What countries eat dogs?

This article looks at where and why dog meat is eaten, what that means for people who love dogs, and practical steps to keep pets safe while traveling or at home. The tone is practical and observational; biological and social points are presented with cautious language where certainty is limited.

Why dog owners and advocates should pay attention — what this means locally and globally

Knowing that dog meat is consumed in some places matters for anyone who keeps, travels with, or advocates for dogs. Travel risk awareness is the obvious starting point: arriving in an unfamiliar region without understanding local markets, festivals, or informal trading can put a pet at risk of theft or exposure to unsafe handling. I typically see owners underestimate how quickly a loose dog can be taken in a crowded market or by opportunistic sellers.

Beyond immediate safety, awareness creates openings for humane advocacy and rescue. Where an active trade still exists there may be local groups, shelters, or veterinarians who welcome practical help—medical care, microchipping drives, or support for alternatives to the trade. Supporting those local efforts can be more effective than arriving with judgment alone.

At the same time, having accurate information helps reduce stigma. The presence of a dog-meat trade is a cultural and economic phenomenon in places, not a universal characteristic of a national population. Understanding the drivers behind the trade (listed below) allows dog lovers to approach situations with targeted, respectful strategies rather than blanket condemnation.

Finally, awareness ties to community safety: markets that trade in live animals under poor conditions may increase risk of bites, zoonotic disease spread, and illegal trafficking. For owners who care about the broader welfare of dogs, intervening through the right channels can protect both owned pets and community animals.

At a glance: countries and regions where dog meat is still consumed

Dog meat consumption is documented in parts of East and Southeast Asia, some areas of West Africa, and in isolated pockets elsewhere. That pattern is uneven: in many countries where it has been reported, consumption is declining or confined to older generations, rural areas, or clandestine markets rather than being a mainstream urban practice.

• Regions and notable examples often mentioned: parts of China (including periodic festivals that attract media attention), certain regions of South Korea, Vietnam, pockets of Indonesia and the Philippines, and parts of West Africa such as Ghana. In many of these places the scale and profile of the trade vary widely by locality.
• Festivals and markets frequently cited are high-visibility events rather than an accurate reflection of nationwide habits; a well-known instance is the Yulin festival in China, which draws international attention but may not reflect the daily reality for most residents.
• Legal status varies: some countries have specific bans or regional ordinances against dog slaughter and sale, others regulate meat markets more generally, and in some jurisdictions enforcement is limited so trade persists underground.
• Trends generally show decline where civil-society pressure and changing diets intersect, persistence where economic or cultural drivers remain, and occasional clandestine trade that adapts to legal pressure.

Root causes explained: cultural, economic and historical reasons behind the practice

Understanding drivers helps avoid simplistic moralizing. Historically, where animal protein was scarce, people turned to locally available sources to meet nutritional needs; dog meat may have been one of several proteins that filled that role. In some communities these habits may be several generations old and are tied to practical food security rather than modern tastes alone.

Cultural, ritual, or medicinal beliefs also help explain demand. In a few contexts, dog meat is valued for perceived health or warming properties during certain seasons or rites of passage. Those beliefs are social rather than biological facts and can be resilient even as other parts of culture change.

There is a clear economic function: selling dogs can be a source of income for people in poverty, for informal traders, or for small-scale slaughter operators. Where formal employment is limited, the dog-meat trade can represent a cash flow that is hard to replace quickly without targeted economic alternatives.

Finally, the role of domestication matters. Dogs are accessible in human environments; free-roaming or community dogs may be easier to capture than truly wild animals. That accessibility, combined with market demand, creates the supply side of the trade, which in turn can encourage theft or unregulated collection of companion animals.

Timing and triggers: festivals, seasons and circumstances that increase consumption

Consumption is not uniformly distributed in time. Seasonal festivals or cultural observances can create spikes in demand, with traders and consumers planning months in advance. These peaks may receive international attention but mask the more constant, low-profile trade that occurs year-round in some regions.

Periods of food insecurity, crop failure, or economic hardship may also shift diets toward cheaper or more available proteins, which can temporarily increase demand for dog meat in affected areas. Conversely, economic development and greater access to other meats often reduce the practice over time.

Geography matters: rural areas with limited market access may show different patterns than cities, where consumers often have more choices and animal-welfare campaigns can reach larger audiences. Policy changes and enforcement lapses can create sudden shifts—when a market is closed, clandestine trade may move to private channels rather than disappear.

Public-health risks and red flags: diseases, food-safety issues and warning signs

From a public-health perspective, the trade raises several concerns. There is a plausible risk of zoonotic disease transmission: rabies is a primary concern where the virus is present in dog populations, while bacterial contamination such as Salmonella or E. coli can result from poor slaughter and storage practices. Parasites and other pathogens may also be present depending on slaughter conditions and cooking practices. These are risk pathways rather than guaranteed outcomes, but they suggest caution.

Unsanitary slaughter and processing are often visible: lack of refrigeration, open-air handling, blood runoff into public spaces, and absence of routine veterinary inspection may suggest higher risk. Signs of illegal activity include markets that operate at odd hours, traders who resist identification, or clustered activities hidden behind non-descript premises.

Animal-welfare red flags overlap with public-health indicators: dogs transported in crowded cages, visible injuries consistent with rough capture, and signs of inhumane killing methods. For owned dogs, sudden disappearances in neighborhoods where such trade is known, or neighbors offering to buy a seemingly healthy pet for cash, are yellow flags for theft linked to the trade.

Bite-related hazards are also relevant; handlers working without vaccination or protective equipment are at risk, and a bite from an unvaccinated animal may transmit rabies. Owners traveling in areas with active trade should view bite incidence as an urgent medical issue rather than a minor injury.

Actions owners can take: legal options, reporting and community advocacy

Start with secure identification. A microchip registered to current contact information is the most reliable permanent ID; visible tags with a phone number help return a lost dog quickly. Register the microchip with local and international registries if traveling across borders.

Immediate prevention measures matter: supervise dogs outdoors, keep them on leash in unfamiliar locations, and avoid crowded markets or areas known for informal animal trade. At night, keep pets inside or in secured runs; many thefts occur after dark. When traveling, research local risks beforehand and avoid neighborhoods or stalls where live animals are traded.

Do basic legal homework before arriving in a new country: know whether dog slaughter is legal, whether certain breeds are protected, and what steps local shelters and veterinary authorities recommend. This helps avoid inadvertent exposure to risky foods and clarifies whom to contact in an emergency.

If abuse, illegal markets, or theft is suspected, report it to local animal-control authorities or recognized NGOs rather than attempting a confrontation. Take photos, note vehicle descriptions, and preserve any evidence in a way that local law enforcement or welfare groups can act on. In many places there are specific hotlines run by animal-welfare organizations that can respond more effectively than general police.

Safeguarding pets: management, training and secure housing to reduce risk

Physical containment is the foundation: secure fencing, locked gates, and night-time shelter reduce the chance a dog will be taken. Inspect fences for loose boards, dig-under points, or easy climb-outs, and consider burying hardware cloth at the base where theft by digging is a risk.

Behavioral tools are complementary. Reliable recall and a solid ‘leave it’ or food-ignore cue can prevent dogs from accepting rides, food, or other interactions with strangers that could lead to capture. Training should be positive, consistent, and practiced in real-world environments so that cues work under distraction.

Socialization helps reduce roaming driven by anxiety or chasing. Dogs that are engaged with their households and have regular walks are less likely to wander into marketplaces or risky zones. For community safety, encourage local shelters and clinics to run spay/neuter and vaccination programs that reduce the number of free-roaming dogs vulnerable to capture.

Community measures matter: neighborhood watches focused on pet safety, cooperative microchipping drives, and agreements with local vets to report suspicious activity can all lower risk. Supporting local animal-welfare partners with donations or volunteer time is often the most direct way to effect change.

Protective tools and equipment: collars, trackers and containment solutions

• Microchips plus visible ID collars and tags: ensure the chip is registered to current contact details and the collar fits comfortably.
• GPS trackers and smart collars: real-time location alerts can shorten recovery time if a dog is taken; choose devices with geofencing and battery life suited to your routine.
• Sturdy leashes, escape-resistant harnesses, and secure travel crates: hardware that resists chewing or quick release can prevent opportunistic losses during walks or transit.
• Home security measures: cameras with mobile alerts, motion-activated lights, and reinforced fencing reduce both theft risk and the appeal of a property to trespassers.

References and further reading: the research and sources behind this article

• World Health Organization. “Rabies.” WHO Fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
• Merck Veterinary Manual. “Rabies.” Section on etiology, clinical signs, and prevention. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Rabies – Information for Travelers and Pet Owners.” https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/
• Humane Society International. “The Dog and Cat Meat Trade.” Campaign reports and regional investigations (examples include country-specific reports on Vietnam and China).
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “Food safety and zoonoses.” FAO resources on animal-source foods and public health.