An Indonesian dog meat trader has been convicted and sentenced to 10 months in prison, accompanied by a fine of $10,000 (equivalent to 150 million IDR). This landmark ruling represents the country's first-ever prosecution and conviction for dog meat trading under Indonesia's animal health legislation.
As previously reported, the trader was apprehended in May by the Kulon Progo District Police while transporting 78 dogs crammed into the back of a truck. Tragically, only 62 dogs managed to survive this harrowing ordeal. These innocent animals were being trafficked from Garut in West Java, passing through Kulon Progo, en route to a slaughterhouse in Central Java to cater to the demand for dog meat consumption.
This conviction signifies a significant step forward in combating the cruel and inhumane practice of dog meat trading in Indonesia. It sends a clear message that such activities will not be tolerated, and the legal system will act decisively to protect the welfare of animals. Let us hope that this landmark case serves as a catalyst for broader reforms to safeguard the rights and well-being of animals across the nation.
The recent interception is the result of years of campaigning by the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) coalition, composed of organizations like the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Change For Animals Foundation, Animal Friends Jogja, and Humane Society International.
This prosecution is a significant milestone and sends a strong message to dog meat traders across Indonesia that their illegal business will not be tolerated. DMFI continues to push for a comprehensive nationwide ban on this cruel trade, aiming to protect animal welfare and eliminate it completely. Their tireless efforts have brought attention to the issue and created a momentum for change. Through their advocacy, they strive for a future where the dog meat trade is abolished, sparing countless dogs from unimaginable suffering.
The dogs in this case were all stolen from the streets where pet dogs freely roam. Many were still wearing collars while bound on the truck to be transported on a grueling journey lasting more than 10 hours. The trader was found guilty of violating Article 89 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 46 paragraph 5 of Law N0. 41 of 2014. This is concerning Animal Husbandry and Health because the truck illegally crossed provincial borders, with no record of the animals’ disease or vaccination status.
Since 2016, the Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition has tirelessly investigated the harrowing reality of the dog meat trade, shedding light on its brutal nature.
Each month, tens of thousands of innocent dogs are snatched from the streets, unlawfully transported across various regions in Indonesia. Tragically, many perish during this horrific journey, succumbing to heatstroke, dehydration, or injuries sustained during their capture and transportation.
Those who manage to survive face a gruesome fate. They are brought to slaughterhouses where they are subjected to beatings and hung upside down, bleeding out while still conscious. In some parts of the country, they are mercilessly beaten to death in public markets, in plain sight of other terrified dogs anxiously awaiting their own fate.
This description reveals the dark and heart-wrenching reality of the dog meat trade, evoking a profound sense of outrage and empathy.
“This verdict sends a strong message to dog meat traders that this ʙʀuтᴀʟ trade is illegal and won’t be tolerated in Indonesia,” said Bali-based Lola Webber, who is the End Dog Meat campaign director for DMFI member group Humane Society International. “Ultimately we want to see an enforced nationwide ban on Indonesia’s dog meat trade, but in the meantime, this prosecution will also hopefully encourage the authorities in other provinces to use existing laws at their disposal to crack down on dog meat traders who continue to operate in their jurisdictions. There is no excuse for tolerating this illegal cʀuᴇʟтʏ or the dangers the trade poses to public health and safety.”
“As well as being unspeakably ʙʀuтᴀʟ, it’s easy to see how this trade is the perfect breeding ground for the next serious public health disaster. Dogs are routinely sʟᴀuԍнтᴇʀed in public alongside all manner of wild and domestic species in markets in North Sulawesi. New pathogens could easily jump to humans if a dog trader was wounded during the day’s sʟᴀuԍнтᴇʀ, a local consumer ate cross-contaminated dog meat bought at a nearby stall, or a tourist breathed in microscopic blood droplets as they sight-see in the markets,” concluded Webber.
“In the face of such an obvious public health and animal welfare risk, we hope this will be the first of many prosecutions. We cannot allow the dog meat trade to thrive across Asia if we hope to protect the public from future pandemics.”
