In a heartwarming development, over 40 dogs, including a litter of 10-day-old puppies, were freed from a slaughterhouse in Vietnam after the owner decided to quit the dog meat trade.
The rescue was carried out by Humane Society International (HSI), an animal welfare organization. HSI had been working with the slaughterhouse owner, Mr. Hiep, for several months to help him transition out of the dog meat trade.
As part of the program, HSI provided Mr. Hiep with financial assistance and helped him to identify a new business venture. Mr. Hiep agreed to surrender all of the dogs at his slaughterhouse to HSI.
On the day of the rescue, HSI staff arrived at the slaughterhouse and found the dogs in various states of health. Some of the dogs were injured or malnourished, while others were healthy and scared.
HSI staff carefully loaded the dogs into transport cages and took them to a temporary shelter. The dogs were given food, water, and medical attention.
The 10-day-old puppies were especially vulnerable. They were bottle-fed and kept warm in a special incubator.
HSI is now working to find loving homes for all of the rescued dogs. Some of the dogs will be adopted locally in Vietnam, while others will be transported to other countries for adoption.
The rescue of the 40 dogs is a hopeful sign that the dog meat trade in Vietnam is slowly declining. HSI’s Models for Change program is helping to transition dog meat farmers and slaughterhouse owners out of the trade and into new businesses.
HSI is grateful to Mr. Hiep for his decision to quit the dog meat trade and to surrender the dogs at his slaughterhouse. HSI is also grateful to the many supporters who make their work possible.
More:
- The dog meat trade in Vietnam is a controversial issue. Some people believe that eating dog meat is a cultural tradition, while others believe that it is cruel and inhumane.
- HSI is working to end the dog meat trade in Vietnam through a combination of education, advocacy, and rescue.
- The Models for Change program has been successful in helping dog meat farmers and slaughterhouse owners to transition out of the trade. Since the program began in 2015, HSI has helped to close 17 dog meat farms and rescue over 2,500 dogs.
The rescue of the 40 dogs from the slaughterhouse in Vietnam is a victory for animal welfare. It is a sign that the dog meat trade is slowly declining and that more and more people are choosing to treat dogs with compassion.