Humane Society International has been awarded custody of 36 dogs rescued from the dog meat trade in June after the additional district and sessions judge at Aizawl district court rejected the petition of Aizawl Dog Meat Seller Association in Mizoram.
The court maintained that the dogs will continue to remain under the custody and care of HSI India while the litigation is pending. The petition was made by a member of the association after HSI India filed a complaint against the dog meat transporter in Aizawl and the truck’s driver.
On June 9, HSI India rescued 36 dogs from dog meat trade after being informed of two trucks carrying dogs. The dogs were rescued from horrific conditions: tied in gunny bags and dumped on top of one another. While one of the dogs died in police custody, the rest, are now recovering from infections, injured limbs and trauma in HSI India’s care.
Managing director at HSI India, NG Jayasimha, said, “We are delighted that the court has rejected the dog meat sellers’ application for custody. Dog meat consumption in India is illegal, and the way the trade is carried out is cruel. We are fortunate to have saved the lives of these dogs and hope that they will only get better from now on.”
HSI India’s campaign to end dog meat trade launched in 2016. HSI is working to end dog meat trade in countries like South Korea, China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Last year, HSI India rescued 17 dogs in Kolasib district in Mizoram and also got them adopted through various adoption drives.
