Horrifying pictures show skewered dogs being sold as kebabs by street vendors in Vietnam as the government tries to crack down on the delicacy.
The bodies of small breeds were photographed lying over metal grates before being served at ‘Thit Cho’ restaurants in the capital Hanoi.
Their teeth were still in place and their darkened skin was splitting as the pooches were piled up next to sausages by the side of the road.
Josh Edelson, who was travelling through Vietnam, told MailOnline there were three vendors who would let him film them on Saturday after two days of trying.
A female street vendor stands on the side of the road behind her cart selling dog meat. Motorists and even soldiers turned up to buy from her on Saturday
Horrifying pictures show skewered dogs (pictured) being sold as kebabs by street vendors in Vietnam as the government tries to crack down on the delicacy
The bodies of small breeds were photographed lying over metal grates before being served at Thit Cho restaurants in the capital Hanoi
Their teeth were still in place and their darkened skin was splitting as the pooches were piled up next to sausages by the side of the road
A street vendor prepares skewers of dog meat or ‘Thit Cho’ as it’s called in Vietnam, on Saturday. He smiles as he threads one of the rods through the dead animal
The photographer from San Francisco, California, said: ‘The photos are extremely disturbing, but I think it’s an important story, especially because the Vietnamese government is at odds with the locals.
‘The first time I tried, they shooed me away. They don’t like having photos taken, prob because it’s a pretty controversial part of their culture – eating dog.’
But he added: ‘The locals contend that it is part of their culture and that it should remain.’
Mr Edelson saw motorists and even soldiers stop at the vendors and snack on the dog meat after it had been fried in hot fat.
He added: ‘I thought [the soldiers] were there to shut it down, but then was surprised to see them buy some.’
Josh Edelson, who was travelling through Vietnam, told MailOnline there were three vendors who would let him film them on Saturday after two days of trying
The photographer from San Francisco, California, said: ‘The photos are extremely disturbing, but I think it’s an important story, especially because the Vietnamese government is at odds with the locals’
Mr Edelson saw motorists and even soldiers (pictured) stop at the vendors and snack on the dog meat after it had been fried in hot fat
He continued: ‘The first time I tried, they shooed me away. They don’t like having photos taken, prob because it’s a pretty controversial part of their culture – eating dog (pictured)’
Eating dog is now frowned upon in the Southeast Asian country, but it is still legal, with the government looking to outlaw the practice by 2021. Pictured: One of the street vendors preparing the meat
Eating dog is now frowned upon in the Southeast Asian country, but it is still legal, with the government looking to outlaw the practice by 2021.
A few years ago the dog-meat industry was booming and animals were being snatched from their homes, crammed into metal cages and force-fed for restaurant tables.
In 2014 it was reported thousands of pets had been stolen from gardens and front porches to feed the appetites of the diners.
At one point that year, seven tonnes of live dogs were shipped to Hanoi every day.
The pets were sold by weight, and some were force fed through funnels to increase their value before being hosed down and tightly packed in cages.
A few years ago the dog-meat industry was booming and animals were being snatched from their homes, crammed into metal cages and force-fed for restaurant tables. Pictured: One of the vendors making a sale on Saturday
Two of the vendors who allowed Mr Edelson to film them talk as one cuts some of the dog meat on the side of the road in Hanoi
Upon arrival in Hanoi, dogs (left and right) are stored in deep pits before being slaughtered and sold on to restaurants to be cooked and eaten
Most dogs eaten in Vietnam used to be trucked in from neighbouring Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. But in recent years, animal rights groups have succeeded in closing down most of these routes, meaning most of the dogs are now shipped from within Vietnam
One busy holding house processed around 2,000 live dogs a day, with up to 200 squashed into each cage.
Upon arrival in Hanoi, the dogs were stored in deep pits before being slaughtered and sold on to restaurants to be cooked and eaten.
Most dogs eaten in Vietnam used to be trucked in from neighbouring Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
But in recent years, animal rights groups have succeeded in closing down most of these routes, meaning most of the dogs are now shipped from within Vietnam.
Some diners believe the more an animal suffers before it dies, the tastier its meat is.
Some dogs died by being bludgeoned to death with a heavy metal pipe, which can take more than ten blows.
Others have their throats slit or are stabbed in the chest, while some are even burned alive.
To increase their weight and thus their retail price, they are stuffed with rice and water via stomach tubes. Others have stones forced into their mouths.
Some diners believe the more an animal suffers before it dies, the tastier its meat is. Some dogs died by being bludgeoned to death with a heavy metal pipe, which can take more than ten blows
To increase their weight and thus their retail price, the dogs (pictured at the market) are stuffed with rice and water via stomach tubes. Others have stones forced into their mouths