The Tomohon Extreme Market in the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi used to be a popular tourist spot. It was known for selling live animals, including pythons, bats, and rats. However, in 2018, videos of dogs and cats being brutally beaten and blowtorched alive circulated online, leading to international condemnation. Animal activists called on travel companies, such as Tripadvisor, to stop recommending the market as a tourist destination, and many complied. Despite the challenge of banning the dog and cat meat trade, a long-standing tradition among the local Minahasa people, a law was signed by Tomohon’s Mayor in July to ban the trade at the market. The market’s meat traders also agreed to permanently stop selling, slaughtering, and trafficking dogs and cats. This victory is considered a significant achievement by animal activists. Twenty-five dogs and three cats were rescued and taken to a sanctuary for quarantine. Moving forward, the Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition aims to spay, neuter, and vaccinate dogs and cats to prevent an influx of strays as a result of the ban. Poor governance is identified as a major obstacle in ending the dog and cat meat trade, as there are limited checks and regulations on the transportation of exotic animal meat. While the sale of dog meat is illegal in various parts of Asia, including Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, it still persists in countries like China, South Korea, and Vietnam. The ban on dog and cat meat in the Tomohon market may attract more travelers to North Sulawesi, as negative media attention and the brutality involved in the trade discouraged tourists.
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