A restaurant in Thai Binh Province gave away 24 cats and dogs to the Four Paws Vietnam Organisation after they decided to shut down business, Dan Tri Newspaper reports
On December 15, Four Paws Vietnam Organisation (FPV) completed procedures to receive 19 cats and five dogs from the restaurant.
In late 2019, FPV carried out a survey about cat and dog meat trading in Vietnam. It was estimated that over one million cats were killed each year in the country as cat meat is considered a speciality and brings huge profits.
Pham Van Duong and his wife also had a restaurant on Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Thai Binh City and earned VND40m (USD1,700) to VND50m a month. But they decided to close the business despite the profits. With help from FPV, Duong later turned his restaurant into an electric motorbike repair shop.
This is the first time an individual donates dogs and cats to FPV. Duong also took down the signboards and sold the old equipment happily. Duong said he worked as the butcher for 7-8 years at various places in the northern provinces. Over a year ago, he returned to Thai Binh and opened the restaurant.
“Despite all of that, I never thought that I’d do this job for my whole life because it is cruel. Today, I took down the restaurant on my own. I feel glad that I can transfer the cats and dogs to FPV,” he said.
He also signed on an agreement to never become a butcher of cats and dogs again.
Dozens of FPV’s employees arrived at Duong’s restaurant and house to collect the cats and dogs. The animals will be transferred to the FPV’s rescue centre in Ninh Binh Province for health check.
The cats and dogs that are healthy will be transferred to the rescue centres of FPV’s partners in Danang and Hoi An by train on December 16. They will also be given health checks and put up for adoption, according the Dan Tri Newspaper.