Closure of a Dog Meat Slaughterhouse that Bragged About Drowning 200 Dogs on Daily Basis

FOUR PAWS has successfully closed a slaughterhouse, rescuing a total of 16 dogs from the inhumane conditions of the facility.

A major victory has been achieved by animal rescuers in Cambodia, as they shut down a dog slaughterhouse that opened in 1995 and was responsible for the deaths of over a million dogs. The facility was known for drowning up to 200 dogs a day to supply meat to Phnom Penh. FOUR PAWS, the organization that orchestrated the shutdown, rescued 16 dogs from the site, dismantled the wire cages, and demolished the drowning tanks. Dr. Katherine Polak, head of FOUR PAWS Stray Animal Care in Southeast Asia, described the slaughterhouse as one of the most shocking facilities the team had ever seen. She explained that drowning dogs causes immense pain and suffering and is not in line with any international standards of humane euthanasia.

The proprietor of the slaughterhouse has entered into a pact with FOUR PAWS and the Cambodian administration, pledging to never participate in the canine meat industry again. As part of the agreement to close down the facility, the owner will be provided with support to transform it into a store selling regular merchandise and a construction firm.

It’s a heartwarming moment for 27 rescued pups from the dog meat trade as they finally meet their forever families after months of waiting. Out of the 77 rescued animals, 16 dogs from the facility will be joining the 61 canines saved from the van interception. The Animal Rescue Cambodia in Phnom Penh and Paw Patrol Cambodia in Siem Reap, FOUR PAWS’ local partners, are taking care of these dogs and getting them ready for adoption.

FOUR PAWS is currently engaged in a mission to put an end to the dog meat trade in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Through their educational programs and cooperation with local authorities and tourism associations, they are making headway in achieving this goal. Cambodia has made tremendous progress over the past year by becoming the first province to prohibit the sale and consumption of dog meat in Siem Reap in July 2020. To learn more about FOUR PAWS and their global efforts to rescue and safeguard animals, please visit their website.