PHNOM PENH: Dog meat has officially been off the menu in Siem Reap since a 2020 ban was introduced. Despite the ban, an animal welfare NGO has warned that it remains popular among some Cambodian consumers, appearing as the unnamed but understood “special meat”.
In its latest report, Animals of Our World, a UK-registered charity and Cambodian-registered NGO, has urged Cambodian authorities to strengthen enforcement of the Siem Reap ban, expand the policy nationwide and introduce education, vaccination and livelihood programmes.
In the 2026 report, obtained today by The Post, the organisation identified nine restaurants in Siem Reap which it claims continue to sell “sach chkae”, or dog meat.
Their investigators also documented suspected slaughter, trading and distribution facilities, each of them operating with what it described as “widespread disregard for the existing law”.
The report, authored by Tobias Pugh, sanctuary manager for House of Strays, said the investigation aimed to bring evidence of the continuing trade to the attention of the Siem Reap Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the authority responsible for implementing the ban, and to propose solutions addressing animal cruelty, public health risks and potential damage to Cambodia’s reputation.
“Unfortunately, our investigation has uncovered that in 2026, the illegal dog meat trade is still visible in the province,” the report said, citing Cambodia’s high rabies burden as a major concern.
The organisation said its investigation was prompted by concerns that the 2020 ban had not effectively ended the trade. Researchers found that restaurant owners, customers, and tuk-tuk drivers were willing to discuss or facilitate access to establishments selling dog meat, and several restaurants displayed signs advertising “special meat”.
“Working in Cambodia, we have witnessed the compassion, culture and strength of the Khmer people. 90% of Cambodia supports the ban of this dangerous, violent and cruel practice. As an international organisation, we do not want to act in ways that interfere with another culture, or place value on one species over another,” the report said.
“However, we are committed to working with provincial leaders in the fight against unnecessary suffering and disease – for all people and animals in Cambodia,” it added.
Investigators identified around eight vehicles, mostly without registration plates, and six workers who, the report said, supplied most of Siem Reap’s dog meat restaurants. Three of the restaurants identified during the 2026 investigation were operating before the ban, suggesting that enforcement had failed to eliminate parts of the existing trade.
The report documented incidents of cruelty during the capture and transportation of dogs and described a rescued dog, named Bud, whose snout had been tightly bound with metal wire, leaving severe injuries. It also raised concerns about children being exposed to violence associated with dog trafficking activities.
The NGO linked its findings to public health. It said about 800 human rabies deaths were recorded annually in Cambodia, although it warned that the actual number could be higher. The report also cited research indicating that dog bites account for 99 per cent of rabies cases, while the kingdom has reportedly announced plans to eradicate rabies cases by 2030.
Animals of Our World proposed five measures, beginning with education programmes in schools and communities to teach responsible animal ownership, rabies prevention and safe interactions with animals. It also recommended distributing information to counter health-related misconceptions surrounding dog meat and reduce consumer demand.
The second recommendation calls for stronger law enforcement alongside support for people seeking to leave the trade. Third, the organisation urged provincial authorities to support catch, neuter, vaccinate and release (CNVR) campaigns. It argued that mass vaccination and sterilisation must accompany effective enforcement to control rabies and reduce suffering among animals and people.
The fourth proposal calls for extending Siem Reap’s dog meat ban across Cambodia, while the fifth recommends a positive public information campaign highlighting alternative employment opportunities, rabies prevention and the importance of complying with the law.
Animals of Our World said its approach would focus on public health, animal welfare and practical cooperation rather than cultural criticism. It said 94 per cent of Cambodians do not consider dog meat part of Cambodian culture.
It called for collaboration among authorities, animal welfare groups, and communities to enforce existing law, prevent rabies, and develop alternatives for people whose livelihoods depend on the trade.- Phnom Penh Post/ANN
