A recent investigation has revealed that Australian tourists were being tricked into eating dog meat skewers during their holidays on an Indonesian island. On Thursday, Bali officials seized hundreds of kilograms of raw dog meat and numerous skewers from vendors, despite a comprehensive ban on the trade of such meat on the popular resort island, the Independent reported. 

According to AFP, public order officers in Bali’s Jembrana district seized at least 500 dog meat skewers and 56 kilograms of raw dog meat from various sellers following a series of inspections. Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, head of the Bali Public Order Agency, said that inspections conducted this week found three vendors still peddling dog meat, defying local regulations that prohibit its sale.

Two of the vendors had previously received warnings from Bali Police regarding their engagement in the trade of dog meat. 

“We won’t suddenly take legal action, but we are giving them the chance to know the ban and why it was banned. But we will process recurrent (sellers) for deterrent effect. We’re not playing around,” Mr Dharmadi said. 

”Dog meat is not food and can also potentially cause disease. Don’t believe in the superstitions that dog meat is healthy. That’s misleading,” he added. 

Two of the vendors are reportedly set to attend court in August.

Notably, Bali has enacted a stringent ban on the dog meat trade, imposing severe penalties on offenders, including a maximum prison sentence of three months and a hefty fine of up to 50 million rupiah (approximately 2,300 pounds), serving as a strong deterrent to those who would engage in this illicit activity.

Unlike regulated agricultural practices, the dog meat trade often relies on the inhumane seizure of dogs that are not raised for food, including stolen pets, community-owned dogs, and street dogs. 

Animal welfare organizations, including Animals International, have condemned the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat, citing the inherent cruelty of the trade. They argue that the dog meat trade not only subjects dogs to immense suffering but also poses serious health and safety risks to both tourists and local communities. 

However, dog meat is considered a part of traditional cuisine and consumed in certain regions of Southeast and East Asia, including China, Vietnam, and North Korea. 
 

Bengaluru:

Responding to the row over the alleged supply of dog meat to Bengaluru hotels, the Karnataka government stated on Saturday that the meat seized from the railway station on Friday night had been sent to a food laboratory for analysis and action would be taken based on the results. 

The Karnataka Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) Commissionerate on Saturday made the statement, according to an official release by the Karnataka Health department.

Some groups had alleged on Friday evening that dog meat was being supplied to Bengaluru hotels from Rajasthan, and protested.

The commissionerate stated that, on Friday evening, it was reported that mutton and other meat was being supplied to Bengaluru via train.

A police team and officials from the Karnataka FSSA went to the railway station and conducted an inspection.

During the inspection, it was found that parcels that had arrived by train from Rajasthan were being loaded into a vehicle on the outer premises of the station.

There were 90 parcels, and upon inspection, animal meat was found in them. Samples were collected and sent to the food laboratory for analysis.

“Detailed information about the FSSAI licences of the senders and recipients of the parcels is being collected. If any discrepancies are found, further legal action will be initiated as per regulations,” the statement said.

Hindutva activist Puneet Kerehalli and others protested near Majestic Railway Station in Bengaluru on Friday, alleging that dog meat, along with mutton, was being brought from Rajasthan to Bengaluru for sale.

A case was filed against them for obstructing police officers on duty. Later, around Friday midnight, the jurisdictional Cottonpet Police arrested them.

A case has been filed against Puneet Kerehalli under Section 132 of the BNS Act (obstruction of government officials’ duties) and Section 351 (2) for disturbing the peace.

Sources state that the meat was meant to be supplied to fine-dining restaurants in Bengaluru.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)