Dog breeding, dog meat, and dog theft.

Dog theft is a serious problem, causing numerous negative consequences. Many cases of dog theft have occurred, heartbreaking and tragically ironic. In Vietnam, approximately 5 million dogs are slaughtered for meat each year!

In Binh Thuan , dog thieves, armed with pepper spray and electric batons, have repeatedly caused chaos by stealing dogs, prompting police pursuit and arrest. In December 2022, exactly one year after police in Phan Thiet ambushed and apprehended seven dog thieves, one thief confessed: “This group has stolen thousands of dogs and transported them to the North for sale”; “Dog theft is our profession; we don’t invest much capital but make a lot of profit!” In Xuyen Moc and Chau Duc districts of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, and other localities, dog thieves operate in groups and teams, carrying machetes, homemade guns, slingshots, and even pickup trucks, stealing dogs very professionally. In one village, where dogs were constantly being stolen, militia secretly stationed guards. Upon spotting a group of dog thieves stealthily entering a den, the sound of gongs and drums sounded to alert the villagers. The village gate was slammed shut, leaving the dog thieves with nowhere to escape. The villagers swarmed out, punching, kicking, and stomping them mercilessly. Only after begging and pleading for mercy were they spared and immediately taken to the district police station for processing.

On November 11, 2023, the police in Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province, launched a special operation and arrested six audacious dog thieves. These thieves stole hundreds, even thousands, of dogs a week, causing chaos in the villages. Meanwhile, police in Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City, and Vinh Long province, after days of stakeout, apprehended dozens of dog thieves. Their pursuit of the thieves was so intense it resembled a scene from a crime drama.

Towards the end of 2023, many localities were strongly protesting the problem of stray dogs and even free-roaming cattle. The issues of stray dogs, free-roaming cattle, and dog theft were raised in parliamentary debates. Domestic dogs and free-roaming dogs without muzzles bit children and the elderly, requiring emergency medical attention. Cows... wearing hats and roaming freely on highways as if no one was watching, causing traffic accidents. Free-roaming dogs and cattle defecating indiscriminately, creating unsanitary conditions and detracting from the aesthetics of the streets. Despite being a rice-farming country with abundant food and rice exports, the problem of free-roaming dogs and cattle is truly absurd, a phenomenon rarely seen anywhere else in the world .

In 2023, Da Nang city strictly banned stray dogs and cows from roaming freely on the streets. The urban security and order maintenance team hired forces to catch stray dogs and cows and confine them to designated areas. Owners of stray dogs and cows faced heavy fines. The Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City stated: Da Nang is building its brand as a livable city. A livable city cannot allow herds of cows and unmuzzled dogs to run loose on the streets, in parks, and on beaches.

A group of humanities and social science students conducted research on stray dogs and dog theft. They found that dog meat is rich in protein, and some Asian countries have been fond of eating dog meat for hundreds of years. In contrast, Europeans consider dogs indispensable pets. Europeans are horrified by the Asians' obsession with dog meat. Koreans, however, are fond of dog meat. Raising dogs is the livelihood of millions of farmers in South Korea. In 2023, the South Korean National Assembly and executive agencies launched a campaign urging Koreans not to trade, slaughter, transport, or process dog meat. A South Korean lawmaker stated that in 2027 – after five years of preparation, including supporting farmers to switch to other occupations instead of dog farming – a law banning dog meat consumption would be passed, sparking controversy and social division over the ban. South Korea has 3,500 farms raising 1.5 million dogs, 34 dog slaughterhouses, and 219 distributors supplying dog meat to 3,000 dog meat restaurants. In November and December 2023, there were several protests around the South Korean presidential residence against a bill banning dog meat consumption, with protesters threatening to unleash a million dogs to surround the Blue House to express their opposition to the ban.

A few thoughts on dogs in Vietnam and Korea. There's a positive truth: Vietnamese people are gradually turning away from dog meat, for health reasons and out of love for animals. The story of Mr. Dam The Hiep in Thai Nguyen, who had seven years of experience killing dogs, confessed to his crimes, retired, and then rescued 20 dogs, is truly thought-provoking. It's time for society as a whole to change its perception and love and respect animals. Laws are necessary, but the most important thing is the awareness and social responsibility – a civilized society that cherishes pets for their beauty and the health of the community – of every citizen regarding the issue of dogs…

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