In addition to being a horrific act of cruelty, the dog meat trade poses a severe threat to public health. It significantly increases the risk of rabies and creates a favorable environment for the emergence of new diseases.
Nonetheless, this cruelty and the associated risks benefit only a small group of people. According to a FOUR PAWS survey in 2019, only 12% of Cambodians regularly eat dog meat. Furthermore, findings from a survey conducted across Cambodia in early 2021 underscore the urgent need to stop this trade. The survey revealed the following key points:
- 86% of Cambodians would oppose the dog meat trade.
- 90% of Cambodians would support a ban on dog meat trade.
- 94% of respondents believed that dog meat consumption is not part of Cambodian culture, and most Cambodians do not want the dog meat trade to be part of Cambodia.
We urge participants to call on His Excellency Dith Tina, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to prioritize ending the dog meat trade in the MAFF Annual Action Plan as a top priority.