MK254
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- May 11, 2013
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- Thousands of pets are stolen from gardens and front porches every year
- SEVEN TONNES of live dogs are shipped to Vietnam capital Hanoi each day
- As they are sold by weight, they are force fed through funnels to add value
- If thieves are caught by police, they usually get off with small fines
- Some diners believe the more an animal suffers before death, the tastier it is
- The shocking practices have been revealed by C4's Unreported World
PUBLISHED: 11:31 GMT, 3 October 2014 | UPDATED: 14:53 GMT, 3 October 2014
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It is a sight that will horrify any animal lover or pet owner.
Snatched from their homes, crammed into metal cages and force-fed for restaurant tables, these animals are the victims of Vietnams booming dog-meat industry.
Thousands of pets are stolen from gardens and front porches every year to feed the appetites of diners who treat dog meat as a delicacy.
Documentary makers from Channel 4s Unreported World found that seven tonnes of live dogs are shipped to the nations capital Hanoi every day.
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Crammed: Snatched from their homes, crammed into metal cages and force-fed for restaurant tables, these animals are the victims of Vietnams booming dog-meat industry
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Delicacy: Thousands of pets are stolen from gardens and front porches every year to feed the appetites of diners who treat dog meat as a delicacy
Many are stolen by thieves who drive round the streets at night on mopeds using lassos to catch unsuspecting pets.
Because they are sold by weight, they are force fed through funnels to increase their value before being hosed down and tightly packed in cages.
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One busy holding house processes around 2,000 live dogs every day, with up to 200 squashed into each cage.
Once they arrive in Hanoi, the dogs are stored in deep pits before being slaughtered and sold on to restaurants to be cooked and eaten.
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Shipped in: Documentary makers from Channel 4s Unreported World found that seven tonnes of live dogs are shipped to the nations capital Hanoi every day
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Thieves: Many are stolen by thieves like these who drive round the streets at night on mopeds using lassos to catch unsuspecting pets
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Force fed: Because they are sold by weight, they are force fed through funnels to increase their value before being hosed down and tightly packed in cages
The owner of one slaughter house, Kieu Vu, told the documentary makers he slaughters up to 30 dogs a day.
Although there are rules for the humane slaughter of cattle, pigs and poultry in Vietnam, there are none for dogs and one animal was shown suffering repeated blows to the head before it died.
The documentary makers interviewed two dog snatchers who said they earned up to $100 [£61] a night by stealing pets. One boasted he had stolen more than 3,000 dogs in seven years.
On one road in a village in Nghe Ann province, almost 300 dogs have been stolen over the last few months.
Graphic: Vietnam's trade in dog meat is exposed
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Squashed in: One busy holding house processes around 2,000 live dogs every day, with up to 200 squashed into each cage
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Cooked and eaten: Once they arrive in Hanoi, the dogs are stored in deep pits before being slaughtered and sold on to restaurants to be cooked and eaten
If they are caught by police, the thieves get off with small fines as the value of a dog is not enough to send them to prison. Officials have rejected tougher punishments for the crime, saying Vietnams jails are too crowded to fit all the dog thieves
However, furious villagers have formed lynch mobs to defend their pets.
In the village of N-hi Trung, 20 dog thieves have reportedly been killed in the past five years and many more have been badly beaten. Villagers openly admitted beating two dog thieves to death, although they said they merely intended to hurt them.
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High turnover: The owner of one slaughter house, Kieu Vu, told the documentary makers he slaughters up to 30 dogs a day
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Brutal: Although there are rules for the humane slaughter of cattle, pigs and poultry in Vietnam, there are none for dogs and one animal was shown suffering repeated blows to the head before it died
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Big business: The documentary makers interviewed two dog snatchers (not pictured) who said they earned up to $100 [£61] a night by stealing pets. One boasted he had stolen more than 3,000 dogs in seven years
Most dogs eaten in Vietnam used to be trucked in from neighbouring Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. But in recent years, animal rights groups have succeeded in closing down most of these routes, meaning most of the dogs are now shipped from within Vietnam.
The constant demand for fresh meat and the reduced supply from overseas has led to a huge increase in the number of dog snatchings.
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Small crime: If they are caught by police, the thieves get off with small fines as the value of a dog is not enough to send them to prison. Officials have rejected tougher punishments for the crime, saying Vietnams jails are too crowded to fit all the dog thieves
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Beaten: Some diners believe the more an animal suffers before it dies, the tastier its meat is. They are usually bludgeoned to death with a heavy metal pipe, often taking more than ten blows
Some diners believe the more an animal suffers before it dies, the tastier its meat is. They are usually bludgeoned to death with a heavy metal pipe, often taking more than ten blows.
Others have their throats slit or are stabbed in the chest, while some are even burned alive.
To increase their weight and thus their retail price, they are stuffed with rice and water via stomach tubes. Others have stones forced into their mouths.
Dog meat is more expensive than pork and can sell for up to £30 a dish in high-end restaurants.
Unreported World: Vietnams Dog-Snatchers airs on Channel 4 tonight at 7.30pm.
Read more: Vietnam's brutal dog-meat industry- | Daily Mail Online
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