As if human trafficking wasn’t enough of a global concern, cats are now at risk too. Recently, twelve men in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam were caught illegally capturing nearly 2,700 cats from the city. Every day, they would split up into small groups, searching the streets for unattended cats. They reportedly captured around 10 cats every night using pieces of fish to lure them into traps. They would even occasionally break into homes and steal them directly.
Upon raiding the men’s compound, police found seven motorcycles, two fur-removing devices and over 50 cat traps. When questioned, the men admitted to stealing thousands of cats off the streets.
In Vietnam, it is not uncommon for restaurants to serve cat meat. The men likely slaughtered them and sold them to restaurant owners illegally. Luckily, police were able to recover 50 cats, 13 of which were returned to their owners. The rest of the surviving cats are now safe at an animal welfare center.
The Humane World for Animals organization estimates that around one million cats in Vietnam are captured and slaughtered for food every single year. This incident has raised awareness to this problem, and activists and pet owners are now protesting the legality of cat meat consumption in Vietnam.