Between December 2020 to March 2021, an in-depth investigation into the dog meat trade in Borneo, Indonesia was conducted, focusing on areas where dogs are sourced, slaughtered, and sold. The investigation was the first of its kind in this area, revealing a robust, secretive trade of both live dogs and raw dog meat. With more than 15 restaurants known as Lapos openly selling dog meat in the city, dog meat is commonly sold under the names B1, RW, and Tarki. While Balikpapan is home to up to 850,000 citizens, most of whom are not even aware of the trade and of its scale, it is estimated that between 200 and 300 dogs a month are being served at restaurants in the city of Balikpapan alone. Dog meat was also widely available on online sales platforms including Grab and GoFood. The investigation indicates that currently 2,000-3,000 dogs fall victim to the trade every year, with pre-COVID numbers reaching as high as 5,000 per year.

Most restaurants ordered raw dog meat from three major suppliers/distributors in the region, which killed dogs on-site. Slaughter methods were brutal, largely involving beating and bludgeoning to death, performed in full view of other dogs. Slaughtering practices failed to adhere to any accepted national or international standards of basic animal welfare principles.

The trade involved dogs in the trade were largely stolen pets, strays, or those bred specifically for slaughter. All were of unknown disease and vaccination status, some of which demonstrated signs of illness at the time of slaughter. A clear network was identified connecting traders with slaughterhouses and restaurants.

Read here our key investigative findings:

The Dog Meat Free Indonesia Coalition and local charities Yayasan Pro Natura and the Balikpapan Cat Rescue Foundation are committed to working in collaboration with the Indonesian government and local stakeholders to tackle the dog meat trade in Balikpapan on grounds of its illegality, extreme animal cruelty and the risks it poses to the public health and safety.