Reports from Bali, Indonesia, have it that unsuspecting tourists are being served dog meat.
It was gathered that the tourists are told that the ‘delicacy’ is “chicken satay.”
Australia’s ABC gathered that most of the canine skewers served in the area are poisoned from the cyanide which is used in killing the mammals –these are besides those that are not hung on trees to die.
Many have termed the discovery an act of cruelty, and serving it to tourists who know nothing about it, makes it more shocking.
“Aside from the cruelty, the greatest shock was to discover that tourists are unwittingly eating dog meat and fueling the trade,” an investigator from activist group, Animals Australia, simply known as Luke, said. “The average tourist coming to Bali has no idea that ‘RW’ on the outside of popular street food stalls indicates dog meat.”
According to him, he stayed for four months as an undercover, documenting the city’s dog meat trade; the brutality with which the pups are slaughtered for food vendors.
“As an animal cruelty investigator, I have trained myself to cope with cruelty, but nothing prepared me for the brutal catching of dogs in the village,” he said. “I focused on my camera work but it was gut-wrenching to hear these dogs … screaming and wailing in terror and sorrow.”
In Indonesia, eating dog meat is legal – many believe that it makes them more virile –but killing them and dishing out poisoned meat are not.
A 60-year-old man told “7:30” Program, that, “It is good for health especially during winter. It is good for breathing. It makes us strong.”
However, tourists are increasingly becoming more aware of the situation as many now question local vendors when approached to buy “chicken.”
“Satay chicken, not dog?” one Australian tourist asks a peddler in a videotaped exchange.
“No, not dog,” he said.
“I’m happy just as long as it’s not dog,” the Aussie continued before chowing down on Fido.
Animal rights activists are already planning a crackdown on the booming dog market.