Jakarta โMoves to Ban Dogโค and Cat Meat Trade
Jakarta is preparingโข to ban the trade of dog and cat meat within the city limits, a โคdecision โdriven by concerns over rabies risks and animal welfare. The proposed ban, โannounced by โJakarta Governor โPramono Anung earlier this week, follows a report from the animal rights coalition Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) estimating that approximately 9,000 dogs are slaughtered โขfor consumption in Jakarta each month.
Governor Anung stated, “Dog meat is not for consumption in Jakarta,” and has instructed City Hall to draft the decree, with an expected completion timeframe of one month. the initiativeโข aims to bolster Jakarta’s existing anti-rabies campaign, which has โฃsuccessfully maintained the city’s rabies-free status as officially recognized by theโฃ Health Ministry through widespread vaccination programs.
Currently, indonesian law does not classify dogs and cats as livestock, nor does it explicitly prohibit their trade. This has โฃallowed theโฃ practice of dog and cat meatโ consumption to persist, particularly โคinโ areas where it is considered a cultural tradition or an affordable protein source. Though, animal welfare โฃadvocates have consistently criticized the industry due โto the documented cruelty involved in the process.
DMFI’s national coordinator, Karin Franken, highlighted the suffering endured โby animals transported to Jakarta, primarily from โฃWest Java and Bali, frequently enough involving beatings before slaughter. She also pointed to theโฃ role of uncontrolled dog trading in potentiallyโ spreading rabies, as many of theseโค animals are stray โand unvaccinated.
The trade primarily โsupplies conventional Batak restaurants, known as Lapo, with dishes likeโ saksang, a dog meat preparation cooked with coconut and โฃspices. Two Jakarta slaughterhouses, located in Cibubur and Cawang, areโค identified as key suppliers.
While welcomed by animal rights groups and supported by City council member โขHardiyanto Kenneth who cited โalignment with existing food safety and animal health lawsโ (Law โno. 18/2012 and Law no. โข41/2014 respectively), the proposed ban โขfaces opposition from some business owners. A Lapo owner in Cawang, speaking anonymously, expressed concern thatโค the โban would โฃthreaten their livelihood and cultural practices, arguing that the government shouldโ focus on controlling stray โdog โฃpopulations instead.
Veterinarians emphasize that the primary rabies risk associated with dog meat isn’t from consumption itself, but from potential exposure โคduringโ theโ butchering process โthrough bites, โฃscratches, or contact with infected saliva. Muhammad Munawaroh, chairman of the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (PDHI), supports โthe ban, stating thatโข “uncontrolled dog trading increases the likelihood of rabies outbreaks,” particularly given the prevalence of slaughtering unvaccinated stray dogs. Rabies symptoms in humans โคinclude fever, headache, and progressing to hydrophobiaโ and photophobia before ultimately proving fatal.
Kenneth โfurther emphasized the importance of upholding ethical standardsโ within Jakarta’s diverse โฃsociety, ensuring safety, hygiene, and respect for all living creatures.
