For the last six months, FOUR PAWS has been working with the owners of a dog slaughterhouse in Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia to not only shut it down, but also provide the owners with an alternative livelihood to ensure they never return to the trade again. Most people involved in the dog meat trade do not want to be in the industry, but often feel forced into it out of economic necessity. During our meetings, the owners repeatedly thanked FOUR PAWS for the opportunity. During one particularly emotional meeting, the owner expressed that no one had ever provided her and her family with help before to get out of the dog meat trade, and she is forever grateful to never have to kill dogs again. Read more here.

Hours away in the capital city of Phnom Penh, our team has been busy preparing the supplies and kennels needed for the rescue mission. Minivans were put on standby to not only transport all of the dogs to safety, but also remove the rusty holding cages to ensure that they will never hold another dog for slaughter again.

Unfortunately, as rescue mission planning was taking place, Cyclone Sinlaku was barreling through Southeast Asia, bringing torrential rainfall and gusty winds. Nevertheless, on 2 August our team made the long, muddy trek to the dog slaughterhouse to make final arrangements for the rescue.

During the visit we found many scared and hungry dogs packed into two rusty, heavy metal cages awaiting slaughter. The cages were literally sinking into the mud below with the weight of the dogs on top. Most dogs were scared, trembling, trying their best to hide underneath the rest. Others were panting, too exhausted to move, and just trying to survive. You can see the fear in their eyes whenever a person would walk past their cage. There was a strong putrid stench from the combination of feces, urine, and heat. All of the dogs had originated from Siem Reap Province, they survived a tortuous drive on the back of a motorbike taking more than four hours to the slaughterhouse. Most dogs had been obviously stolen, many have wounds and cuts. Our team tried to comfort them the best they could, and provided them with food and water.

After the storm passed and we were sure we can travel safely – we went back to Kampong Thom to rescue the animals and shut down this slaughterhouse for good.

This cruel facility killed over 12,000 dogs since it first opened. Now the owners get a second chance for a totally different life! With their a lifelong commitment to never be involved in the trade again, and though our support with their new local shop, another step is made to end the dog and cat meat trade in Southeast Asia.

The day started well before dawn, as the team feverishly prepared last-minute supplies in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Three minivans were loaded full of the equipment needed for the day – transport crates, leads, dog treats and set off down the muddy roads towards Kampong Thom.

As the team arrived on site, they were greeted by the sweetest faces. Our team leader Rathany rushed to the cages, packed tightly with dogs. Slowly she counted 15 dogs, most looking sad and hopeless. She assessed their condition again. Several of them were severely dehydrated, others were vomiting. As Rathany made her assessments, the rest of the team quickly unloaded and prepared the transport crates. Each crate was thoughtfully prepared with pee pads, waterers, and even a bone for the long 3-hour journey back to Phnom Penh. One by one, the dogs were removed from the holding cages and placed inside their individual transport crate and eventually loaded into the minivans. 

After all the crates were safely loaded into the minivans, the team had the monumental task of removing the holding crates and slaughtering equipment that have taken the lives of thousands of dogs before. The team had to pry the heavy cages out of the mud and dirt, and load the into the vans. In Phnom Penh, the cages will be torn apart and sold for scrap metal, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the rescue of more dogs.

Despite today’s success, our job is just beginning. The rescued dogs need extensive medical treatment and behavioural care, to help them forget the horrors they experience and learn to love again. At our partner charity Animal Rescue Cambodia, the dogs will all be vaccinated, bathed, spay/neutered, and nursed back to health. Once recovered both physically and emotionally from the trauma they’ve endured, each dog will be prepared for adoption into a loving home. But they have a long road ahead of them.

Today all of the rescued dogs received the first medical check-up at our partner charity Animal Rescue Cambodia. While the dogs are starting to recover from the horrors they endured, unfortunately many of them have severe medical conditions that will require intensive treatment. Delphi and Brodie are suffering from severe infected bite wounds, most likely the result of being bitten by the other dogs they were trafficked with. They were started on immediate antibiotic therapy and will have their wounds flushed daily. Many of the other dogs continue to be dehydrated and scared, but are slowly learning to trust people again.

Dog Daisy is a special exception! She started dancing in her kennel upon seeing her rescuer Rathany this morning. Daisy leapt into Rathany's arms again, wanting to cuddle, give kisses, and express her appreciated for being rescued from the slaughterhouse. Once all the medical assessments were completed, Rathany spent the remaining afternoon sitting with Daisy in the kennel showering her with affection, and later gave her a bath! Layers upon layers of dirt came off. Daisy reminds us of why we fight so hard every day to end the cruel dog meat trade, these dogs are forgiving and loyal companions, not someone’s dinner.