- Title: Cambodian tourist province bans 'alarming' dog meat trade
- Date: 9th July 2020
- Summary: (MUTE) ANNOUNCEMENT LETTER JOURNALIST INTERVIEWING HEAD OF STRAY ANIMAL CARE FOR FOUR PAWS VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE PHUKET, THAILAND (JULY 8, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF STRAY ANIMAL CARE FOR FOUR PAWS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, KATHERINE POLAK, SAYING: "We think up to three million dogs every year fall victim to the dog meat trade in Cambodia and an unknown number of also are trafficked into Vietnam as well. So the majority of the consumption is in the capital city of Phnom Penh where we know that there are over a hundred and ten restaurants that just serve dog meat alone. In Siem Reap there is between 20-25 restaurants." BANGKOK, THAILAND (JULY 8, 2020) (REUTERS) POLAK TALKING ON COMPUTER SCREEN PHUKET, THAILAND (JULY 8, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF STRAY ANIMAL CARE FOR FOUR PAWS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, KATHERINE POLAK, SAYING: "We see the demographic that most commonly eat dogs meat are younger men or middle-aged men and oftentimes when they get their salary and they go out with their friends. And it's almost always accompanied by drinking, by drinking hard alcohol right? So it's almost like a bar snack of sorts." BANGKOK, THAILAND (JULY 8, 2020) (REUTERS) JOURNALIST WRITING NOTES PHUKET, THAILAND (JULY 8, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF STRAY ANIMAL CARE FOR FOUR PAWS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, KATHERINE POLAK, SAYING: "So it's a huge step because we really see this to be a pilot for other cities in Cambodia, right? It makes sense for Siem Reap to take this step because again they have such an incredible tourism reputation and you know what a great message to send that we care about animals as well right? So we hope that it serves as a model for Cambodia." PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (JULY 8, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DOG MEAT STALL BY ROADSIDE VARIOUS OF DOG MEAT ON GRILL DOG MEAT STALL BY ROADSIDE TUK TUK DRIVER SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) TUK TUK DRIVER, KAT CHANNY, SAYING: "I think if they (government) banned the selling of dog meat it is a good thing, but I'm worried about the sellers because it's hard nowadays to do other business." TUK TUK PARKED ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) TUK TUK DRIVER, CHEN TOK, SAYING: "I support the provincial authority's decision. I can't oppose the government decision. I accept any decision made by them (government)." CHEN TOK SITTING IN TUK TUK TUK TUK DRIVING AWAY VARIOUS OF ROYAL PALACE EXTERIOR
- Embargoed: 23rd July 2020 08:04
- Keywords: Bangkok Butcher Cambodia Dog Dog meat Phnom Penh Siem Reap Slaughter Thailand Trade
- Location: PHNOM PENH, SIEM REAP PROVINCE, KANDAL PROVINCE, CAMBODIA / BANGKOK, PHUKET, THAILAND / INTERNET
- City: PHNOM PENH, SIEM REAP PROVINCE, KANDAL PROVINCE, CAMBODIA / BANGKOK, PHUKET, THAILAND / INTERNET
- Country: Various
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003CM360QV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Cambodian province popular with tourists has banned the trade and slaughtering of dogs for meat, saying that canines are loyal and capable of protecting property and even serving in the military.
Siem Reap province, home to the ancient Angkor Wat ruins, is the first place to issue such a ban in Cambodia, where an estimated three million dogs a year are slaughtered for meat.
Siem Reap, visited by more than 2 million tourists annually, has been identified as a dog meat hotspot responsible for the large-scale sourcing and trafficking of Cambodian canines, according to animal welfare group FOUR PAWS.
"We hope that it serves as a model for Cambodia," said Katherine Polak, head of FOUR PAWS Stray Animal Care in Southeast Asia. She called the ban historic and reflective of public sentiment.
The director of the provincial Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries department said demand was driven by foreigners, especially South Koreans, who are among the most frequent visitors.
Anyone caught selling dog meat would be made to sign an agreement not to do it again, then fined for repeated offense.
The ban says dogs should not be slaughtered because they are loyal pets capable of protecting homes and farms and of assisting the military.
Despite numerous campaigns against it, the eating and trading of dog meat still takes place in some parts of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, even though canines are loved as family pets
(Production: Heng Mengheang, Chantha Lach, Jiraporn Kuhakan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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