Dozens Of Dogs Rescued From Slaughterhouses, DKI Provincial Government Invites Animal Lovers To Adopt

The location of the alleged dog slaughter in West Jakarta (M Jehan / VOI)

Head of the DKI Jakarta Food, Maritime and Fisheries Security Service (DKPKP) Suharini Eliawati said that her party had opened adoption of dozens of dogs that were rescued from slaughterhouses in West Jakarta.

Eli said the dogs had now been placed in shelters belonging to the animal-loving community, namely Animal Hope Shelter and Animal Defender.

"If someone wants to adopt it, that's the agreement. Go ahead and adopt it. So, we cooperate with collaborators. Please go to the shelter. Later there will be a team there," Eli told reporters, Thursday, March 9.

The dogs, said Eli, had their health checked. This is because the DKI Provincial Government is trying to free the rabies animal capital. Given that there is potential for confiscated dogs to have rabies disease when secured.

"Now the observations have been investigated. They are in good health. We thank our fellow collaborators who always provide support. Some provide feed assistance, some provide their health team," he said.

On Friday, February 24, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government together with the police conducted a raid on a dog selling place suspected of also slaughtering dog meat in Kapuk Village, West Jakarta.

In this action, the Animal Defender animal lover community also accompanied. Animal Defender founder Doni Herdaru said the dog slaughterhouse clearly violated the rules.

"The DKI Jakarta Office (KPKP) asked whether there were or not the documents. It turned out that there was none. Already, it was hit (infringement) by the Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Act," said Doni.

In fact, according to Doni, health certificates are a mandatory requirement for sending animals from outside the region. Therefore, the dogs sold in the place do not have rabies-free guarantees. This clearly endangers people who buy it.

"The potential for the spread of rabies from the endemic region of rabies to the DKI area that is already free of rabies is uncontrolled HPR income, including dog income for consumption. WHO also states that animal transportation is the main rabies spread pattern," said Doni.

Not to mention, the place has the potential to violate Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine; Law Number 18 of 2012 concerning Food; as well as Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection if proven to keep dog meat and sell it to consumers.

When the raid was carried out, officers did not find any dog meat that had been cut. The owner of the location did not admit that there was a dog meat slaughter. However, a place of burning was found at that location.

Doni Herdaru suspects that the arson was used to remove hair from the dog that was cut.

"We found a furnace that was on. I thought it was used to remove the hair of the dog that was being slaughtered," said Doni.

Doni's suspicions strengthened when officers found several pieces of dog meat there. Doni assumes that apart from selling live dogs, the place also provides the dog meat cutting service chosen by the buyer himself.

"So this place gives the people who come to choose the dogs directly. If you have chosen, pay, then cut it at the location," he said.