Go To Bali, Unknowingly Eat Dog Meat

You might want to consider taking a vegan approach on your next Indonesian vacay. According to a recent investigation, the unregulated dog meat market is running rampant in the country with animals being brutally captured and butchered just metres from popular locations, then fed to unsuspecting tourists. The ABC’s 7:30 program, in conjunction with an undercover Animals Australia investigator, found horrific evidence that not only is the deceptive practice occurring daily (while undercover they literally witnessed the meat being disguised and sold to a group of unknowing beachgoers), but they also saw first hand the extent of the atrocious animal cruelty taking place behind the scenes. 

“Satay, just one dollar,” the vendor offers to the group.

Every year thousands of dogs, including pets, are slaughtered for human consumption in the country. While it is legal to eat dog meat in Bali, the methods used in production are often inhumane and can potentially pose life-threatening health risks. During their investigation they witnessed a puppy being fed cyanide-laced fish heads (yes we recommend you do not view), which, apart from the obvious concerns here, could have life threatening consequences for the consumer. The dogs are often held in tiny cages, their mouths taped shut, trapped with their own excrement, before they’re shot, strangled, bludgeoned or poisoned and served up. 

“The dog-meat trade breaches animal cruelty laws and food safety laws – that is a statement of fact,” Animals Australia’s campaign director Lyn White told the program. “Tourists will walk down a street, they’ll see a street store selling satay but what they are not realising is the letters RW on the store mean it is dog meat being served.” 

Equipped with little more than a phone, a scooter and a small video camera, the undercover investigator infiltrated the unregulated dog meat market, later admitting that what he saw will haunt him for life.

The investigation caught the eye of Kelly Slater who shared an Instagram post featuring a screenshot from the ABC’s story with the words, “Might wanna go vegan in Bali..!!??!” and “Sounds like those rumours we’ve all heard are true.”

We won’t get into the extent of the horrific discoveries made, but we will recommend thinking twice next time you’re in the region feeling the need to nourish after a long day of leg burning lefts. Give the mystery meat a miss.

You can visit the full report here, though for obvious reasons we suggest against.