Cats are, in many ways, the forgotten victims of Vietnam’s illegal dog meat trade. 400 cats were seized by police from a profit-driven network in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

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https://secure.humaneworld.org/page/165612/action/1?ea.tracking.id=web_blog

In Vietnam’s cruel and illegal meat trade, it’s often the suffering dogs who are in the spotlight. But cats too are caught up in this cruel and illegal trade—stolen from homes and streets, trafficked across provinces and slaughtered by the thousands every month. Cats are, in many ways, the forgotten victims of Vietnam’s illegal meat trade. 

That changed this week in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Two local organizations, HavePaws and Vietnam Cat Welfare, have been at the forefront of the massive effort to meet the urgent needs of the rescued cats on site, along with volunteer veterinarians. They have been providing around-the-clock care, helping to meet the animals daily welfare needs.

More than 400 cats were seized by police in what appears to be one of the largest single cat meat trade interceptions in Vietnam's history. Several cats have already been reclaimed by their families who had been desperately searching for their stolen pets.

Inside Viet Nam’s cat meat trade 

Viet Nam's cat meat trade is a profit-driven network that stretches across the country. Cats are stolen from homes and streets, transported in overcrowded cages with no food or water, and sold through a chain of traders before reaching slaughterhouses and restaurants. Many die during transport; those who survive will face brutal slaughter. 

Investigations have documented cats arriving at slaughterhouses still wearing collars—a stark reminder that many are beloved pets. 

It’s estimated that more than two million cats in Vietnam are taken or stolen for the trade each year, yet the issue receives far less attention than the dog meat trade. 

Why this seizure matters 

Historically concentrated in northern provinces such as Thai Binh and Hanoi, the cat meat trade has increasingly expanded south. Investigations have exposed restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City openly selling and slaughtering cats, making this seizure of cats by local authorities especially significant. 

The cat meat trade poses significant public health threats. The movement of unvaccinated animals of unknown health status across provinces and borders undermines efforts to thwart the spread of rabies. Cats who carry rabies and end up in the stressful, overcrowded conditions of the meat trade pose dangers to everyone: other cats, handlers, transporters and butchers. 

Humane World for Animals Viet Nam has provided initial emergency assistance and is working with local groups on the ground to assess longer-term support needs for the cats as the case progresses. 

The response from volunteers, local organizations, businesses and authorities reflects a growing concern for animal welfare in Viet Nam and increasing recognition that the cat meat trade has no place in modern society. The number of cats reunited with their owners, along with the sheer volume of people descending on the holding station searching for their lost pets, is a testament to the great affection of millions of people within Viet Nam, as well as their concern about the dreadful toll exacted by pet theft for the meat trade.  

What comes next 

The immediate priority is securing a longer-term solution for the cats still being held as evidence while legal proceedings continue. We are thankful to the groups on the ground handling this intensely difficult work and hopeful that the cats can soon be transferred to veterinary clinics for their ongoing care and recovery. 

This rescue demonstrates what is possible when authorities act. It also highlights the need for stronger legal protections. Vietnam previously prohibited the capture, slaughter and consumption of cats for more than two decades before the ban was revoked in 2020. Reinstating and enforcing clear legal protections would be one of the most effective steps toward ending this trade and preventing future suffering.

Source: Humane World USA

In New Zealand children of all ages are encouraged to catch and shoot cats, with cash prizes for the most cats killed.( Graphic photos )

 

Introduced to the island nation by early settlers and left to breed unchecked, New Zealand is home to millions of homeless cats. Forced to survive on their own, these innocent animals hunt native species – a human-caused situation that the hunters are using as an excuse for their bloodsports. 

Credit: Facebook/North Canterbury Hunting

But the strawman of conservation quickly falls apart at the annual weigh-in, where hunters bring hundreds of animal corpses to try and claim the prizes. Here, hunters taunt animal rights protesters with dead cats and ferrets, dress up in outfits mocking local welfare movements, and drag dead animals through obstacle courses for ‘fun.’ 

Last year, facing international backlash, the hunt’s organizers restricted the cat-hunting category to those aged 14 and older. This year, the age restriction has been removed – now, if a child can hold a gun, the hunters will let them shoot cats.

Credit: Facebook/North Canterbury Hunting

Killing cats does nothing to protect local species. This is nothing more than a celebration of suffering and death.

The real tragedy is that the hunt won’t fix anything. As has been proven time and time again, killing cats simply creates a vacuum effect: More cats move in, taking advantage of the available resources and breeding indiscriminately, and the cycle of cruelty continues year after year.

There is a better way to protect both cats and native wildlife – and it works.

We’re fighting to end this horrific hunt by supporting humane, effective alternatives like Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) and rescue programs run by local heroes like our partner, Cat Rescue Christchurch.

But in a nation where even the government is slaughtering cats by the thousands, we need all the help we can get to save innocent animal lives.

There is a better way to protect both cats and native wildlife – and it works.

We’re fighting to end this horrific hunt by supporting humane, effective alternatives like Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) and rescue programs run by local heroes like our partner, Cat Rescue Christchurch. https://catrescue.org.nz/stray-cat-assistance/faq-2/

But in a nation where even the government is slaughtering cats by the thousands, we need all the help we can get to save innocent animal lives.

Journey to Compassion: The road to ending Vietnam’s dog and cat meat trade

In 2024, FOUR PAWS embarked on a journey across Vietnam to demand an end to the brutal dog and cat meat trade. Our three-city LED billboard roadshow raised public awareness in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi, urging citizens to join our national e-action calling on the Prime Minister to put a stop to the cruelty once and for all. We captured powerful public reactions through on-the-ground interviews and wrapped up the campaign with a major stakeholder event in Hanoi, presenting over 2.2 million petition signatures - including 250,000 from Vietnamese citizens - calling for a nationwide ban on the trade.

Cats for the cat meat industry

“What we have seen over the past six months has been yet another incredible response from the Vietnamese people. This is yet another wave of calls for the immediate ban on the horrifying slaughter and sale of dogs and cats for their meat.

The trade has consequences not just for animals – but for people too, through its links to rabies. This abhorrent trade holds no place in a modern and multicultural society, such as Vietnam and the government cannot ignore the voices of the majority of its people. We are seeing in various localities, such as Hoi An in Vietnam, Siem Reap in Cambodia and numerous regencies in Indonesia, that the trade is being banned.

Not only street dogs but also dogs stolen from owners are used for the meat industry in Vietnam

Change is coming and it is coming fast, and we urge the authorities to act immediately to protect humans and animals alike by ending the cruelty of an outdated trade.”

Dr Karanvir Kukreja, FOUR PAWS Head of Campaigns Southeast Asia (Companion Animals)

https://www.four-paws.org/

A CNN investigation has uncovered rise in cat torture videos made in China where a global demand for this horrific cruelty is growing daily

 

A CNN investigation has uncovered a disturbing rise in cat torture videos made in China and shared online. These violent videos are part of a dark global market aimed at people who enjoy watching animals suffer.

The investigation reveals how weak animal protection laws, poor online moderation, and global demand have created a dangerous and growing problem.

Over several months, CNN infiltrated secret online communities that share these videos. The reporters discovered that many of the videos are created in countries with little to no protection for animals. These videos are then sold or traded through international networks.

CNN’s Ivan Watson spoke with animal rights activists and online investigators who are working to expose and shut down these torture networks.

Feline Guardians

Animal rights group Feline Guardians reported a shocking 500% increase in cat torture videos produced in China in less than a year.

In June 2024, a new video was uploaded every 14 hours. By February 2025, the number had increased to one every 2 hours and 38 minutes.

In just the first two months of 2025, over 500 new videos were uploaded. These videos showed more than 300 cats being tortured and killed.

Criminologist Jenny Edwards explained that some people make or watch these videos due to “sexual sadism,” a mental disorder where people enjoy the pain of others.

CNN also interviewed a man who admitted to buying these videos. He called it “a fetish I can’t quit.” He explained that he often searched for more extreme scenes and even asked the video creators to perform specific acts of abuse.

These requests show how dangerous and organized this market is. People are not just watching; they are ordering cruelty like a product.

Activists threatened by abusers

The people trying to stop this network face serious risks. Activists working with Feline Guardians often choose to remain anonymous to protect themselves.

Photo of Laura

One volunteer, known only as Laura, told CNN that she hides her identity for safety reasons. She said many of the people making or buying these videos are part of hidden communities, and exposing them can lead to threats or worse.

These activists often track the creators, collect evidence, and report them to authorities or social media platforms.

The videos are usually shared on encrypted apps like Telegram, where it is hard for outsiders or police to find them.

However, they also appear on public platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), where children and other users can easily come across them. This raises serious concerns about online safety and the failure of big tech companies to remove harmful content.

Weak animal welfare laws in China

Chen, a Chinese volunteer for Feline Guardians, said the Chinese government is quick to censor political speech and pornography but rarely acts against animal cruelty. This lack of action has made China a hub for these violent videos.

While China fails to respond, other countries are starting to act. Police in the United States and Turkey have arrested people involved in creating or distributing similar content.

In these countries, animal cruelty is treated as a serious crime, especially when it involves online videos. But in China, where there are no strong laws protecting pets and companion animals, most offenders are not punished.

One Chinese university student was caught torturing over 80 stray cats. In another shocking case, a man poured boiling water over a pregnant cat.

In Hangzhou, a kitten was killed with steel blow darts. After that attack, a popular Chinese influencer asked a chilling question: “What if he shoots humans one day?”

The legal situation in China remains a big part of the problem. China only has one national law protecting wildlife, not pets or companion animals like cats and dogs.

A draft law to punish animal cruelty with jail time has been discussed, but it has not been passed. Cultural views and lack of political interest have blocked its progress. This gap in the law allows abusers to act without fear of arrest or punishment.

Animal abusers often also torture humans

The issue also goes beyond animal cruelty. Studies have shown a strong link between abuse of animals and violence against people.

The FBI in the United States has long said that many serial killers and violent criminals started their crimes by hurting animals. One famous case is Jeffrey Dahmer, who tortured animals as a child before going on to kill people.

A 20-year study showed that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans.

Another study found that 70% of animal abusers had committed other crimes, and nearly 40% had committed violent crimes. In the most extreme cases, like sexual homicide, 100% of the offenders had a history of abusing animals.

Psychologists say that these offenders often show signs of low empathy, bullying behavior, and a need for power or control. These feelings can easily shift from animals to humans.

Convicted animal abuser kills three people

In September 2023, a 32-year-old university student in Rotterdam opened fire at a hospital and a nearby house, killing three people. He had been known to police and had a 2021 conviction for animal abuse.

Another global case that highlights this risk is Luka Rocco Magnotta, a Canadian who murdered and dismembered Chinese student Jun Lin in 2012.

Before the murder, Magnotta had become known online for torturing and killing cats. He posted videos showing him suffocating and drowning kittens. Activists had warned authorities that he was a threat to humans, but no action was taken until it was too late.

Social media accountability

Social media companies are also failing. Platforms owned by Meta, including Facebook and Instagram, host the majority of online animal cruelty content. Yet only about 36% of reported content is actually removed, according to data from Feline Guardians.

This poor enforcement allows the videos to keep spreading and puts children at risk.

In response, countries like the UK and the EU are taking stronger steps. The UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act both classify animal cruelty as illegal online content.

These laws demand better action from social media companies and allow large fines if they fail to act.

The rise in online animal torture is a serious and growing problem. Activists, lawmakers, and tech companies must work together to stop this cruelty and prevent it from spreading further.

https://www.theanimalreader.com/

   

Pilots to the rescue : Incredable stories of the many cats and dogs rescued, rehomed in June across 6 states in America

 

Abandoned, Injured, Yet Full of Joy : Darla's Flight to Freedom   Darla is one of the sweetest, most loving dogs you’ve ever met. You’d never think she was treated with such cruelty by her former owner. Darla and her 7 puppies were dumped at a vacant campground in Tennessee, with no food or water. One pup had already died when they were found. At the shelter, staff discovered a deep neck wound that worsened by the day. An X-ray revealed the shocking culprit: a .45 caliber hollow-point bullet. Can you just imagine the cruel life she escaped?   Darla was rushed into emergency surgery. When she woke up from the procedure, Darla felt so much better that staff members said she was literally dancing around in celebration, wagging her tail and giving kisses - her way of saying, “thank you.” On June 19th, Pilots To The Rescue flew Darla along with 20 other dogs and 5 cats from Tennessee to New Hampshire in this life-saving joint mission with BISSELL Pet Foundation and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.  Because of your support, a dog who was left for dead is about to start a new life with a loving family. It’s what she deserves, considering everything she went through. Amazingly, all of Darla's puppies have already been adopted, so now it's her turn to live a life free from pain, filled with endless summer days surrounded by love.   A Record-Breaking June for Pilots To The Rescue Darla survived the unthinkable, but the final chapter in her story was written by you. If it wasn’t for your support, we wouldn’t have been able to fly her safety and complete a record eight consecutive rescues to give over 300 animals a second chance! In the month of June, we rescued an unbelievable 190 dogs and 124 cats from overcrowded shelters across six states, including Maryland, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana. Like Darla, every one of these animals had a story of heartbreak and hope.  There’s Nemo and Dory, two Chihuahuas who had been rescued from a horrific hoarding situation. Someone had more than 30 Chihuahuas living in a single home!   Then there’s Sadie, a 60-pound lovebug who had been waiting at a shelter for more than 2 years before Pilots To The Rescue swooped her up. Once she arrived at Freedom First Rescue in Eastern Pennsylvania, it took less than two weeks for her to find a new family! And it was worth the wait: Sadie even has a doggy brother to play with. Here she is with her new mom!       YOUR GIFT SAVES LIVES Make a one-time or monthly donation today!   Donate     Brave Tofu Fights his Way to a New Life   Meet Tofu, a tiny pup facing a big challenge. When he was found, staff members noticed that Tofu was not only much smaller than his siblings, but extremely weak and emaciated. A veterinary examination revealed that Tofu has “Mega-E” (Megaesophagus), a rare condition in which the esophagus is enlarged and unable to move food and liquid to the stomach.     In other words, he was slowly starving because he was unable to swallow! That's why Tofu weighed just 2.5 lbs while his siblings were three times his size. Since Tofu was unable to eat, his survival was uncertain. But in a marvelous act of compassion, medical sponsor group Mardi Paws was able to raise nearly $10,000 towards his life-saving medical treatments.  The procedure was a success, removing the obstruction that prevented Tofu from eating and drinking. However, the volunteer-driven shelter that had been caring for Tofu - still less than 10 weeks old - had never encountered this medical condition before, and didn’t have the resources to keep him on his long road to recovery. That’s when Pilots To The Rescue and our incredible partners at BISSELL Pet Foundation stepped in.   On June 26th, we flew Tofu along with 25 other dogs and 3 cats to Syracuse, New York. That’s more than 1,500 miles in the air, and every minute of flight was directly fueled by your support. As you can see, Tofu was having the flight of his life! He spent the whole flight playing, posing for photos, and soaking up the love from Pilots To The Rescue Top Dog Michael Schneider, Co-pawlet Ryan Ortiz, and Director of Development Jennifer Xu. Due to his fragile state, Jennifer fed this little guy in her lap by hand.   Tofu is now safe in the care of Friends Forever Animal Rescue, and no longer fighting to survive. Veterinarians are optimistic that with regular medication and daily doses of love, he can live the life he always deserved. Stories like Tofu's show the true power of collective compassion. Were you moved by Tofu’s journey? If so, please consider donating so we can continue saving more dogs like him, dogs who are clinging to life and hope. To keep soaring, we need you on board. Give today and help us save more Tofu's! Donate Today       From our Team at Pilots To The Rescue  WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Donate Today!     Follow our rescue stories on social!   View Email in Browser

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