Post date: Aug 13, 2011 1:22:48 PM
Thai officials stop smugglers from shipping hundreds of dogs to Vietnamese restaurants. Lindsey Parietti reports.
THAILAND-DOGS - Caged and ready for shipment to restaurants in Vietnam, these dogs escape an unpleasant fate.Thai authorities rescued more than a thousand dogs Thursday after animal protection groups raised the alarm on a smuggling operation.
The suspects dumped the animals on the side of the road near the country's northeastern border, but were caught by police.
The one Vietnamese and two Thai men charged in connection with the crime face a maximum sentence of one year in jail and up to a $670 fine.
About 300 dogs died during the operation.
The rest were released from their tiny cages at this government shelter where they are being held along with other dogs rescued in raids.
Dog meat is popular in southern China and Vietnam, where each animal can fetch around $30.
As part of a campaign to help the rescued animals, the provincial governor has started a fund for donations.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters