# What is the dog and cat meat trade?

> 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. Dog and cat meat consumption occurs mainly in parts of Southeast and East Asia, though not universally across those regions.

**Category:** Rescue & Welfare  ·  **Updated:** 2026-07-05

## 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.

## Answer
Animals are frequently 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 — the gap WARN’s appeals aim to fund.

## 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.

## FAQ
### Where is dog meat eaten?
Parts of China, Vietnam, South Korea and Indonesia — not uniformly across those countries. Consumption is declining in many urban areas; bans exist in some Chinese cities.

### Are stolen pets sold for meat?
Yes — documented cases of companion dogs and cats trafficked into the meat trade after theft. Collars are often removed before sale.

### Is dog meat illegal in China?
No national ban, but Shenzhen and Zhuhai prohibited consumption in 2020. Dogs were reclassified as companions rather than livestock nationally — policy direction without full prohibition.

### Is the dog meat trade dangerous for health?
WHO and national health agencies cite rabies and cholera risks from handling and consuming dog meat, especially from unregulated supply chains.

### What happens to dogs rescued from the trade?
Veterinary quarantine, treatment and rehoming or sanctuary placement. Rescue centres need funding for space and care after enforcement raids.

### How can I help?
Fund verified rescue partners with quarantine capacity — WARN briefings and appeals support post-raid veterinary care in Southeast Asia.

## Sources
- [Humane Society International](https://www.hsi.org)

Human-readable page: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/answers/what-is-dog-cat-meat-trade