Tomohon, Indonesia – August 28, 2025
A disturbing incident in the bustling dog meat market of Tomohon, North Sulawesi, has reignited global outrage over the controversial trade, after a man was filmed slaughtering a dog on the street in full view of shocked passersby. The perpetrator, a local butcher, casually justified his actions by stating, “He wanted to eat it,” referring to the animal as if it were mere livestock. The graphic video, which surfaced on social media platforms this week, shows the dog being restrained and killed with a knife amid screams from the terrified animal, drawing condemnation from animal rights groups and highlighting the ongoing brutality of Indonesia’s dog meat industry.
The event unfolded on a crowded street near the Tomohon Extreme Meat Market, known for its infamous displays of exotic meats including dogs, bats, and rats. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and heart-wrenching, with the man—identified only as a vendor in his 40s—hanging the dog from a pole before slitting its throat. Blood sprayed onto the pavement as onlookers, including families and tourists, averted their eyes or hurried away. “It was horrific; the dog was whining and struggling right there in front of everyone,” said one passerby, Maria S., a local resident who captured part of the footage on her phone. “He just said it like it was nothing—’He wanted to eat it.’ How can this be allowed in 2025?”
Indonesia’s dog meat trade remains legal in several regions, despite growing opposition and partial bans in cities like Jakarta. Estimates from animal welfare organizations suggest that up to 1 million dogs are slaughtered annually for consumption in the country, many stolen from urban areas or rural homes. The Tomohon market, a major hub, attracts visitors for its “extreme” offerings, but incidents like this have fueled calls for a nationwide prohibition. “This isn’t culture; it’s cruelty,” stated Lola Webber, a campaigner with Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI), an coalition including Humane Society International and Animals Asia. “Dogs are pets and companions to millions, yet here they’re treated as disposable. Public slaughters like this traumatize communities and perpetuate suffering.”
The man’s justification echoes a common defense in regions where dog meat is consumed, often tied to beliefs in its medicinal properties or as a traditional delicacy. However, public opinion is shifting rapidly. A 2024 poll by DMFI revealed that 93% of Indonesians support a ban, with only 4.5% admitting to eating dog meat. Campaigns have led to rescues, such as the November 2024 interception of a truck carrying 53 dogs to a slaughterhouse in Sukoharjo, where authorities saved the animals and charged the trader under animal welfare laws. Penalties can include up to five years in prison and fines exceeding $10,000 USD.
This latest video has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), amassing over 500,000 views and sparking heated debates. Users shared graphic clips with captions like “This has to stop—dogs feel pain too!” while others defended cultural practices, arguing, “It’s no different from eating pork or beef.” International celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres and Pierce Brosnan, who previously signed a letter to Indonesian President Joko Widodo urging an end to the trade, renewed their calls for action. “Seeing this in broad daylight is unacceptable,” DeGeneres posted. “Indonesia, protect these innocent animals!”
Local police have launched an investigation, but enforcement remains lax in rural areas like Tomohon, where the trade supports livelihoods for hundreds. The market’s butchers, speaking to reporters, claimed the slaughter was routine and not intended to shock. “We do it quickly; the dog doesn’t suffer long,” one said anonymously. Yet, activists dispute this, citing investigations showing dogs are often beaten, burned alive, or transported in inhumane conditions without quarantine, risking rabies outbreaks.
The incident draws parallels to past controversies, such as the 2020 exposé on activist Marc Ching, accused of staging dog killings for publicity at the same market. Butchers there alleged Ching paid them to perform unusual methods, like burning a dog alive, which they said wasn’t standard practice. Regardless, real cases like this underscore the trade’s persistence. DMFI reports that while large-scale breeding is rare, most dogs are stolen pets or strays, crammed into sacks with muzzles bound by wire.
As global pressure mounts—mirroring bans in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines—Indonesia’s government faces a dilemma. President Widodo’s administration has promised to phase out the trade, but progress is slow. “Cultures evolve, and so must we,” said Sukoharjo Police Chief Tarjono Sapto Nugroho after a recent raid. “Dogs are friends, not food.” For now, incidents like the Tomohon street slaughter serve as stark reminders of the human-animal divide, leaving passersby—and the world—questioning how long such practices can endure in the face of overwhelming opposition.