Shocking footage has emerged of a gang of animal dealers in Indonesia stealing pet dogs from unsuspecting local families and brutally beating them before selling their carcasses to meat dealers.
Clips filmed by members of the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) Coalition who infiltrated the gang show men using long metal claws to catch dogs by pinching their bodies and necks before dragging them across the floor and throwing them into cages. .
Terrified dogs can be seen trembling as they are transported to the gang’s territory, where they are thrown into a pit and then hung one by one and brutally beaten to death as they swing and spin in the air like a piñata.
Poor, defenseless animals are heard howling and screaming in pain as heartless criminals brutally smash their muzzles and skulls with a wooden bat.
The dogs, beaten to a pulp, are laid out on a block before the hair is burned off their bodies with a hand-held blowtorch. The tails and hind legs of some dogs are still twitching even when the flames begin to burn their skin.
Crispy-fried, the carcasses are tied up and sent to wet markets, where their flesh is flogged.
The clip sparked outrage among several members of the British government, and Lord Zach Goldsmith, Minister of State for the Pacific and the Environment, contacted the Indonesian ambassador to the UK to crack down on the heinous practice.
“These footage of dog abuse as part of the dog meat trade in parts of Sulawesi, Indonesia is deeply shocking,” Goldsmith said.
“I have written to the ambassador urging the Indonesian government to take stronger action to stop this horrendous atrocity.”
The Indonesian Embassy in the UK was contacted for comment.
Clips filmed by members of the Indonesian Dog Meat Coalition who have infiltrated the gang show men using long metal tongs to trap dogs and drag them into cages.
Ticks are pinched on the bodies and necks of dogs to keep them from escaping. Then they are herded into cages and taken to the gang’s premises, where they are thrown into a common pit.
The trembling animals are thrown into large cages and then carried into a pit where they are thrown on top of each other like crabs in a bucket.
The dogs are then hung one by one on a rope around their necks and beaten with clubs by heartless criminals like a piñata.
Their carcasses are laid out on a block, and the fur is burned with a manual blowtorch. Some of the dogs are clearly still alive as the flames are directed against their skin.
The corpses, roasted on coals, are sent to wet markets, where they are flogged for a penny.
Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country and most Indonesians do not consume dog meat as it is considered “haram” or “unclean”.
But dog meat is still commonly consumed in some parts of the country because it is traditional and cheap.
It is estimated that around a million dogs are slaughtered in Indonesia every year, and the raw markets in North Sulawesi are one of the largest suppliers of their meat.
According to a DMFI investigation team that has infiltrated one of the gangs, traffickers and dog dealers in Sulawesi capture about 4,500 dogs every month.
Not only do they chase homeless animals, they are also known for stealing pet dogs from families in small villages in the south of the island.
The dogs are caged and taken to makeshift processing plants, where the animals are massively slaughtered to death and stockpiled before being shipped north to be sold.
One of the main reasons why dog meat is still consumed is the price.
A dish containing dog meat can be purchased at the market for around IDR 25,000-35,000, which equates to around £1.50.
This low price keeps the trade afloat because many Indonesians, whose faith does not prevent them from eating meat, can eat well for less money.
Five regions of Indonesia – Karanganyar (2019), Sukohrajo (2021), Salatiga City (2021), Malang (2022) and Semarang, the capital of Central Java Province (2022) – have already introduced full a ban on the dog meat trade, but it is still legal in most of the country.
Lola Webber, director of the End Dog Meat campaign at Humane Society International, said of the video: “This is one of the worst animal cruelties we’ve ever seen – gangs and traffickers steal and club thousands of frightened, screaming dogs every month. from the villages, many favorite family companions.
“They are torn off and insulted by these criminals in broad daylight, frightened and helpless.
“As shocking as the investigation is, this is just a snapshot of the appalling scale of this trade.”
According to a DMFI investigation team infiltrated by one of the gangs, dog dealers and dog dealers in Sulawesi round up about 4,500 dogs every month.
Not only do human traffickers prey on stray animals, they are also known to steal pet dogs from families in small villages in the south of the island.
Lola Webber, director of the End Dog Meat campaign at Humane Society International, said of the video: “This is one of the worst animal cruelties we’ve ever seen – gangs and traffickers steal and club thousands of frightened, screaming dogs every month. from the villages, many of the family’s favorite companions
Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country and most Indonesians do not consume dog meat as it is considered “haram” or “unclean”. But dog meat is still often eaten in some parts of the country because it is traditional and cheap.
A dish containing dog meat can be purchased at the market for around IDR 25,000-35,000, which equates to around £1.50. This low price keeps the trade afloat because many Indonesians, whose faith does not prevent them from eating meat, can eat well for less money.
A DMFI member who participated in the investigation and remained anonymous for his own protection said: “The scale of the dog meat trade was truly amazing. Thieves steal dogs from all over the island before selling them to merchants who stock them until they have enough animals to sell in the market.
“Psychologically, it was a painful mission because every day I could see how scared and traumatized these poor dogs were.
“Like me, the vast majority of Indonesians will be disgusted by what I saw. This trade is a disgrace to Indonesia.”
A DMFI spokesman said the coalition is currently seeking urgent meetings with provincial and city governments in several regions of Indonesia that have not yet banned the dog meat trade to call for immediate action.