It's safe to say that most of the developed and developing world sees animals such as dogs and cats as household pets, instead of livestock used for consumption.
While that may be the case – for the most part – it doesn't mean Man's best friend isn't eaten at all in some parts of the world. Over in Asia, where the consumption of dog meat is still a pressing issue, things can get a little tricky when it comes to policing what people eat.
China and Vietnam are reported as the two biggest consumers of dog meat in the world, processing an estimated 10 million and five million dogs per year respectively. Where Vietnam stands out is the fact that its dog meat trade processes far more dogs per capita compared to China, despite the huge difference in population size.
Two missing, 31 rescued.
46-year-old Do Minh Khoi from Nha Trang City in south-central Vietnam was heartbroken to find out that two of his dogs had been stolen while he was away on a business trip to Hanoi, the Southeast Asian nation's capital.
Determined to find his missing dogs, Khoi (along with his son) decided to scour various slaughterhouses between Nha Trang City and Dien Khanh District to see if either of his dogs wound up there. After all, as we just talked about – dog meat is still widely consumed in Vietnam.
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
In the search for his missing dogs, he eventually came across dozens of other dogs caged in decrepit conditions at one slaughterhouse in Dien Khanh. Instead of walking away and continuing his search, however, Khoi did what he felt he needed to do, for the sake of those poor dogs.
Filled with a heavy heart, Khoi decided to rescue them – by purchasing all 31 dogs at the facility – for roughly US$1,027 (?24 million).
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
“Many of the dogs were exhausted and lying still, while some were sticking their paws out as if they were asking me to save them,” Khoi told Vietnamese media outlet Tu?i Tr? News.
The dogs themselves amounted to US$856 in total. However, the slaughter facility charged him an additional US$171 to transport the dogs to his home, where another 20 dogs already live.
After bringing all the dogs home, Khoi took to Facebook to share his encounter with these dogs and the story of their rescue. He also pleaded for information about the dogs' owners, telling them to come to him to collect their lost or missing pets.
As of press time, six dogs have already been reunited with their families, as seen in these incredibly wholesome photos shared by Khoi:
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
IMAGE: Minh Khoi Do / Facebook
“Seeing the dogs wagging their tails when they saw their owners made me really happy,” said Khoi.
Despite receiving an overwhelming amount of adoption requests, Khoi is determined to return these dogs to their rightful owners. He also expressed concerns about would-be 'owners' coming to collect dogs, only to sell them off to the dog meat trade.
It's unclear what vetting processes Khoi has put in place (if any) to avoid such problems, but we can surely tell he only gives these dogs away if he genuinely believes the rightful owner has come to reunite with their missing dog.
Heartbreakingly, there has also been an outpour of 'missing dog' posts in Khoi's comments section, with dog owners pleading for any information about their lost pups. While Khoi has taken the time to respond to each missing notice, it's evident that not all the dogs he rescued belong to those who've lost their pets.
Khoi has yet to find his two missing dogs.
Check out his Facebook post below:
People are also reading these stories:
Look at these hot dogs (and cats) wearing fans on their backs to beat the heat
These lucky dogs have their own mansion, pool, disco & better lives than you
Man finally reunites with his 2 dogs in M'sia after 486 days apart
Malaysian Speedmart staff lets frightened stray dog seek cover during thunderstorms
Follow Mashable SEA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram.
