The true scale of the risks the dog and cat meat trade poses to both public and animal health is difficult to quantify given the nature of the operations of the trade, its reliance on a supply of animals of unknown health status and origins, as well as illegal operations.

There is mounting evidence that the trade poses significant zoonotic risk to global health. It is clear that the dogs and cats in the trade serve as a significant reservoir for the emergence and spread of zoonotic pathogens.

Each year, approximately 59,000 people die from rabies across the world. 99% of all transmissions originate from the bite or scratch of an infected  dog, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).  FOUR PAWS want to bring attention to a concealed yet vital connection affecting both humans and animals - the connection between rabies and the dog meat trade.

Rabies is prevalent in countries across Asia where the dog meat trade thrives. Our efforts to combat rabies through dog population vaccinations  are persistently hindered by the dog meat trade, which involves the theft and transportation  of dogs with uncertain vaccination records.

Rabies transcends boundaries. This disease not only claims the lives of tens of thousands of people annually, it also brings suffering upon helpless animals across the world.