Indian state bans dog meat trade, sparing 30,000 lives annually

India’s northeastern state of Nagaland has issued a ban on the commercial trade, import, and sale of dogs for meat. The states government made the decision on the 3rd of July, following outrage by animal rights groups after an image of dogs in a Dimapur ‘wet market’ surfaced on social media.

The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisers and PETA submitted a petition to the Nagaland government, demanding an end to the cruel dog meat industry. The states cabinet agreed to ban the trade and import of canines, as well as dog markets and the sale of dog meat.

Photo by Pritish Nandy

The consumption of dog meat has been banned in India since 2011, however many tribal communities in the northeast of the country still consider it a delicacy, leading to a dark ‘hidden trade’. Dogs are often illegally stolen before being beaten to death and smuggled into markets where they are then sold for human consumption.

Humane Society International has claimed that around 30, 000 dogs suffer in this way each year, due to the poorly enforced legislation. The official ban in Nagaland signifies a huge step in the right direction for animal rights in India, sparing thousands of canine lives annually.

| Article by Martha Moody- United Kingdom