Jakarta, 14 March 2023 –Campaigners from the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) coalition, including FOUR PAWS, are celebrating news that Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta has introduced a ban on the dog and cat meat trade

Alongside DMFI, Hollywood A-List actors, Kim Basinger, Ricky Gervais and Peter Egan celebrated the news by sending a video message shortly after the Food Security, Marine and Agriculture Department confirmed Jakarta now becomes the 21^st jurisdiction in Indonesia to ban the trade. The move comes in response to an intensive campaign by DMFI, exposing the severe animal cruelty and risks to human health from zoonotic diseases such as rabies.

It is estimated only about 4.5% percent of Indonesia’s 270 million people are estimated to have ever consumed dog meat. A nationwide opinion poll, conducted by Nielsen in 2021 and commissioned by DMFI, revealed 93% of all Indonesians support a national ban.

FOUR PAWS CEO, Josef Pfabigan, celebrated the “historic and watershed” moment.

Pfabigan, “This is truly a historic and watershed moment in the movement towards ending the dog and cat meat trade, with the capital of Indonesia introducing a ban on this cruel trade. FOUR PAWS has campaigned on this issue for years and currently has a petition with nearly two million signatures worldwide."

Kim Basinger said, “Thank you Governor Heru for your leadership in taking this brave and tremendously powerful step to ban the cruel, dangerous and illegal dog meat trade in Jakarta. Your actions send a very clear message – dogs are not food. These laws to prohibit dog meat, will have far reaching impacts, protecting both animals and people. Dogs are a true gift to all of us on this planet. They are our companions who serve mankind loyally. They must be protected from the abusive and unimaginably cruel dog meat trade.”

Ricky Gervais said, “I’d like to add my voice to the millions of other in calling for a ban on the dog meat trade in Indonesia. The message is clear, dogs are not food.”

Peter Egan said, “Thank you Governor Heru for your great leadership and compassion in taking action to ban the dog meat trade in Jakarta. Your actions will protect animals and safeguard communities’ health and welfare. I would like to add my voice to the millions of others in calls for a ban on the dog meat trade throughout Indonesia to protect the tens of thousands of dogs each month from unimaginable cruelty and also to showcase and celebrate Indonesia’s great compassion and its natural and cultural beauty.”

Karin Franken, national coordinator of the DMFI coalition, welcomed the news, saying, “On behalf of the Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition and the millions of dog and cat-loving and concerned citizens across Indonesia, I would like to express our deepest appreciation for the DKI Jakarta Food, Maritime and Fisheries Security Service for taking these progressive measures to safeguard the health and welfare of both people and animals.

“Jakarta’s ban sets a clear example for other jurisdictions to follow that the dog and cat meat trade is intolerably cruel and dangerous and will help raise public awareness about the serious dangers and animal suffering inherent in this trade.”

Background

FOUR PAWS DCMT CAMPAIGN PETITION: https://help.four-paws.org/en/end-dog-and-cat-meat-trade-southeast-asia

Dog Meat-Free Indonesia (DMFI) is a coalition of national and international animal protection organisations comprising Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Animal Friends Jogja, Humane Society International, Animals Asia and FOUR PAWS which exposes the brutality of the trades and campaigns for a ban on the grounds of animal cruelty and risks to public health.

Across Indonesia, more than one million dogs a year are killed for meat, most of them stolen pets or strays, snatched from the streets and trafficked long distances to supply demand “hotspots”. DMFI investigations suggest that in Jakarta, an estimated 9,520 dogs per month or around 340 dogs every day are killed for meat, with over 95% of dogs trafficked from West Java province where rabies remains endemic. Dog meat can be found for sale in Jakarta’s markets such as Pasar Senen, Pasar Cijantung and others, and suppliers also sell to local restaurants throughout the city.

The prohibition was officially confirmed by Jakarta’s Food, Maritime and Fisheries Security Service in Appeal Letter Number 4493/-1823.55 which restricts the trafficking of rabies-transmitting animals and non-food animal products, on the grounds of protecting public health. It covers what is known as the Special Area of the city of (DKI) Jakarta which is the most populous metropolitan area in Indonesia, comprising the capital as well as five satellite cities and three complete regencies, including parts of West Java and Banten provinces.

FACTS

• A Nielsen opinion poll in January 2021, commissioned by DMFI, revealed that 93% of Indonesians support a national dog meat ban, and just 4.5% have ever consumed dog meat.
• Dog Meat-Free Indonesia (DMFI) is a coalition of national and international animal protection organisations comprising Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Animal Friends Jogja, Humane Society International, Animals Asia and FOUR PAWS which exposes the brutality of the trades and campaigns for a ban on the grounds of animal cruelty and risks to public health.
• The dog meat trade is now banned in 21 cities and regencies across Indonesia. The regencies are Karanganyar, Sukoharjo, Semarang, Blora, Brebes, Purbalingga, Mojokerto, Temanggung, Jepara and Magelang. The cities are Salatiga, Malang, Semarang, Magelang, Blitar, Mojokerto, Medan, Surabaya and Jakarta.

Globally, intolerance of animal cruelty and concern for human health is seeing an ever-growing number of countries, territories, provinces, regencies and cities passing explicit laws prohibiting the trade in and slaughtering and consumption of dogs and cats.