Vietnam shuts down dog meat shops

KUALA LUMPUR - Vietnam has closed about 60 dog meat restaurants and slaughterhouses after cholera bacteria was found in some of the animals.

The businesses will be allowed to reopen in two weeks provided they are cholera-free and the owners prove their meat comes from hygienic sources, Le Anh Tuan, director of the Hanoi health department, was quoted as saying by Fox News.

The closure has affected two villages where bacteria was found in samples taken from dogs, Tuan said, adding that the slaughterhouses did not have purchase receipts for the meat.

Dog meat is a delicacy for many Vietnamese, who believe eating it in the second half of the lunar calendar month helps dispel bad luck. Eating dog on the first three days of the lunar calendar is considered bad luck.

The practice started during famines brought on by years of wars in the country and grew in popularity, even in good times.