Yogyakarta Government Issues By-law Banning Dog and Cat Meat Trade
The Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) administration has issued a regional regulation (Perda) banning the trade of dogs and cats for consumption. The regulation was approved during a plenary session of the DIY Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Tuesday (4/8).
Chair of the special committee for the draft regulation, Sri Muslimatun, stated that the policy was prompted by reports from the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) community regarding the high rate of dog slaughter for consumption. According to DMFI reports, at least 126 dogs are killed daily in DIY. “We must act. There needs to be a rule or legal basis governing this, as dogs can transmit rabies to humans. Moreover, dogs are not animals meant for consumption,” she explained in a written statement on Wednesday (5/8/2026).
Following data collection and analysis, the committee agreed to include a prohibition on trading animals that can transmit diseases for food purposes, including dogs, cats, monkeys, bats, civets, and other similar animals. The regulation is expected to sever the distribution chain of dog meat in DIY, as dogs are not considered livestock and pose a risk of disease transmission if consumed. “This provision is included as a preventive measure to protect public health, ensure food safety, and strengthen community protection from potential zoonotic disease transmission,” she added.
The regulation also mandates the DIY administration to form a task force through a Governor Regulation (Pergub). This Pergub will contain the technical implementation rules for the by-law, including provisions on sanctions. “The Governor Regulation must be enacted no later than six months after this by-law is stipulated,” Sri stated.
DIY Regional Secretary Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti confirmed that the administration will immediately discuss the technical rules following the by-law’s issuance. She noted that discussions regarding the Pergub had been ongoing for some time. “God willing, if it is quick, it could be this year,” Made said when met at the Kepatihan Complex. She added that the commitment to regulate the consumption of pets had existed since earlier reports of dog hunting surfaced. Regarding the formation of the task force and potential sanctions, Made said she would first study the newly passed by-law in detail.