In a room that looks like a warehouse, there are many cages lined up on a couple of floors. Each cage holds four to five cats. They were just rescued by police from a gang that specializes in cat theft. The gang had been stealing cats for a long time, slaughtering them and selling the meat as food.
Nine people were arrested last week for links to a "criminal group specializing in stealing and capturing cats," according to the Ho Chi Minh City police's newspaper.
In total, more than 400 live cats were rescued. In addition, about 80 dead cats were found on ice for preservation. 21 cats were also found at another facility.
Extensive pet thefts
Police cracked down on the gang after widespread pet thefts were reported in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to state-run news channel VietNamNet, the suspected cat thieves have admitted to stealing cats in the city for the past three years, selling the meat for around 25 kronor per kilo.
40 of the stolen cats have been reunited with their owners, according to the organization Humane World for Animals, which praises the police for "decisive action that has saved the lives of so many animals."
But around 100 of the rescued cats are said to have died "due to what they have endured," according to the organization.
Pet meat is common
It is legal to eat both cat and dog meat in Vietnam, and many restaurants openly display signs stating that they serve these animals. However, there are requirements that the sale of the meat is controlled and that the origin is clear - which is not the case with the stolen animals.
Humane World for Animals estimates that around five million dogs and cats are slaughtered for their meat in Vietnam each year and that around one in five Vietnamese consumes cat meat.
