HONG KONG – March 28, 2023

The World Dog Alliance (WDA) congratulates Jakarta for banning dog and cat meat. Jakarta is the most populous metropolitan area in Indonesia, comprising the capital. The ban could save hundreds of dogs from the slaughterhouse every day.

Every year, over 30 million dogs are slaughtered for food in Asia, most of them are strays or stolen family pets. In Jakarta, about 10,000 dogs were killed every month for meat even though 93% of people in Indonesia are against the practice of eating dog meat. The industry has long caused concerns on animal abuse and zoonotic diseases such as rabies.

Jakarta’s Food Security, Marine and Agriculture Department recently confirmed the city has become the 21st jurisdiction in Indonesia to ban the barbaric practice. Ibu Ir. Suharini Eliawati M.Si, Head of the Food Security and Agriculture Department for Jakarta said, “Current progress is the formation of a Food Regulation to ban the dog meat trade … The plan is also to educate people to not consume dog meat, and to be responsible animal owners.”

The World Dog Alliance (WDA) is an international animal protection organization that campaigns to eradicate dog and cat meat globally. The WDA’s official website shares their experience on successful legislation around the world. Since 2020, the website has recorded the most visitors from Indonesia, who accounted for over 50% of the total visitors in July and August 2021.

Under the advocacy of the WDA, the United States outlawed dog and cat meat in the 2018 Farm Bill, many believe the ban has inspired other Asian countries to prohibit this practice to enhance their international image.

In 2020, Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai have outlawed dog and cat meat. In 2021, the South Korean government established the Dog Meat Discussion Committee to reach social consensus on banning dog meat; Vietnamese city Hoi An also committed to stopping the trade and consumption of dog and cat meat.

To accelerate the global legislative process, the WDA proposed the International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats in 2019. Over 200 legislators from the U.S., Japan, U.K., Norway and Sweden have signed joint letters to their heads of government to show support for this cause. In 2023, the WDA will continue working with members of the U.S. Congress to call for the initiation of the International Agreement.

Genlin, founder of the WDA, praises Indonesia for its huge progress: “The ban is significant considering Jakarta is the capital city of the country; it may serve as a role model for other cities to follow suit. I hope the Indonesian government will make this a national ban in the near future.”

Jakarta’s ban comes after the central government reacted to shocking evidence of the dog and cat meat industry, and called upon all provincial, regency and city authorities to take action to discourage dog and cat meat consumption. The Director of Veterinary Public Health described the treatment of the dogs and cats as “torture for animals” and stated that “dog meat or any animal that is not registered as farm animals, is illegal (…) Foreign countries find a low standard of animal welfare and cruelty unacceptable and will stop visiting Indonesia, which is bad for tourism.”

World Dog Alliance (WDA) was founded in 2014. It has launched global legislative campaigns calling for an end to the barbaric practice of eating dog and cat meat, and has achieved milestone after milestone with the successful passage of laws in countries and regions.