Animal Rescuers Saved 53 Tied-Up Dogs On Their Way to Slaughterhouse

Animal rescuers from Dog Meat-Free Indonesia teamed up with police officers to save 53 dogs from being slaughtered. They intercepted a truck transporting the dogs to an illegal slaughterhouse.

According to FOUR PAWS, when the rescuers opened the truck, they found the dogs tied up in sacks. Their mouths were also bound to prevent them from making a sound.

The poor animals were emaciated and all under the age of one.

This rescue effort marks Indonesia’s first large-scale raid on an illegal dog meat slaughterhouse. An individual who works in the dog meat trade was arrested. Reports say he’s been doing this crime for over 20 years.

All the dogs were freed from their bindings. Dog Meat-Free Indonesia rescuers provided emergency vet treatment for all of them. They were transported to a temporary shelter afterward.

Sadly, one of the dogs died before arriving at the shelter. The surviving animals will remain at the shelter until they recover from the abuse and neglect they have endured.

FOUR PAWS, a non-profit that works globally to end animal suffering, is hopeful that this rescue is a “turning point” for Indonesia’s illegal dog meat trade.

“The shocking and criminal events that we have witnessed as well as the positive actions taken by the Sukoharjo authorities must be a turning point in fighting against this outlawed, outdated, and cruel trade. The positives we can take out of this awful situation are that law enforcement and campaign groups are ensuring that this illegal trade is coming to an end. For traders, there will be no place left to hide to continue their criminal practices in the very near future,” Dr. Karanvir Kukreja, the head of public campaigns Southeast Asia for FOUR PAWS’ Ending the Dog and Cat Meat Trade campaign, said in a statement.

In February, FOUR PAWS conducted its own dog meat rescue operation. They successfully saved over 60 dogs on their way to an illegal dog meat slaughterhouse in Cambodia. Thirty of the rescued pups are still recovering at FOUR PAWS’ shelter in Cambodia, which will soon undergo an expansion thanks to a generous offer from Pawthereum —  a cryptocurrency charity project.

For Giving Tuesday (Nov. 30), Pawthereum will match donations made to FOUR PAWS up to $50,000.

To learn more about FOUR PAWS and how to support their efforts, visit the organization’s website.

Source: PEOPLE