Vietnamese youth speak out against dog and cat meat trade

Aiming to make young people the catalysts for social change, the competition, entitled 'Youth in Action: Towards Eliminating Rabies and the Dog and Cat Meat Trade' seeks to build grassroots momentum to eliminate outdated and harmful practices associated with the trade in Vietnam, practices that threaten public health, animal welfare, and the country’s international image.

Vietnam reports 80 – 100 human deaths from rabies each year, many of which are linked to dog bites and to the capture, transportation, and slaughter of dogs and cats. Poor handling practices during meat processing also pose risks of spreading diseases such as E.coli, salmonella, and brucellosis.

Winners were honoured on stage during the award ceremony. Photo: The Behaviour Change Programme

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Toan Thang, editor-in-chief of Thanh Nien, highlighted the importance of media engagement in promoting change.

"This competition presents a special opportunity for press agencies and broadcasters to play a key role in raising community awareness and encouraging changes in attitudes towards the dog and cat meat trade," he said. "Supporting this initiative will help us amplify the voices of future young leaders who are driving positive changes in Vietnam."

Duyen Bui, director of the Behaviour Change Programme at SBCC Vietnam, emphasised the importance of youth-led advocacy.

"Changing deeply ingrained habits requires collective effort," she said. "Educating young people about animal welfare and the public health consequences of the trade in dog and cat meat can help shift social norms towards a more compassionate and civilised society."

The competition featured three rounds. The first was an online test to assess participants’ understanding of rabies. In the second round, selected candidates submitted essays or short videos on the relationship between rabies and dog and cat meat in Vietnam. Six finalists were then chosen to present their views on why Vietnam should eliminate the trade altogether in a live presentation round.

Duong Thi Kim Loan, a fifth-year student at Hanoi Medical University and one of the second prize winners, said, "This competition gave me a valuable platform to raise awareness about the risks of rabies and the dog and cat meat trade. I believe we can work together to better protect both human and animal health."

Rahul Sehgal, international communications director at the Soi Dog Foundation, stressed the long-term vision of the campaign.

"When young people engage in initiatives such as this, they inspire their communities to reflect on harmful practices. We are committed to supporting sustainable alternatives for those involved in the dog and cat meat trade, for the benefit of both public health and animal welfare," said Sehgal.

The initiative aligns with Vietnam’s national goal of eliminating human deaths from rabies by 2030, and seeks to boost community health through education, behaviour change, and compassionate action at the grassroots level.

Winners of the 'Youth in Action' Competition:

• First Prize: Nguyen Khanh An, second-year student, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

• Second Prizes: Pham Nguyen Phuong Linh, Grade 12, High School for Educational Sciences and Duong Thi Kim Loan, fifth-year student, Hanoi Medical University.

• Third Prizes: Pham Hong Ha, fifth-year medical student, Hanoi Medical University, Le Hoai Nam, second-year history student, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University and Dinh Tran Thien Bao, fourth-year law student, Hanoi University of Culture.

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