Photo by: FOUR PAWS
On November 12, 2024, the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) coalition took a significant stride in advancing animal welfare legislation by submitting three proposals to the House of Representatives in Indonesia aimed at protecting companion animals from the horrific dog and cat meat trades.
These proposals, if enacted, would mark Indonesia’s first comprehensive laws dedicated to safeguarding the rights of dogs and cats, particularly addressing the cruel and archaic practices of the dog and cat meat trades. Should these initiatives be successful, Indonesia would join the ranks of five other nations in Asia that have explicitly banned such trades.
The legislative proposals were presented to Dr. Bob Hasan S.H., M.H., the Head of Legislation in Indonesia, alongside an open letter directed to newly elected President Prabowo. This letter, reflecting widespread global support, urged decisive action against the cruel dog and cat meat trades.
DMFI has campaigned for an end to the dog and cat meat trades for years, conducting numerous shocking investigations into Indonesia’s underworld network of dog and cat thieves, traffickers, traders, and slaughterers. As a result of DMFI campaigns, more than 70 cities, regencies and provinces ―including the Special Capital Region of Jakarta―have introduced directives and regulations to prohibit the trades. Despite this, there is no national ban in place, without which effective enforcement remains a challenge.
The three draft regulations encompass a broad spectrum of protective measures. First, the National Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Companion Animals seeks to criminalize various forms of cruelty, such as torture and neglect, and to establish principles of responsible pet ownership. This foundational law would also explicitly prohibit the dog and cat meat trades, covering activities from theft to slaughter for human consumption.
Second, the Government Regulation on the Nationwide Ban on Dog and Cat Meat Trades proposes a comprehensive ban on all interactions with the trades, closing existing loopholes that have allowed these practices to continue.
Finally, the Presidential Regulation would create a task force dedicated to addressing the public health implications of the dog meat trade—specifically its role in the transmission of rabies, which remains endemic in numerous provinces across Indonesia.
Public support for these measures is overwhelming; a January 2021 Nielsen opinion poll commissioned by DMFI revealed that 93% of Indonesians advocate for a national ban on dog meat. With fewer than 5% having ever consumed dog meat, the demand for legislative action reflects not only ethical considerations but public health as well.
The fate of these significant proposals now rests in the hands of the Indonesian Parliament, which will review and discuss them in an upcoming session. If approved for inclusion in the national legislative program, a ban could potentially be enacted within five years, heralding a new era for animal rights in Indonesia. The proposed regulations not only aim to elevate animal welfare standards but also align Indonesia with international norms, reinforcing the global movement towards compassionate treatment of all animals.
