funds
£25	Helps fund rescue, wound care and food for dogs and cats seized from the trade.
£75	Helps fund safe-house capacity — quarantine, veterinary care and holding for confiscated animals.
£200	Helps fund partner interception and legal advocacy so seizures can become lasting reform.

How does my donation reach dogs and cats in the trade?

You give on this page. WARN holds the gift for this appeal and grants it to a vetted partner in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia or Malaysia. They run interception, safe-houses and legal advocacy where the trade is active.

Buying locally is faster, and it is kinder. WARN's target is for at least 80% of unrestricted donations to fund programme delivery — grants to partner shelters, sanctuary capacity, veterinary care and rescue across the network. That 80% figure is a target, not an audited result. The spend path is at where your money goes.

Card gifts are processed straight away. Monthly income is what lets a partner plan the next clinic, patrol or intake before the last one ends. A one-off gift still matters — use the toggle on the form.

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Dog and cat meat trade: frequently asked questions

Is the dog and cat meat trade legal?

Laws vary by country, province and city. Vietnam — home to the largest documented cat-meat trade — has no national ban, though some cities are phasing the trade out. Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia have seen growing legal and advocacy pressure, but enforcement remains inconsistent. The trade is organised and commercial, not traditional subsistence.

How many dogs and cats are killed for meat each year?

Open-source welfare investigations published in 2020 estimate roughly ten million dogs and cats are slaughtered for meat each year across Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia alone — with Vietnam accounting for about five million dogs and one million cats, and Cambodia about three million dogs. Global figures including China and Korea are higher still; those countries remain educational context outside WARN’s partner programmes for this appeal.

Why focus on Vietnam for cats?

Vietnam accounts for roughly one million cats killed for meat each year — the largest documented cat-meat trade in the region — alongside about five million dogs. Stolen pets, cage transport and seizure rescues (including large police operations) are repeatedly documented there. Country context: Vietnam.

Are the animals in the trade stolen pets?

Many are. Field investigations show demand often outstrips the stray population, so collectors take pet dogs and cats from yards and village streets. In Vietnam, investigators have documented rising confrontations between pet owners and collectors. Stolen pets are a major — and often overlooked — part of the supply chain.

How does WARN help end the dog and cat meat trade?

WARN funds partner-led rescue operations, safe-house capacity for confiscated animals, and legal advocacy for formal trade bans across Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Give on this page. WARN channels donations to vetted in-country partners rather than running its own centres.

Why is the trade a public health concern?

Unvaccinated dogs and cats of unknown origin are mixed at high density in live markets and backyard slaughter points. WHO identifies dog-mediated transmission as the dominant pathway for human rabies worldwide, and epidemiologists recognise unregulated live-animal mixing as a route for rabies and novel zoonoses. Ending the trade supports both welfare and public health.

Where does WARN's dog and cat meat work happen?

WARN’s in-network countries for this appeal are Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Vietnam is the scale centre for the cat-meat trade; Cambodia is a major dog-meat market; Indonesia and Malaysia need rescue capacity and stronger enforcement. China and Korea appear only as wider educational context. Country pages: Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia.

What happens to rescued dogs and cats?

Confiscated animals need quarantine, rabies risk assessment, wound care, vaccination, neutering and behaviour support before adoption or sanctuary placement. Many arrive traumatised but recoverable. WARN funds partner facilities that provide this care across its Southeast Asia network, including Vietnam cat-trade seizures.

Is the trade ending anywhere?

Yes, in places. Cities including Hanoi, Hoi An and Siem Reap have publicly moved to end the trade within their boundaries, and younger urban residents are turning away from the practice. A 2020 Hanoi survey found 44% of respondents said they would refuse dog meat in future. Reform requires alternative-livelihood support for workers, not punitive measures on individuals alone.

How do I donate to help dogs and cats in the meat trade?

Give on this page. Choose one-off or monthly, pick an amount, pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The gift funds partner-led rescue, safe-house capacity and legal advocacy in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. It is not a named-animal invoice and it is not a confirmed unit cost for one cat surgery.

How can I help dogs and cats in the meat trade from the UK?

Stay on this URL. Pay in GBP, USD or EUR by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Stripe emails a receipt. If you wanted a UK dog or cat, contact a local registered rescue instead. Gift Aid is explained at registration status.

Can I give monthly to help dogs and cats in the meat trade?

Yes — use the monthly toggle on the form above, or sponsorship wording at sponsor a dog and sponsor a cat. Symbolic adoption wording is adopt a dog and adopt a cat. Unrestricted monthly without this appeal is monthly giving.

How does my donation reach dogs and cats in the meat trade?

You give on this page. WARN grants to a vetted partner. They buy supplies locally and run the work. WARN's target is for at least 80% of unrestricted donations to fund programme delivery — grants to partner shelters, sanctuary capacity, veterinary care and rescue across the network. That 80% figure is a target, not an audited result. See where your money goes. Funded geography: Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Is this Gift Aid eligible or US tax-deductible?

No. Gift Aid is only available to UK registered charities. World Animal Rescue Network is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, not a registered charity. International donors should check their own local rules. Full detail is at registration status. You still receive a payment receipt.

Should I post parcels or supplies from the UK?

Please donate money instead, unless a named partner has asked for a specific item in writing. Parcels from Britain usually arrive late and cost more than buying locally. A card gift on this page is the fastest way to help.

Sources and references

Ready to help end the dog and cat meat trade?

Give on this page. Every gift funds partner-led rescue and advocacy — not a named pet, and not a parcel from Britain.

Donate to end the trade