THAILAND FOREST: DOG SKINS USED USED FOR LEATHER, THOUSANDS FOUND IN

The Thai Police have recently made a gruesome discovery in the forest alongside the Laos border. They uncovered hundreds upon hundreds of dog pelts in a pile next to dog bones. This horrific discovery sheds light on how big the dog leather trade really is. Many people are familiar with the dog meat trade, however, the dog leather industry may be just as shocking.

Dog leather is used by factories to make everything from drums to golf gloves. Golf glove manufacturers especially value the skin from male dog testicles because the skin from that area has a softer quality. The demand for dog pelts appallingly works hand in hand with the dog meat trade. Many dog smugglers are drawn to Thailand due to its large population of stray dogs. Smugglers continue to sneak dog parts across the border from Thailand and Laos. If their attempts are successful, it is most likely that the dog pelts and meat would be transported to Vietnam or China, where the demand for dog parts is particularly strong.

The entire ordeal for these dogs is extremely cruel from beginning to end. Usually the dogs would be skinned alive and have to endure an excruciating amount of pain before they die. It is an absolutely cruel and horrendous industry and it must be stopped as soon as possible. Sign this petition and urge the Prime Minister of Thailand to crack down on the smuggling and trade of dog parts.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra,

The recent discovery of the dog pelts and dog bones by the border of Laos shows that the dog leather and meat industry is still thriving, despite attempts to end it. Although the dog meat trade is equally gruesome as the dog leather trade, I fear that the demand for dog pelts may cause smugglers to kill more dogs solely for their skin.

The skins of these dogs are being used to make things such as drums and golf gloves. Since many of the golf glove manufacturers value the soft quality of the skin from the testicles of male dogs, they may pressure the smugglers to capture more dogs to fulfill their demands for this particular area of dog skin. These dogs go through an incredibly excruciating ordeal before they die due to the fact that they are usually skinned alive and left to slowly succumb to their wounds.

I urge you to take immediate action to end the smuggling of dog parts across your borders as soon as possible. These acts of cruelty toward these animals should not be allowed to continue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

 Hundreds of dog skins have been found dumped in a forest in northeastern Thailand, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police discovered the skins in bags left next to a large pile of dog bones on Tuesday in Sakon Nakhon, which borders Laos.

The area is notorious for exporting canine parts as a delicacy or for use as a leather substitute, including for golf gloves.

“The skins would be bleached – some are then sent (by smugglers) to other countries to be made into gloves for playing golf,” said Lamai Sakolpitak, from a special police unit to suppress smuggling and the trade in animal parts.

“Experts say that dog skins are also used for instruments such as drums.”

Mr Lamai says it is illegal to kill canines to sell their parts in Thailand or abroad.

He says the find is likely linked to a recent raid on two nearby makeshift factories where skins were stripped from dogs.

“Some people were afraid that we would find the skins at their houses… so they dumped them,” Mr Lamai added.

Local campaign group Watchdog Thailand has condemned the killing of dogs for sale, explaining that exporters pay around $10 for every live dog, including pets and strays from the surrounding areas.

They then butcher the animals, skin them and blow-torch the carcasses to preserve the meat for sale – mainly to buyers in Vietnam and China where it is a delicacy.

“The skins are used for golfing gloves, hats, small purses and wallets,” a staff member of Watchdog Thailand told AFP, requesting anonymity.

“Cow leather products are more expensive and therefore are not always used to make small products.”

The group says the raid earlier this year also yielded scores of dog carcasses and skins.

In May last year around 2,000 dogs kept in cages – and apparently destined for the dinner table – were rescued in the province.