What countries eat dog?

For dog lovers, knowing where and why dog meat is eaten matters because it affects empathy for communities, informs safety for pets when traveling or living abroad, and highlights practical steps for prevention and advocacy.

What dog lovers should know: cultural, emotional, and legal stakes

The emotional weight is immediate: many owners picture their own pet in place of animals slaughtered for food, which can motivate both advocacy and careful planning. Understanding cultural contexts helps avoid judgmental assumptions and supports more effective, respectful outreach where change is wanted.

Practical concerns follow. When moving, traveling, or boarding a dog in another country, it is useful to know local attitudes and laws so you can protect your animal and comply with requirements that may affect quarantine, vaccination, or microchipping.

There is also a safety angle. Pet theft can be market-driven; dogs that are free-roaming, poorly identified, or left unattended in certain areas may be targeted. Recognizing the economic and social drivers behind demand helps owners and communities design prevention strategies rather than reacting after a loss.

Where dog meat is eaten: countries and regional hotspots

Documented consumption is concentrated in parts of East and Southeast Asia (including regions within China, Korea, and Vietnam), in various West African countries (for example Ghana and Nigeria), and there are isolated reports from elsewhere; prevalence varies widely and is changing.

Within those regions the practice ranges from historically embedded local traditions to occasional market or festival consumption. In some places it is common in certain rural areas or cultural contexts, while in others it is increasingly rare or only present in a minority of communities.

Legal status also varies: some countries have national or local bans and increasing enforcement, while others regulate but do not prohibit the trade. In recent years consumption appears to be declining in several places under pressure from urbanization, public-health campaigns, and animal-welfare advocacy, but informal markets and enforcement gaps persist.

Reasons people eat dogs — tradition, necessity, and commerce

Reasons are rarely a single explanation. For some communities, eating dog has historical or ritual significance tied to seasonal festivals, celebrations, or specific beliefs about strength and health passed down through generations.

Economic factors also matter. Where affordable protein is scarce, dogs may be one option among others; in some markets demand creates financial incentives for suppliers, which can sustain a trade even when social attitudes are shifting.

Perceived health benefits or folkloric uses are often cited by consumers—beliefs that certain preparations confer warmth or cure minor ailments—which may persist even without scientific support. Taste preferences and culinary continuity within families and regions also help explain why the practice continues for some people.

When it happens: festivals, seasons, and special circumstances

Consumption tends to spike around certain events or seasons in places where it is culturally associated with festivals or climate-driven dietary choices; those temporal patterns increase risk for pets left unguarded near markets or large gatherings.

There is a rural–urban split: rural areas with fewer regulated slaughterhouses and more informal markets may see higher prevalence, while in many cities the practice becomes rarer but may still appear in underground or specialty markets.

Food insecurity, poverty, and disruptions to food supply chains can act as catalysts, increasing demand for inexpensive or locally sourced meat. Weak regulation and informal economies make it easier for a trade to operate outside official oversight, which raises health and safety concerns.

Public-health risks and medical red flags

From a public-health perspective, the dog-meat trade may increase exposure to zoonotic diseases. Rabies transmission is an obvious concern wherever rabid animals are handled or slaughtered without protection; bacterial infections such as Salmonella and E. coli are more likely when slaughter and handling are unsanitary. These points are likely linked to patterns of informal, unregulated processing rather than the species per se.

Parasitic infections have been reported in some studies where meat inspection and cooking practices are inconsistent. Food-safety hazards increase when slaughter is hurried, hygiene is poor, or meat is transported without cold-chain controls.

Owners should watch for signs that a pet is being targeted: unusual interest from strangers in acquiring dogs, sightings of people checking fences at odd hours, or offers to buy pets at a price that seems out of proportion. In jurisdictions with bans, participation in the trade can carry legal penalties—both for sellers and sometimes for purchasers—so risk of enforcement action is a factor as well.

If your dog goes missing: immediate steps and legal options

1. Begin an immediate search within the first hour: check the neighborhood, call the dog’s name loudly, visit local hiding spots, and bring familiar-smelling items like their bed or a favorite toy to attract them.
2. Report the loss to local police, municipal animal control, and nearby shelters; provide microchip ID, collar description, and the exact location and time of disappearance. If your dog is microchipped, contact the microchip registry to flag the number and confirm your contact details are current.
3. Use social media and community messaging: post clear, recent photos, distinctive markings, and the last known location; request shares and ask local businesses to display flyers. Rapid, concentrated visibility often produces the fastest leads.
4. If your dog is recovered after any period away, arrange an immediate veterinary check for injuries, bites, or signs of disease; consider a quarantine and update rabies vaccination if the animal’s status is uncertain, in consultation with your veterinarian and local health authorities.

Protecting and training dogs: practical steps for at-risk pets

Physical security matters. A secure fence of appropriate height, locked gates, and elimination of easy escape routes are basic protective measures. I typically advise owners to inspect fence lines for weak points and to test locks and latches regularly.

Training reduces risk. Reliable recall is the single most protective behavioral skill: consistent, short training sessions using positive reinforcement can build a return-to-owner response even in distracting environments. Leash training and boundary conditioning (teaching the dog to stay a set distance from the property edge) also lower the chance of wandering into risky areas.

Supervision is important where the threat is higher: avoid leaving dogs unattended outside, particularly near informal markets or during large local events. When visiting areas with known trade activity, leave pets at home or in secure, monitored care.

Behavioral enrichment and a stable routine can reduce the urge to roam. Dogs that receive adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and predictable care are less likely to bolt or seek out risky encounters that could lead to theft or harm.

Prevention gear that works: leashes, GPS trackers, and deterrents

• Microchips registered with current contact details and regular registry checks—microchips are passive but invaluable when ID information is accurate.
• GPS trackers or smart collars for real-time location updates; choose devices with reliable battery life and test them regularly.
• Durable leashes, secure harnesses, and lockable crates for transport—equipment that prevents accidental escape during travel or in crowded places.
• Visible ID tags with up-to-date phone numbers and an up-to-date clear photograph stored online for rapid sharing.

Sources, studies, and further reading

• World Health Organization. “Rabies.” WHO Fact Sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Rabies and Pets.” CDC Rabies Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/medical_care/index.html
• Hampson K., et al. 2015. “Estimating the Global Burden of Endemic Canine Rabies.” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003709
• Merck Veterinary Manual. “Rabies (Canine).” Merck Vet Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/rabies
• Humane Society International. “The Dog and Cat Meat Trade.” Investigations and Advocacy Resources. https://www.hsi.org/issues/dog-and-cat-meat-trade/
• World Animal Protection. “Dog and Cat Meat Trade Information.” Campaign Reports and Country Profiles. https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/our-work/animals-in-trade/dog-and-cat-meat-trade