Most Cambodians against sale of dog meat: Survey

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Most Cambodians would prefer their government ban the sale of dog meat in the country, according to local media on Friday.

The results of a survey carried out earlier this year by Four Paws, a global animal welfare group based in Austria, showed that nine out of 10 residents of the Southeast Asian country want the sale of dog meat outlawed, the local daily Khmer Times reported.

"In Cambodia, the dog meat trade takes the lives of 3 million dogs including stray dogs every year, with many dogs kept as pets also stolen to meet market demand," said Katherine Polak, Four Paws head of stray animal care for Southeast Asia.

Results of the public opinion poll, which Four Paws conducted in February this year, showed that 90% of respondents "agreed or strongly agreed to support" the ban of dog meat, while 6% were of the view that the sale of dog meat should be allowed as it is part of Cambodian culture, said Polak.

Of 25 provinces in Cambodia, only northwestern Siem Reap has officially banned the dog meat trade.

"I hope all the other provinces will also do the same," Polak said, adding that they were against the sale of dog meat "due to its link to rabies and other public health risks."

"It is important and essential that the government takes proactive measures to ban the dog meat trade, slaughter of dogs, and its consumption," she said.

- 2 million dogs slaughtered per year

Heng Ratana, the director general of the Cambodia Mine Action Center (CMAC), also threw his weight behind banning the dog meat trade for their use in detecting landmines scattered across Cambodia.

CMAC has a dog unit where canines help in the detection of landmines and unexploded ordnance left over from conflict in the late 20th century. Cambodia is today one of the worst hit nations due to landmines.

"In Cambodia, more than 2 million dogs are slaughtered a year for illegal sale in the black market," said Ratana.

"This practice has to stop as dogs are useful animals which save lives, even in minefields and battlefields," he said.