Spared From the Pot: Thai Officials Rescue 800 Dogs From Smugglers

A smuggler with a truck-load of more than 800 dogs was arrested by Thailand authorities from the banks of the Mekong River in the north eastern Nakhon Phanom province, it has been reported.

"A Thai navy patrol caught a gang of dog smugglers Thursday morning on the shore of the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province," the Associated Press has quoted Capt. Thirakiat Thongaram as saying.

The Mekong River flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The dogs were found in small rusty cages near a boat and were meant for slaughtering to prepare dog meat dishes in Vietnam.

A man named Preecha Utthasri was also arrested by the Thai Navy patrol officials while his accomplices managed to flee.

The officials found evidences of frequent transportation of dogs from the area like the creation of a slope in the bank of the river to transfer the animals to the boat and empty cages returned from Vietnam.

In Vietnam, dog meat is a delicacy and the demand is on the rise ahead of the Chinese New Year, according to The Nation report.