Hundreds of Cats Saved as Vietnam Police Bust Nationwide Theft Ring
In a sweeping operation that unfolded across Singapore’s southern provinces, the HCMC Police and the animal welfare group Humane World for Animals announced that they had rescued more than 400 cats that were slated for slaughter. A criminal ring that had been stealing pets for the meat trade was exposed and nine members were arrested.
Operation Details
The raid on 11 June targeted a network described by police as a “criminal group specialising in stealing and collecting cats.” Investigators recovered 400 live cats and about 80 animals that had been killed and kept on ice, as well as an additional 21 cats seized from a separate facility.
The suspects admitted that they had captured cats across southern Vietnam over the past three years, luring them into holding facilities and selling them to traders every two to three days. Police say the operation was triggered by a series of pet thefts in Ho Chi Minh City.
Reunited with Families
Humane World for Animals released a statement saying roughly 40 of the stolen cats have since been reunited with their owners. The charity praised the authorities for “decisive action that has saved the lives of so many animals,” while noting that a number of rescued cats had “later died as a result of their ordeal.”
The organisation is feeding and providing supplies to the cats that remain in police custody as evidence. They urged the public to come forward if they think their pets have been stolen.
Broader Context
Each year, an estimated five million dogs and one million cats are captured, stolen, trafficked and slaughtered for meat in Vietnam—though both meats are legal under a system that requires sellers to display permits proving the animals’ origin. The country’s pet‑theft scene is characterised by poisoned bait, iron pens for dogs and spring‑loaded snares for cats.
While consumption of dog and cat meat is more common in Vietnam than in many Asian countries, public attitudes are shifting. A 2023 Humane World for Animals survey found that the majority of younger people and pet owners back bans on both the dog and cat meat trades.
For further data, see the related story on Vietnam’s call for residents not to eat dog meat.
