London, 10^th November 2020 – During the virtual 2020 World Travel Market held from 9 to 11 November, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS shone a light on the public health risks posed by the dog and cat meat trade to tourism in Southeast Asia, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  FOUR PAWS was one of the key guest speakers invited to take part in a panel discussion on how the tourism industry needs to build back better for the future. FOUR PAWS is calling for an outright ban of the dog and cat meat trade across Southeast Asia, and is asking for tourism operators and travel trade associations to join the fight against this threat to animals, people and communities by signing a pledge of support.

During the panel discussion, FOUR PAWS raised awareness of the plight of over 10 million dogs and cats which are killed and eaten every year in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, often close to popular tourist destinations. Many of these animals are stolen pets or stray animals taken from the streets, crammed into small cages, transported without food and water, and brutally killed at restaurants, markets, and slaughterhouses throughout Southeast Asia. Moreover, poor hygiene standards at slaughterhouses, restaurants and live animal markets are ideal breeding grounds for the emergence of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19, posing a risk for locals and tourists alike. 

According to surveys conducted by travel company Thomas Cook and The British Travel Association (ABTA), 90 percent of customers consider it important that their holiday operator takes animal welfare seriously, whilst 52 percent of customers would not visit a country again after witnessing animal cruelty. On rating platform Tripadvisor, travellers report their horrors at witnessing dog and cat meat trade operations in Southeast Asia.

Many travel organisations were not aware of the impact the dog and cat meat trade has on tourism but several have now signed FOUR PAWS’ pledge to show their support for an end to the trade. They acknowledged that it is a tour operator’s responsibility to protect the destination, as well as the people and animals within it and are aiming to include the dog and cat meat trade in their animal welfare commitment. 

FOUR PAWS has been working to sustainably end the dog and cat meat trade since 2018. Following the launch of a campaign on an international and national level in Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam, the global animal welfare organisation conducted investigations, research, and surveys, as well as slaughterhouse closures to rescue animals from a cruel fate. 

Furthermore, FOUR PAWS supports local animal welfare organisations and communities in Southeast Asia with humane and sustainable stray animal care programmes. FOUR PAWS is also a member of several animal welfare coalitions including the Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition (DMFI) and the Asia Canine Protection Alliance (ACPA), which lobby against the trade in Southeast Asia, as well as being a member of the Asia for Animals Coalition, which works to improve the welfare of all animals across Asia.

FOUR PAWS is inviting travel businesses and associations to demonstrate their support for an end to the dog and cat meat trade, to protect millions of tourists, animals’ and communities by signing their pledge. Twenty-four companies and associations have already signed the pledge which can be found at:  www.dogcatmeat.four-paws.org.uk/travel  

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, Hungary, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in twelve countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.uk

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