Key points
- Police in Vietnam rescued about 400 cats stolen for sale as meat.
- In total, over 500 animals were seized and nine suspects were detained.
- About 400 live cats were found in 45 cages, and nearby containers held the bodies of about 80 animals.
- The detained individuals had been collecting cats in the south of the country for three years and admitted their involvement.
- Over 40 cats have been returned to their owners, but some of the rescued animals died due to poor living conditions.
- The consumption of cat meat in Vietnam remains legal.
In Vietnam, police rescued about 400 cats stolen for sale as meat. The Guardian reports.
The investigation was triggered by a series of pet thefts in Ho Chi Minh City. During the raids, law enforcement officers found 45 cages containing about 400 live cats, and nearby, containers with ice and the bodies of about 80 animals.
Another 21 cats were found at a different location. In total, the police seized over 500 animals and detained nine suspects. Local media called this operation one of the largest cat rescues in Vietnam in recent years.
As it turned out, the detained individuals had been catching and collecting cats in the south of the country — in Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces of Tay Ninh and An Giang — for three years. They admitted their involvement in the scheme.
Over 40 cats have already been returned to their owners, but dozens of rescued animals died due to poor living conditions. Among the seized animals were pregnant cats that had given birth to kittens. Volunteers and veterinarians are taking care of the surviving animals around the clock.
The consumption of cat and dog meat in Vietnam is still legal. According to animal rights activists, thousands of cats are stolen and killed every month in the country. The authorities, however, claim they intend to strengthen the protection of domestic animals and the rights of their owners.
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