Post date: Jul 14, 2013 3:13:24 PM
R Reports - Packed more than a dozen to a cage, the dogs are bound for the slaughter.
Once considered food fit for the rural poor, Vietnam's appetite for dog meat is growing.
Although there are no official figures, industry and animal rights groups estimate the country consumes around five million dogs a year.
Animal rights advocates describe unsanitary and inhumane conditions.DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL ASIA, TUAN BENDIXSEN:
"The dogs are packed so tightly in the cage for transport and after that the dogs had to endure 4 to 5 days on the road without any food or water, without any veterinary treatments. And when they get to the final destination, the slaughter of the dogs, when the dogs are hit over the head with a club or bat in front of other dogs, therefore we see that this trade is very inhumane and very cruel."
Others defend the culinary tradition.
RESTAURANT'S FREQUENT CUSTOMER, DOAI:
"The truth is that Westerners have not given this dish a chance or don't know much about it. If they tried it a few times, they would come and eat it as much as us Vietnamese. "
A whole dog can cost around 250 USD - more than the average monthly wage.
Consumption is especially high at the end of the lunar month as eating dogs is thought to bring good luck.