Police in Vietnam dismantled an illegal cat‑theft ring that had taken more than 400 cats for the meat trade, rescuing the animals and sending six suspects to court. The crackdown, carried out last week in Tay Ninh Province and Ho Chi Minh City, also saw nine people arrested for operating a criminal group that specialised in stealing and collecting cats.
During the raids authorities recovered over 400 live cats and about 80 animals kept frozen after slaughter, as well as 21 additional cats seized from a separate facility. Roughly forty of the stolen cats have been reunited with their owners, while a small number of animals later died during their ordeal, the welfare group Humane World for Animals said.
“The cases are still being examined and we’re providing food and essential supplies for the animals still in police custody,” the organisation said. It praised police for the decisive action but noted that some cats were harmed in the so‑called ‘cat‑meat’ trade.
Although cat and dog meat remain legal in Vietnam with permits that record animal origin, the surge of pet‑theft operations—using poison baits, iron pincers and spring‑loaded snares—has raised alarm. Humane World estimates that each year, about one million cats and five million dogs are trafficked or slaughtered for meat in the country.
The incident reflects a broader shift in attitudes: a 2023 survey by the organisation found growing public opposition, especially among younger pet owners, who now largely support bans on both the dog and cat meat trades. Police urge anyone who believes their pets have been stolen to come forward to help identify recovered animals.
