Hanoi authorities have just called on people to give up eating dog meat to improve the city's image among foreign visitors and prevent the spreading of diseases. A man transports dog meat on a motorbike in Hanoi In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Hanoi People's Committee urged local districts authorities to widely send warnings to residents about the risks of spreading diseases including rabies, cholera and spirillosis caused by eating dog and cat meat. The committee also said that the trading and slaughtering of dogs and cats have badly affected the image of Hanoi. Therefore the city officials hope that local residents should gradually give up the habit of eating dogs and cats. The call has attracted lots of attention from the public many of whom support the city government. "That's a good thing that integration brings to us," a reader commented on an article about the news on Dantri Newspaper. "We see how animals, especially pet dogs and cats are treated by our … [Read more...] about Hanoi calls on residents to give up dog meat
Dog meat
Hanoi urges residents to stop eating dog meat
This photo taken on Jul 26, 2012 shows a vendor selling dog meat on a street in Hanoi. (Photo: AFP/HOANG DINH NAM) Roasted, boiled or steamed, dog meat can be found in markets and food shops across the capital city famed for its tasty street food, and the meat is traditionally eaten with rice wine or beer. But Hanoi People's Committee on Tuesday warned residents to lay off canine meat to prevent the spread of rabies and other animal-borne diseases. It also urged them to stop eating cat meat, often dubbed "little tiger" on Vietnamese menus, which is less popular than dog but still readily available in rural areas. The practice of killing the animals is often cruel and the city government hopes it can be gradually phased out, it said in a statement. It said it was a matter of preserving Hanoi's reputation as a "civilised and modern capital" among foreigners, many of whom consider eating the meat of animals commonly kept as pets taboo. "The trading, killing and use of dog and cat meat … [Read more...] about Hanoi urges residents to stop eating dog meat
China dog meat fest opens as S. Korea goes the other way
As South Korea moves closer to banning dog meat, diners tuck into bowls of stewed canine in southern China, where activists are rethinking their tactics to counter a notorious festival that butchers thousands of dogs. The annual Yulin dog meat celebration opened without a hitch on Thursday, a day after a South Korean court announced it had ruled that the slaughtering of dogs for meat was illegal. Activists say the ruling could pave the way for the outlawing of dog meat consumption in South Korea, but there is less progress in China where advocates fear their tactics have been counterproductive. Eating dog to mark the summer solstice is a tradition in China's Guangxi region, where the festival has been held since 2009 to mark the occasion in the town of Yulin. Despite rumours last year that Yulin authorities would ban dog meat sales altogether, many restaurants advertised the controversial offering this week with the veiled moniker of "fragrant meat". Carcasses were on display for … [Read more...] about China dog meat fest opens as S. Korea goes the other way
Telling Vietnamese to stop eating dog meat is barking up wrong tree
Editor’s note: Nhiep Phuong is a freelance Vietnamese photographer in Ho Chi Minh City. He has a keen interest in street photography. The most common reaction a Westerner has to a finely decorated plate of dog meat in Vietnam is that of outrage. This is absolutely outrageous now that larger (and equally cute) animals get slaughtered for meat without complaint from foreigners. Figures released by the Humane Society International in 2017 estimated that some 30 million dogs are consumed globally on an annual basis. The Asia Canine Protection Alliance estimated in 2016 that roughly 20 million dogs are consumed each year in China, two to three million in South Korea, and five million in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the generally cute-and-loyal animal being killed and served on a plate has raised eyebrows amongst dissenters in the Southeast Asian country. Their arguments, though, are weak. Argument #1: Dogs are friends, not food Cultural perceptions of particular animals vary wildly … [Read more...] about Telling Vietnamese to stop eating dog meat is barking up wrong tree
Vietnamese TV channel faces backlash over dog meat episode
A television channel targeting children in Vietnam has been hit by a storm of criticism from animal lovers after airing an episode introducing dog meat as a traditional Vietnamese dish. The controversial episode broadcast on Tuesday night during the “Viet Nam dat nuoc toi yeu” (Vietnam, my loving country) program on HTV3, a children and family channel run by Ho Chi Minh City Television. The program explores Vietnamese culture and lifestyle through the perspective of foreigners living in the country. Tuesday’s episode followed South Korean host Kim Kwang-sik as he joined two Vietnamese friends for dog meat in neighborhoods famous for the dish in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City. “Vietnamese people often eat dog meat on rainy days. This enticing and affordable cuisine has long become a familiar sight on local dining tables,” the episode’s narrator said. The hosts enjoyed a meal of grilled dog meat and Vietnamese rice wine while explaining the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese TV channel faces backlash over dog meat episode