Dog Meat Trade in Kupang Ends, NTT Rabies Efforts Strengthened

JAKARTA - Efforts to stop the dog meat trade and suppress the spread of rabies in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have recorded new developments. Two dog meat business actors in Kupang City, respectively, the owner of the slaughterhouse and the owner of the restaurant, officially closed their businesses after more than four decades of operation.

The closure is part of the "Model for Change - Business for Good" program, a collaborative initiative between Humane World for Animals (HWA), Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN Domestic), and the NTT Provincial Government.

This program focuses on business assistance, training, and behavioral changes for business actors who want to leave the practice of dog meat trading and switch to more ethical and sustainable businesses.

During the process, the HWA and JAAN teams also rescued 10 dogs that were still alive at the slaughterhouse.

NTT Province is known to be one of the regions with a fairly high level of dog meat trade in Indonesia. Every year thousands of dogs are reported to be caught from the streets and from people's homes, then traded across regions without adequate health checks.

Through the "Model for Change - Business for Good" program, stakeholders are trying to support the government's target to make NTT rabies-free by 2030 while increasing public awareness about the importance of animal welfare.

Director of the Humane World for Animals Ending Dog and Cat Meat Campaign, Julie Sanders, said that every effort to stop the practice of dog or cat meat trade is an important step for animal protection and public health.

"Every dog or cat meat business that stops operating through this program is a real step towards animal protection and public health. Trading dogs without vaccination is a big risk for human and animal safety," Julie said in her statement, Saturday, March 7.

One of the former business actors, who previously managed a dog slaughterhouse for 15 years, now switched to opening a daily necessities stall. He admitted that he felt more calm after leaving his old business.

"I feel relieved to be able to leave the old practice which is high risk. Now I want to contribute positively to the surrounding environment with a new business that is safer and more beneficial," he said.

Meanwhile, the former owner of another dog meat restaurant is now developing a business in the field of building materials. He admitted that he started considering changes after the rabies outbreak in Kupang in 2023.

"After the big rabies outbreak in Kupang in 2023, I started thinking about changing. Through this program's guidance, I got direction and motivation to start a new step for my family," he said.

Head of Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health, NTT Livestock Service, Melky Angsar, emphasized that the trade in dog meat is a serious threat to public health because it has the potential to expand the spread of rabies.

"The trade in dog meat is a serious threat to public health because it has the potential to expand the spread of rabies. Programs like Model for Change provide real solutions by helping people switch to safer and more sustainable livelihoods," he said.

After the closure of the business, the 10 rescued dogs were taken to the NTT Provincial Veterinary Animal Hospital to receive vaccinations and medical treatment. After undergoing quarantine and observation, the animals will be transferred to JAAN's shelter in West Java for further recovery before being adopted by a new family.

The founder and CEO of JAAN Domestic, Karin Franken, said the closure of the business showed that changes could occur through an educational and mentoring approach.

"This closure shows that with the right accompaniment and education, the community is willing to abandon the practice of trading dog meat. This is not only saving animals, but also improving public safety and health," said Karin.

The founder of Natha Satwa Nusantara, Davina Veronica, who also supports the campaign, also assessed that the dog meat trade has a wide impact on humans and animals.

"The trade in dog meat threatens the welfare of animals and humans. This program helps both at once, creating a safer, healthier, and loving future," he said.

According to the Chief Operating Officer of JAAN Domestic, drh. Merry Ferdinandez, the movement of dogs without vaccination is one of the main factors in the spread of rabies in various regions.

He said that in 2025 NTT recorded 78 cases of rabies in humans, making it one of the provinces with the highest case numbers in Indonesia.

At the national level, efforts to end the trade in dog and cat meat are also continuing to develop. To date, 116 provinces, cities, and regencies in Indonesia have implemented regulations that prohibit or restrict the trade.

In addition, the Draft Law on Animal Welfare and Protection which includes a national ban on the trade in dog and cat meat has also been included in the priority agenda of the DPR RI legislation in 2026.