The Indian state of Nagaland has banned the import, trading and sale of dog meat. Eating dog meat is illegal in parts of India, but some communities in north-eastern areas consider it a delicacy.

This follows the move earlier this year by the state of Mizoram, whereby legislation was amended to remove dogs from the lists of animals suitable for slaughter.

The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation (FIAPO) commented recently on images of dogs in “terrifying conditions”, tied up in sacks, waiting at a wet market for their illegal slaughter, trade and consumption as meat. The group was a driving force behind Nagaland’s ban on selling dog meat.

An estimated 30,000 dogs a year are smuggled into Nagaland, where they are sold in live markets and “beaten to death with wooden clubs”, according to the Humane Society International (HSI).

“The suffering of dogs in Nagaland has long cast a dark shadow over India, and so this news marks a major turning point in ending the cruelty of India’s hidden dog meat trade”, Managing Director of HSI, Alokparna Sengupta commented.

The government has shared no further details about how it planned to enforce the ban

Main Source: BBC