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Dog meat campaign say tests find rabies at Indonesia markets

Jul 31, 2018 | 6:09 AM

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Anti-dog meat campaigners say tests of just nine dog carcasses from markets on the Indonesian island Sulawesi revealed one infected with rabies, highlighting the public health risks from the brutal trade.

The Humane Society International and Indonesian groups operating under the banner of Dog Meat Free Indonesia are campaigning to end the trade in live dogs for human consumption.

Earlier this year they released videos showing dogs being bludgeoned in front of spectators at Sulawesi markets and their hair burned off by blowtorch while alive.

The groups said the infection “hit rate” is consistent with published studies showing a high prevalence of rabies-positive dogs for sale in markets in Indonesia and other parts of Asia.