Quick answer
The issue in brief
Indonesia has no national law that explicitly bans eating or selling dog and cat meat, but since 2018 the Ministry of Agriculture has stated that dog meat falls outside the legal definition of food. A growing number of regions, including Jakarta (Governor Regulation 36/2025), East Kalimantan, Surakarta and Sukoharjo, now ban the trade. The trade carries a rabies risk because animals are moved between regions without health documents and slaughtered without welfare standards, and animal cruelty is a crime under Article 337 of the Criminal Code.
- Bites by rabies-transmitting animals (2024)
- 185,359 bites and 122 human rabies deaths source ↗
- Provinces with endemic rabies
- 26 of 38 provinces (March 2025) source ↗
- Dogs and human rabies
- Dog bites and scratches cause 99% of cases (WHO) source ↗
- Legal status of dog meat
- Not food, per Ministry of Agriculture circular 9874/2018 source ↗
- How dogs are slaughtered
- 85% ignore animal welfare (Ministry survey, 2018–2019) source ↗
- Jakarta ban
- Governor Regulation 36/2025, in force 6 months after 24 Nov 2025 source ↗
- Penalty under Article 337
- Up to 18 months in prison or a category III fine if the animal dies source ↗
What is the dog and cat meat trade in Indonesia?
The dog and cat meat trade collects live dogs and cats, moves them between regions, slaughters them and sells the meat raw or cooked. Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture notes that dog meat is still eaten in some areas and that the issue has ethnic, legal, economic, cultural and political dimensions. This page covers health, welfare and the law, and passes no judgement on any community's traditions.
The best official picture is a 2018–2019 survey by the ministry's Directorate of Animal Health of 47 local officials in 21 provinces and 46 districts and cities. Some 45% said live dogs were shipped without a veterinary certificate, and 53% said the meat was sold commercially. Most slaughtered dogs were pets (65%), followed by strays (13%), dogs from other regions (11%), local dogs (8%) and retired hunting dogs (3%).
Supply chains often cross provincial borders. In 2023 the head of Tomohon's agriculture and fisheries office said more than 95% of the dogs and cats sold at the city's extreme market came from areas with active rabies cases and arrived without documents, so their health status was unknown.
Cats are traded too, for example at the Tomohon market, which is governed by Mayoral Instruction 108/2023. The Quarantine Agency classes dogs and cats as rabies-transmitting animals (HPR), so moving them between islands requires quarantine clearance.
Evidence: Upaya Pemerintah dalam Mengatasi Maraknya Konsumsi Daging Anjing dan Kucing (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 28 Jan 2021; arsip) ↗ · Situasi Perdagangan Daging Anjing di Indonesia, Prosiding Penyidikan Penyakit Hewan 2020 (Direktorat Kesehatan Hewan, Kementan; arsip repositori) ↗ · Cegah Perebakan Rabies, Pemkot Tomohon Perketat Penjualan Daging Anjing dan Kucing di Pasar Ekstrem (VOA Indonesia, 28 Jul 2023) ↗ · Si Anabul Mau Ikut Mudik, Begini Prosedur Karantinanya (Badan Karantina Indonesia, 11 Mar 2026) ↗
Is dog meat legal in Indonesia?
The short answer: no national law explicitly bans eating or selling dog and cat meat. In 2021 the ministry's Directorate of Veterinary Public Health wrote that no specific regulation banned dog meat consumption, leaving local governments struggling to find a legal basis for action. Media reports in August 2026 still described the same gap.
Dog meat is not, however, recognised as food. Law 18/2012 on Food (Article 1, point 1) defines food as anything derived from biological sources in agriculture, plantations, forestry, fisheries, livestock, waters and water. The Ministry of Agriculture's reading is that dogs are neither livestock nor forestry products, so their meat falls outside the food category.
On that basis the ministry's Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health issued Circular No. 9874/SE/pk.420/F/09/2018 on 25 September 2018. It states that dog meat is not within the definition of food, allows health certificates only for live dogs, and asks local offices to issue written appeals against the commercial dog meat trade. It serves as guidance for local governments and the public.
Other laws still apply. Animal cruelty is a crime (see the section on Article 337), bringing dogs into a disease-free area without a health certificate has led to a prison sentence, and hunting or trading protected wildlife is banned. Nationally, a Bill on Animal Protection and Welfare is on the revised 2026 priority legislation list agreed by the House of Representatives in May 2026. Its content will only be certain once it is passed.
Evidence: Upaya Pemerintah dalam Mengatasi Maraknya Konsumsi Daging Anjing dan Kucing (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 28 Jan 2021; arsip) ↗ · Larangan Dagang Daging Kucing dan Anjing, Percepat Sahkan UU Kesejahteraan Hewan (Mongabay Indonesia, 5 Agu 2026) ↗ · UU No. 18 Tahun 2012 tentang Pangan (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Konsumsi Daging Satwa Eksotik dan Daging Anjing, Kontroversi serta Aspek Hukumnya (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 13 Des 2017; arsip) ↗ · Surat Edaran Kementan: Daging Anjing Bukan Pangan (detikNews, 12 Des 2018) ↗ · Penyelundup 78 Anjing untuk Konsumsi di Kulon Progo Divonis 10 Bulan Bui (detikNews, 18 Okt 2021) ↗ · UU No. 32 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan atas UU No. 5 Tahun 1990 (JDIH BPK) ↗ · DPR Sepakati 68 RUU Perubahan Prolegnas Prioritas 2026, Ini Daftarnya (detikNews, 20 Mei 2026) ↗
Which regions ban the dog meat trade?
Without a national ban, local governments have used regional bylaws (perda), governor, regent or mayor regulations, and circulars. Their legal force differs: Sukoharjo's bylaw carries a jail term, Jakarta's regulation carries administrative sanctions, and a circular is an official appeal. The list below is not complete; it covers only rules we checked against government sources.
Jakarta. Governor Regulation No. 36 of 2025, promulgated on 24 November 2025, amends the 2016 rules on rabies-transmitting animals. Article 27A bans trading them, alive or as meat, for food, and Article 27B bans slaughtering them for food. They include dogs, cats, monkeys, bats and civets. Sanctions escalate from a written warning, seizure and closure of premises to licence revocation, enforced by the provincial agency and the civil service police (Satpol PP). The regulation took effect six months after promulgation, in May 2026.
Central Java. Sukoharjo Regency Bylaw No. 5 of 2020 bans street vendors from selling or slaughtering meat from non-food animals (Article 34(m)). Its explanatory notes give dogs as an example, and violations carry up to three months' detention or a fine of up to Rp50 million (Article 43). Surakarta (Solo) City Bylaw No. 5 of 2025, enacted on 24 June 2025, bans selling or slaughtering animals outside the food category (Article 31), with administrative fines of up to Rp10 million. The ministry also lists Karanganyar Regent Regulation No. 74/2019. In 2019 the provincial government urged regents and mayors to act, seeing its rabies-free status under threat.
East and West Java. Blitar Regency's Circular No. 524/679/409.115.2/2022 of 22 April 2022 bans the commercial dog and cat meat trade and stops veterinary certificates being issued for it. Cimahi City issued Circular No. PA/1/Setda of 2023 urging control of the dog meat trade.
East Kalimantan. The governor issued Circular No. 500.7.2.5/29805/EK, dated 24 December 2025, banning the distribution and sale of dog and cat meat on the grounds that neither animal is food-producing livestock. Kutai Kartanegara Regency followed with Regent's Circular No. B.385/DISTANAK/500.7/06/2026 of 22 June 2026, which also covers monkey meat.
Elsewhere. Yogyakarta's regional parliament and government jointly approved an animal-based food safety bylaw on 4 August 2026 that bans trading rabies-transmitting animals for food; check its number and start date once it is promulgated. Earlier, the ministry recorded village and customary village rules in Bali (2018), Jakarta Circular No. 26 of 2018, and circulars in Metro and Singkawang.
Evidence: Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Peraturan Daerah Kabupaten Sukoharjo Nomor 5 Tahun 2020 tentang Penataan dan Pemberdayaan Pedagang Kaki Lima (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Peraturan Daerah Kota Surakarta Nomor 5 Tahun 2025 (JDIH Kota Surakarta) ↗ · Upaya Pemerintah dalam Mengatasi Maraknya Konsumsi Daging Anjing dan Kucing (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 28 Jan 2021; arsip) ↗ · Hindari Rabies, Ganjar Minta Warga Stop Makan Anjing (jatengprov.go.id, 29 Sep 2019) ↗ · Sosialisasi Surat Edaran tentang Pengawasan dan Pengendalian terhadap Peredaran/Perdagangan Daging Anjing (Dinas Peternakan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Blitar, 23 Apr 2022) ↗ · Pemkot Cimahi Terbitkan Surat Edaran Larangan Peredaran Daging Anjing (cimahikota.go.id, 18 Jan 2024) ↗ · Surat Edaran Gubernur Kalimantan Timur Nomor 500.7.2.5/29805/EK (pindaian yang ditautkan dari kaltimprov.go.id) ↗ · Pemprov Kaltim Tegaskan Larangan Peredaran Daging Anjing dan Kucing (kaltimprov.go.id, 2 Jan 2026) ↗ · SE Larangan Peredaran dan Perdagangan Daging Anjing, Daging Kucing dan Daging Kera (PPID Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara) ↗ · Sahkan Raperda Keamanan Pangan Berbasis Hewani, DPRD DIY Dorong Jaminan Pangan Aman dan Bermutu (DPRD DIY, 4 Agustus 2026) ↗
Can you get rabies from dog meat?
Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. According to WHO, dog bites and scratches cause 99% of human rabies cases. Indonesia's Ministry of Health recorded 185,359 bites by rabies-transmitting animals and 122 human deaths in 2024, and 26 of the country's 38 provinces have endemic rabies.
The greatest risk lies in catching, transporting and slaughtering the animals, not on the plate. WHO says infection from eating the raw meat of an infected animal is extremely rare. A 2023 systematic review in BMJ Open found dog butchers in Vietnam at high risk of rabies. A 2009 case report in PLoS Medicine described a patient who had butchered a dog two months earlier; its authors judged eating the brain an unlikely route, as the meal was well cooked and shared with others who stayed well. Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture says handling dogs from capture to slaughter in rabies-endemic areas raises workers' risk of exposure.
According to the ministry's survey, dog slaughter can also spread other diseases such as salmonella, ringworm and intestinal worms. Anyone bitten or scratched by a dog or cat should go to a health facility straight away.
Evidence: Rabies fact sheet (World Health Organization) ↗ · Surat Edaran Kewaspadaan Terhadap Kasus Rabies di Indonesia (Kemenkes, 19 Mar 2025) ↗ · Rabies in Southeast Asia: a systematic review of its incidence, risk factors and mortality. BMJ Open (2023) ↗ · Wertheim HFL et al. (2009) Furious rabies after an atypical exposure. PLoS Medicine 6(3): e1000044 ↗ · Konsumsi Daging Satwa Eksotik dan Daging Anjing, Kontroversi serta Aspek Hukumnya (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 13 Des 2017; arsip) ↗ · Situasi Perdagangan Daging Anjing di Indonesia, Prosiding Penyidikan Penyakit Hewan 2020 (Direktorat Kesehatan Hewan, Kementan; arsip repositori) ↗
Why have some regions banned dog meat?
Besides dog meat not being legally food, local governments most often cite rabies. Jakarta's Regulation 36/2025 aims to guarantee food safety and stop zoonoses spreading from rabies-transmitting animals. Central Java, a rabies-free province, has said its status is threatened by the wide circulation of dog meat dishes.
Moving dogs has demonstrably carried rabies into new areas. A 2015 phylogeographic study of Indonesian rabies viruses showed the virus being introduced and reintroduced between islands, with dogs the only source of infection for other animals. Rabies on Flores, confirmed in April 1998, was traced to three suspected rabid dogs brought from Buton Island, Sulawesi, by a fisherman in September 1997.
Movements of rabies-transmitting animals are therefore controlled. On 18 October 2021 the Wates District Court sentenced a defendant who had transported 78 dogs without animal health certificates, destined for the meat trade in Solo, to 10 months in prison and a Rp150 million fine (case 99/Pid.Sus/2021/PN Wat). On 9 April 2026 quarantine officers at Manado port held 200 kg of undocumented dog meat bound for North Maluku.
Evidence: Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Hindari Rabies, Ganjar Minta Warga Stop Makan Anjing (jatengprov.go.id, 29 Sep 2019) ↗ · Phylogeography of the current rabies viruses in Indonesia. Journal of Veterinary Science (2015) ↗ · Rabies in Our Neighbourhood: Preparedness for an Emerging Infectious Disease. Pathogens (2021) ↗ · Penyelundup 78 Anjing untuk Konsumsi di Kulon Progo Divonis 10 Bulan Bui (detikNews, 18 Okt 2021) ↗ · Karantina Sulawesi Utara Tahan Daging Anjing Ilegal (Badan Karantina Indonesia, 10 Apr 2026) ↗
What happens to dogs during transport and slaughter?
Welfare standards exist on paper. Government Regulation 95/2012 covers every animal whose survival depends on people. Transport must use suitable, clean vehicles within capacity that do not hurt or stress the animals (Article 89), and slaughter must avoid fear and stress and end the animal's suffering as quickly as possible (Article 95).
Practice falls far short. In the Ministry of Agriculture's 2018–2019 survey, 85% of respondents said dogs were slaughtered without regard for animal welfare. The ministry's veterinary public health directorate wrote that dogs are generally slaughtered in painful ways that can count as welfare violations.
The Blitar Regency livestock office recorded one example in April 2022. At a slaughter site, police found 34 dogs confined in unfit cages and six already-slaughtered dogs in a freezer. Vets found no food or water containers, and some dogs had panleukopenia, bacterial infections and parasites.
Evidence: PP No. 95 Tahun 2012 tentang Kesehatan Masyarakat Veteriner dan Kesejahteraan Hewan (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Situasi Perdagangan Daging Anjing di Indonesia, Prosiding Penyidikan Penyakit Hewan 2020 (Direktorat Kesehatan Hewan, Kementan; arsip repositori) ↗ · Konsumsi Daging Satwa Eksotik dan Daging Anjing, Kontroversi serta Aspek Hukumnya (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 13 Des 2017; arsip) ↗ · Sosialisasi Surat Edaran tentang Pengawasan dan Pengendalian terhadap Peredaran/Perdagangan Daging Anjing (Dinas Peternakan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Blitar, 23 Apr 2022) ↗
What does Article 337 of the Criminal Code cover?
Indonesia's new Criminal Code (Law 1/2023) was promulgated on 2 January 2023 and took effect on 2 January 2026. Article 337(1) sets up to one year in prison or a category II fine (Rp10 million) for anyone who hurts or injures an animal, or harms its health, excessively or without a proper purpose. If the animal is sick for over a week, disabled, gravely injured or dies, the maximum rises to 18 months or a category III fine (Rp50 million). Cruelty was previously covered by Article 302 of the old code.
Law 41/2014 also applies. Article 66A bans abusing or misusing an animal so that it is disabled or unproductive, and obliges anyone who knows of such abuse to report it to the authorities. Under Article 91B, offenders face one to six months' detention and a fine of at least Rp1 million.
Stealing someone else's dog or cat can be reported as theft. Article 476 of the Criminal Code sets a maximum of five years in prison.
Evidence: UU No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, halaman detail (JDIH BPK) ↗ · UU No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Upaya Pemerintah dalam Mengatasi Maraknya Konsumsi Daging Anjing dan Kucing (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 28 Jan 2021; arsip) ↗ · UU No. 41 Tahun 2014 tentang Perubahan atas UU No. 18 Tahun 2009 tentang Peternakan dan Kesehatan Hewan (JDIH BPK) ↗
What changed at Tomohon's extreme market?
Pasar Beriman in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, is known as an extreme market selling wild boar, snake, rat and bat meat, as well as dogs and cats. The city's agriculture office recorded 12 laboratory-confirmed rabies cases in dogs in 2022 and eight more by July 2023.
Mayoral Instruction No. 108 of 2023 requires any dog and cat trade to carry a release recommendation from the veterinary authorities at origin and destination, an animal health certificate and a vaccination certificate. According to the office, the six remaining dog and cat traders accepted the policy and stopped selling. We have found no more recent official data on the market.
Evidence: Konsumsi Daging Satwa Eksotik dan Daging Anjing, Kontroversi serta Aspek Hukumnya (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 13 Des 2017; arsip) ↗ · Cegah Perebakan Rabies, Pemkot Tomohon Perketat Penjualan Daging Anjing dan Kucing di Pasar Ekstrem (VOA Indonesia, 28 Jul 2023) ↗
Is cat meat banned too?
Cats are also rabies-transmitting animals. According to Indonesia's Ministry of Health, 98% of rabies cases in the country follow dog bites and 2% follow cat and monkey bites. Recent regional rules, including Jakarta's Regulation 36/2025, East Kalimantan's 2025 circular and Blitar's 2022 circular, ban the cat meat trade alongside dog meat.
The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and domestic cat (Felis catus) are not listed in the annex of Ministerial Regulation P.106/2018. Some wild relatives are, such as the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), marbled cat, bay cat and dhole (Cuon alpinus). Law 5/1990 as amended by Law 32/2024 (Article 21(2)) bars anyone from hunting, killing, transporting or trading protected animals, alive or dead.
Evidence: Peringatan Hari Rabies Sedunia (Kemenkes) ↗ · Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Pemprov Kaltim Tegaskan Larangan Peredaran Daging Anjing dan Kucing (kaltimprov.go.id, 2 Jan 2026) ↗ · Sosialisasi Surat Edaran tentang Pengawasan dan Pengendalian terhadap Peredaran/Perdagangan Daging Anjing (Dinas Peternakan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Blitar, 23 Apr 2022) ↗ · Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018, lampiran jenis satwa dilindungi (JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan) ↗ · UU No. 32 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan atas UU No. 5 Tahun 1990 (JDIH BPK) ↗
How can the trade be ended without fuelling rabies?
WHO calls mass dog vaccination the most cost-effective way to prevent human rabies, and says culling free-roaming dogs does not work. WOAH states that vaccinating at least 70% of dogs in at-risk areas can bring human cases down to zero, and that dog population control must respect animal welfare.
The Ministry of Agriculture says a single policy cannot end the trade. It calls for regional regulations, alternative jobs for traders, public education, and checks on animal movements, veterinary certificates and checkpoints. It also notes that the livestock law exempts slaughter for religious and customary ceremonies, so any approach needs cultural sensitivity.
Evidence: Rabies fact sheet (World Health Organization) ↗ · Rabies (World Organisation for Animal Health) ↗ · Upaya Pemerintah dalam Mengatasi Maraknya Konsumsi Daging Anjing dan Kucing (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 28 Jan 2021; arsip) ↗
Timeline
- 1997-09 Three suspected rabid dogs are brought to Flores from Buton Island; rabies on Flores is confirmed in April 1998. source ↗
- 2018-09 The Ministry of Agriculture issues Circular 9874/2018: dog meat is not within the definition of food. source ↗
- 2018-10 Jakarta issues Circular No. 26 of 2018 on supervising the dog meat trade. source ↗
- 2019-09 Central Java's governor urges regents and mayors to issue bans to protect the province's rabies-free status. source ↗
- 2020-10 Sukoharjo Bylaw 5/2020 bans street vendors from selling meat from non-food animals. source ↗
- 2021-10 Wates District Court sentences a defendant who transported 78 dogs without health certificates to 10 months and a Rp150 million fine. source ↗
- 2022-04 Blitar Regency issues a circular banning the commercial dog and cat meat trade. source ↗
- 2023-07 Tomohon's Mayoral Instruction 108/2023 tightens the dog and cat trade at the extreme market. source ↗
- 2025-03 The Ministry of Health issues a rabies alert; 2024 saw 185,359 bites and 122 deaths. source ↗
- 2025-06 Surakarta Bylaw 5/2025 bans selling and slaughtering non-food animals. source ↗
- 2025-11 Jakarta Regulation 36/2025 is promulgated, banning trade in and slaughter of rabies-transmitting animals for food. source ↗
- 2025-12 East Kalimantan's governor issues a circular banning dog and cat meat. source ↗
- 2026-01 The new Criminal Code takes effect; animal cruelty falls under Article 337. source ↗
- 2026-04 North Sulawesi quarantine officers hold 200 kg of undocumented dog meat at Manado port. source ↗
- 2026-05 Jakarta's ban takes effect; the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill is on the revised 2026 priority legislation list. source ↗
- 2026-06 Kutai Kartanegara Regency bans dog, cat and monkey meat. source ↗
- 2026-08 Yogyakarta's parliament and government approve a food safety bylaw that bans trading rabies-transmitting animals for food. source ↗
How to help
- Do not buy, order or promote dog and cat meat, including through reviews or social media posts.
- Do not share videos of animal cruelty. Keep the link and report it to the platform and the police.
- Report cruelty in progress to the police on 110 or at a police service desk (SPKT), and breaches of regional bylaws to the civil service police (Satpol PP).
- Report undocumented shipments of dogs, cats or their meat to the local animal-health office or the Indonesian Quarantine Agency.
- If protected wildlife is on sale, report it to the BKSDA or Gakkum Kehutanan, the forestry law-enforcement directorate.
- Do not try to take animals from vehicles or slaughter sites yourself. Leave it to the authorities.
- Vaccinate your dogs and cats against rabies, keep them from roaming, and report them straight away if they go missing.
- If a dog or cat bites or scratches you, go to a health facility straight away.
- PanduanHewan does not take donations. Before giving to an appeal, use our guide on how to check an appeal to confirm the organisation is registered and transparent.
- If you want to volunteer, choose a programme that works with the local authorities and does not use animals as content.
Common questions
Is dog meat banned in Indonesia?
As of August 2026 there was no explicit national ban. However, dog meat is outside the legal definition of food, and a number of regions, including Jakarta since May 2026, ban the trade. Check the rules where you are.
Source: Larangan Dagang Daging Kucing dan Anjing, Percepat Sahkan UU Kesejahteraan Hewan (Mongabay Indonesia, 5 Agu 2026) ↗ · Surat Edaran Kementan: Daging Anjing Bukan Pangan (detikNews, 12 Des 2018) ↗ · Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗
Can you get rabies from eating cooked dog meat?
WHO says infection through eating the raw meat of an infected animal is extremely rare. The main risk comes from bites, scratches and handling animals during capture and slaughter. If you are bitten or scratched, go to a health facility straight away.
Source: Rabies fact sheet (World Health Organization) ↗ · Rabies in Southeast Asia: a systematic review of its incidence, risk factors and mortality. BMJ Open (2023) ↗
Does dog meat cure skin complaints?
There is no official basis for the claim. The Ministry of Agriculture calls the belief in dog meat's health benefits a myth to be countered through education, and warns that the meat can carry diseases such as E. coli, salmonella, cholera and trichinellosis.
Source: Konsumsi Daging Satwa Eksotik dan Daging Anjing, Kontroversi serta Aspek Hukumnya (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 13 Des 2017; arsip) ↗ · Konsumsi Daging Satwa Eksotik dan Daging Anjing, Kontroversi serta Aspek Hukumnya (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 13 Des 2017; arsip) ↗
What does Jakarta's Regulation 36/2025 say?
It bans buying and selling dogs, cats, monkeys, bats, civets and other rabies-transmitting animals for food, alive or as meat, and bans slaughtering them for food. Sanctions are administrative, from a warning up to licence revocation.
Source: Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗
Is stealing a dog a crime in Indonesia?
Theft is covered by Article 476 of the Criminal Code, with up to five years in prison. If a stolen dog is also abused, Article 337 on animal cruelty may apply as well.
Source: UU No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (JDIH BPK) ↗ · UU No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (JDIH BPK) ↗
Where can I report dog slaughter or the dog meat trade?
Report cruelty to the police. Breaches of regional rules can go to the Satpol PP and the animal-health office, which enforce Jakarta's ban. Other local governments, such as Cimahi, also ask residents to report.
Source: UU No. 41 Tahun 2014 tentang Perubahan atas UU No. 18 Tahun 2009 tentang Peternakan dan Kesehatan Hewan (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗ · Pemkot Cimahi Terbitkan Surat Edaran Larangan Peredaran Daging Anjing (cimahikota.go.id, 18 Jan 2024) ↗
Is a national law on the way?
A Bill on Animal Protection and Welfare is on the revised 2026 priority legislation list (May 2026). Its content and fate will only be certain once parliament and the government pass it.
Source: DPR Sepakati 68 RUU Perubahan Prolegnas Prioritas 2026, Ini Daftarnya (detikNews, 20 Mei 2026) ↗
Does Tomohon market still sell dogs?
Since Mayoral Instruction 108/2023, any dog and cat trade needs veterinary and vaccination documents. In July 2023 the city office said the six dog and cat traders had stopped selling. We have found no more recent official data.
Source: Cegah Perebakan Rabies, Pemkot Tomohon Perketat Penjualan Daging Anjing dan Kucing di Pasar Ekstrem (VOA Indonesia, 28 Jul 2023) ↗ · Cegah Perebakan Rabies, Pemkot Tomohon Perketat Penjualan Daging Anjing dan Kucing di Pasar Ekstrem (VOA Indonesia, 28 Jul 2023) ↗
Animals involved
Dogs need social connection, space to rest, suitable exercise, and planned care. Understand the individual animal before making an adoption commitment.
Understand cats at home and in your neighbourhood: safe spaces, suitable food, natural behaviour, and a lifelong responsibility for their care.
The marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) is a small, marble-patterned wild cat with a very long, bushy tail, living in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo.
The bay cat (Catopuma badia) is a small wild cat found only on Borneo, with a rusty-red or grey coat, and one of the world's least known cats.
Support this cause from outside Indonesia
If you live outside Indonesia and want to fund work on this issue, you can help end the dog and cat meat trade with World Animal Rescue Network.
Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network. PanduanHewan itself does not accept donations, and this invitation is not directed at people in Indonesia. Before giving to any organisation, check how it is registered and how it reports on spending.
An Indonesian organisation working on this cause?
Officially registered organisations (a yayasan or perkumpulan with legal status on AHU, and a PUB permit where they raise money from the public) can contact us to be listed on this cause page free of charge. Every request is checked first, and a listing is not an endorsement.
Sources and references
- Surat Edaran Kewaspadaan Terhadap Kasus Rabies di Indonesia (Kemenkes, 19 Mar 2025) ↗
- Rabies fact sheet (World Health Organization) ↗
- Surat Edaran Kementan: Daging Anjing Bukan Pangan (detikNews, 12 Des 2018) ↗
- Situasi Perdagangan Daging Anjing di Indonesia, Prosiding Penyidikan Penyakit Hewan 2020 (Direktorat Kesehatan Hewan, Kementan; arsip repositori) ↗
- Peraturan Gubernur DKI Jakarta Nomor 36 Tahun 2025 (JDIH BPK) ↗
- UU No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (JDIH BPK) ↗
- Upaya Pemerintah dalam Mengatasi Maraknya Konsumsi Daging Anjing dan Kucing (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 28 Jan 2021; arsip) ↗
- Cegah Perebakan Rabies, Pemkot Tomohon Perketat Penjualan Daging Anjing dan Kucing di Pasar Ekstrem (VOA Indonesia, 28 Jul 2023) ↗
- Si Anabul Mau Ikut Mudik, Begini Prosedur Karantinanya (Badan Karantina Indonesia, 11 Mar 2026) ↗
- Larangan Dagang Daging Kucing dan Anjing, Percepat Sahkan UU Kesejahteraan Hewan (Mongabay Indonesia, 5 Agu 2026) ↗
- UU No. 18 Tahun 2012 tentang Pangan (JDIH BPK) ↗
- Konsumsi Daging Satwa Eksotik dan Daging Anjing, Kontroversi serta Aspek Hukumnya (Direktorat Kesmavet, Ditjen PKH Kementan, 13 Des 2017; arsip) ↗
- Penyelundup 78 Anjing untuk Konsumsi di Kulon Progo Divonis 10 Bulan Bui (detikNews, 18 Okt 2021) ↗
- UU No. 32 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan atas UU No. 5 Tahun 1990 (JDIH BPK) ↗
- DPR Sepakati 68 RUU Perubahan Prolegnas Prioritas 2026, Ini Daftarnya (detikNews, 20 Mei 2026) ↗
- Peraturan Daerah Kabupaten Sukoharjo Nomor 5 Tahun 2020 tentang Penataan dan Pemberdayaan Pedagang Kaki Lima (JDIH BPK) ↗
- Peraturan Daerah Kota Surakarta Nomor 5 Tahun 2025 (JDIH Kota Surakarta) ↗
- Hindari Rabies, Ganjar Minta Warga Stop Makan Anjing (jatengprov.go.id, 29 Sep 2019) ↗
- Sosialisasi Surat Edaran tentang Pengawasan dan Pengendalian terhadap Peredaran/Perdagangan Daging Anjing (Dinas Peternakan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Blitar, 23 Apr 2022) ↗
- Pemkot Cimahi Terbitkan Surat Edaran Larangan Peredaran Daging Anjing (cimahikota.go.id, 18 Jan 2024) ↗
- Surat Edaran Gubernur Kalimantan Timur Nomor 500.7.2.5/29805/EK (pindaian yang ditautkan dari kaltimprov.go.id) ↗
- Pemprov Kaltim Tegaskan Larangan Peredaran Daging Anjing dan Kucing (kaltimprov.go.id, 2 Jan 2026) ↗
- SE Larangan Peredaran dan Perdagangan Daging Anjing, Daging Kucing dan Daging Kera (PPID Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara) ↗
- Sahkan Raperda Keamanan Pangan Berbasis Hewani, DPRD DIY Dorong Jaminan Pangan Aman dan Bermutu (DPRD DIY, 4 Agustus 2026) ↗
- Rabies in Southeast Asia: a systematic review of its incidence, risk factors and mortality. BMJ Open (2023) ↗
- Wertheim HFL et al. (2009) Furious rabies after an atypical exposure. PLoS Medicine 6(3): e1000044 ↗
- Phylogeography of the current rabies viruses in Indonesia. Journal of Veterinary Science (2015) ↗
- Rabies in Our Neighbourhood: Preparedness for an Emerging Infectious Disease. Pathogens (2021) ↗
- Karantina Sulawesi Utara Tahan Daging Anjing Ilegal (Badan Karantina Indonesia, 10 Apr 2026) ↗
- PP No. 95 Tahun 2012 tentang Kesehatan Masyarakat Veteriner dan Kesejahteraan Hewan (JDIH BPK) ↗
- UU No. 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, halaman detail (JDIH BPK) ↗
- UU No. 41 Tahun 2014 tentang Perubahan atas UU No. 18 Tahun 2009 tentang Peternakan dan Kesehatan Hewan (JDIH BPK) ↗
- Peringatan Hari Rabies Sedunia (Kemenkes) ↗
- Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018, lampiran jenis satwa dilindungi (JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan) ↗
- Rabies (World Organisation for Animal Health) ↗
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