‘God created it to be eaten’ Why Jakarta’s dog meat ban has locals divided

Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, has announced a ban on the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat, citing public health and rabies prevention. The prohibition, which includes a six-month grace period before enforcement, has been welcomed by animal welfare groups, such as the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) coalition.

While dog and cat meat are not widely consumed across Indonesia, certain communities have traditionally regarded canine meat as a remedy for illnesses like dengue fever. Alfindo Hutagaol, a 36-year-old consumer, expressed opposition to the ban, telling AFP, “God created it to be eaten. Don’t only look for the negative side, but also look for its benefits too.” Similarly, 43-year-old Sunggul Sagala described dog meat consumption as a long-standing tradition that “cannot be eliminated suddenly.”

The Jakarta government clarified that the ban targets the trade of all rabies-transmitting animals, including bats, monkeys, and civets, as part of measures to maintain the city’s rabies-free status, officially in place since 2004. The capital’s Food Resiliency, Maritime, and Agriculture Agency head, Hasudungan Sidabalok, stated that while dog meat is no longer openly sold in markets or restaurants, 19 establishments continue to serve it and two slaughterhouses remain operational. He noted that the act of consuming dog meat remains risky due to potential rabies transmission.

Authorities will publicise the ban over the six-month grace period, after which violations may lead to written warnings or revocation of business licences. The government is also preparing detailed rules for enforcement and penalties.

Indonesian law does not explicitly prohibit the consumption of dog or cat meat, but a 2018 directive by the agriculture ministry stated that dog meat is not categorised as food. Several regions, including Semarang in Central Java, have already implemented bans, intercepting illegal trades and arresting individuals involved.

Despite the ban, the dog meat trade has largely moved underground in Jakarta. Restaurant owners no longer openly advertise the dishes, and purchases are now discreet and more costly than beef. Sunggul compared buying dog meat to “looking for drugs,” highlighting the illicit nature of the trade.

Concerns remain over animals that may no longer have buyers once the ban is fully enforced. Critics, including Alfindo, fear that some consumers may resort to sourcing meat from stray dogs, urging the government to reconsider aspects of the policy.

The move has ignited a complex debate in Indonesia between animal welfare, public health concerns, and cultural culinary traditions, underscoring the challenges of enforcing such bans in diverse communities.