Vietnam Police Rescue Over 400 Cats from Illegal Meat Trade

In a significant operation against the illegal cat meat trade, Vietnamese police have rescued over 400 cats in Ho Chi Minh City. The raid, which spanned several days, targeted a criminal network involved in trafficking felines for human consumption. While many cats were saved, some succumbed to harsh conditions during their captivity, according to animal welfare groups.

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The people who lost their cats can go to the police station to identify their pets and help the police with the investigation.

Veterinarians and volunteers are now tending to the rescued animals at a temporary center managed by the local criminal police division. Authorities are urging owners who have lost pets to come forward to identify their cats and assist with the ongoing investigation. The operation has brought to light the extensive nature of the cat meat trade in Vietnam, with activists calling it a "sobering reminder."

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This operation is a sobering reminder of the enormous scale of the cat meat trade in Vietnam.

Local media reported that the investigation into pet thefts led to the arrest of nine individuals. Police discovered approximately 400 live cats in cages and 80 dead cats in ice containers during a raid on a yard. The suspects reportedly confessed to capturing and collecting cats across southern Vietnam for the past three years. The price for a kilogram of cat meat was noted to be around $2.70.

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The sad truth about this trade is that thousands of cats every month are being stolen, trafficked, and slaughtered for meat across the country.

This seizure represents one of the largest feline welfare cases in Vietnam in recent years. Humane World for Animals highlighted that thousands of cats are trafficked and slaughtered for meat monthly across the country. Among the rescued animals were pregnant cats, with some kittens born while under police care, underscoring the urgency of such rescue efforts.

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I saw quite a few tears in the last few days.