Barbaric Meat Market Shut Down In Indonesia

The infamous Tomohon Market in Indonesia has finally banned its gruesome dog and cat meat trade. Humane Society International and Animal Friends Manado Indonesia rescued 25 dogs and 3 cats from Tomohon’s network of slaughterhouses, but the ban will prevent the deaths of thousands more.

The dog-meat trade is rampant on the island of Sulawesi, with estimates of more than 130,000 dogs slaughtered at its markets annually. The Tomohon “Extreme Market” ― which sold live and slaughtered dogs and cats – still features butchered pythons, bats, and rats. The market was once listed on tourist websites as a morbid must-see destination until protests by the Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition put an end to that shameful come-on.

The Humane Society and partners are hopeful the ban will disrupt the Sulawesi-wide network of meat marketeers. “With Tomohon Extreme Market going dog and cat meat-free, in addition to the permanent closure of the slaughterhouses that killed hundreds of these animals every week, the impact will be far-reaching, shutting down business for the traders’ vast network of traffickers, dog thieves, and slaughterers,” said Lola Webber, HSI’s director of campaigns to end the dog meat trade.

The dogs and cats saved by HSI and AFMI are now recovering at a nearby sanctuary, the only companion-animal sanctuary in the province. Traumatized and dehydrated, the creatures received emergency veterinary care as they started their new lives in safety and peace.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new companions to our sanctuary where they will never have to fear pain and abuse ever again,” said Frank Delano of the AFMI. “The trucks packed with hundreds of terrified dogs and cats have driven past our sanctuary on their way to Tomohon Market virtually every day. It was the saddest scene to witness and we are so happy we will never see those trucks again.”