Residents of the capital of Vietnam have been urged to stop eating dog meat to avoid damaging the city's reputation, BBC News reports.
The Hanoi People's Committee has asked city residents to give up the practice of eating dog meat. Officials say This traditional practice in the country can tarnish the image of a civilized and modern capital. The authorities also insist that eating dog meat is also the cause of the spread of many diseases. In addition, the committee called on residents to stop eating cat meat, which is less popular in Vietnam but still available.
There are about 490,000 dogs and cats in Hanoi, most of which are pets. However, more than 1,000 shops in the Vietnamese capital still sell dog and cat meat.
As BBC News notes, a growing number of people in Vietnam do not approve of the tradition of eating dog meat. On social media, many support the authorities' appeal. At the same time, there is an opinion that for some Vietnamese, it will be difficult to give up eating animals, as it is a "very ingrained habit."
Eating dog meat is common not only in Vietnam, but also in other Asian countries. They are eaten in Korea, Laos and China. Interestingly, dog meat is the largest segment of the Vietnamese food industry. According to experts, about 5 million four-legged creatures are eaten in Vietnam every year.
Source: news.turizm.ru