Cat meat trade in Vietnam raided, 400 cats released

Vietnamese police have successfully rescued about 400 pet cats who were about to be slaughtered for meat, and about 40 of them have already been handed over to their true owners. The official police newspaper of Ho Chi Minh City reported that in this operation conducted last week, nine individuals connected to a criminal gang specializing in stealing and collecting cats have been arrested.

During this raid, authorities discovered over 400 live cats and 80 dead cats preserved on ice, and another 21 cats were also seized from a different location.

In Vietnam, the consumption of dog and cat meat is legal, and many restaurants openly advertise it. However, it is mandatory for meat vendors to obtain certificates showing the origin of the animals. Based on information about frequently reported incidents of pet theft in Ho Chi Minh City, the police pursued this gang. The suspects confessed that they had been luring and trapping cats across southern Vietnam for about three years.

Issuing a statement on June 16 regarding this incident, the animal rights organization 'Humane World for Animals' praised the decisive action of the police. They pointed out that about 40 of the stolen animals have already been reunited with their families, and that this allowed a large number of animals' lives to be saved. However, the statement further indicates that about 100 of the rescued cats later died due to the traumatic experiences they faced.

Although efforts to reunite the stolen cats with their families are ongoing, Karanvir Kukreja of the organization stated that their main focus is on the cats being held at the police station as evidence until the trial concludes. For this purpose, his organization has donated food to the animals, and he also mentioned that they are working to provide fans to protect them from the intense heat. However, Ho Chi Minh City police have not immediately responded to an inquiry from AFP news agency regarding this matter.