Sitting at an empty Jakarta stall, Alfindo Hutagaol gobbled down some rice, green sambal and grilled dog meat – a meal that is now banned in the Indonesian capital.
The Muslim-majority archipelago is one of a handful of countries that still permit the sale of dog and cat meat, but a campaign against the practice has been gaining ground in recent years.
While Muslims do not eat dog meat, it is popular in some of Indonesia’s other communities.
This week, Jakarta’s authorities announced a ban in the capital on trade for the consumption of rabies-transmitting animals, including cats and dogs.
The prohibition, with a six-month grace period before enforcement begins, was hailed by animal rights groups who have long lobbied against the trade.
But for Alfindo, “there should be no such prohibition”, he said before the ban was announced.
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