<p>The Cambodian tourist town of Siem Reap has banned the dog meat trade, a victory for animal rights campaigners who describe the area as the "lynchpin" of an industry that slaughters millions of creatures each year.</p>.<p>Dog meat, a cheap source of protein, is eaten in several Asian countries, including Cambodia, although it is much more popular in neighbouring Vietnam.</p>.<p>But animal rights group Four Paws has identified Siem Reap province -- home to the famed Angkor Wat temple complex -- as a hub for the trade within the kingdom, where they say three million dogs are butchered annually.</p>.<p>Siem Reap authorities announced a ban late Tuesday, with the provincial agricultural department saying the dog meat trade has descended into "anarchy" in recent years.</p>.<p>"It has caused the infection of rabies and other diseases from one region to another, which affects the public health," said the statement.</p>.<p>"The catching, buying, selling and slaughtering of dogs... will be punished severely."</p>.<p>The maximum penalty for dealing in dogs for slaughter as food is five years in prison, while fines range from 7-50 million riel ($1,700 to $12,200).</p>.<p>How the ban will be enforced remains to be seen, as Cambodia has long struggled with lax policing.</p>.<p>However, Four Paws on Wednesday hailed the decision to take out Siem Reap as a "lynchpin for the Cambodian dog meat trade".</p>.<p>"We hope that Siem Reap will serve as a model for the rest of the country to follow suit," said veterinarian Dr. Katherine Polak.</p>.<p>Their investigation last year found that the northern province served as a gateway for the trade, with roving dog catchers nabbing animals and selling them to over 20 dog meat restaurants in the tourist city.</p>.<p>Thousands are also transported each month to different parts of the country, including the capital Phnom Penh where there are still more than 100 restaurants.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, a streetside vendor in the capital continued to advertise dog meat on his menu, hawking barbecue dishes from $2.50 to $10 a kilogram.</p>.<p>Tourism to Cambodia has seized up due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>Siem Reap draws the bulk of the kingdom's six million tourists, nearly half from China.</p>
<p>The Cambodian tourist town of Siem Reap has banned the dog meat trade, a victory for animal rights campaigners who describe the area as the "lynchpin" of an industry that slaughters millions of creatures each year.</p>.<p>Dog meat, a cheap source of protein, is eaten in several Asian countries, including Cambodia, although it is much more popular in neighbouring Vietnam.</p>.<p>But animal rights group Four Paws has identified Siem Reap province -- home to the famed Angkor Wat temple complex -- as a hub for the trade within the kingdom, where they say three million dogs are butchered annually.</p>.<p>Siem Reap authorities announced a ban late Tuesday, with the provincial agricultural department saying the dog meat trade has descended into "anarchy" in recent years.</p>.<p>"It has caused the infection of rabies and other diseases from one region to another, which affects the public health," said the statement.</p>.<p>"The catching, buying, selling and slaughtering of dogs... will be punished severely."</p>.<p>The maximum penalty for dealing in dogs for slaughter as food is five years in prison, while fines range from 7-50 million riel ($1,700 to $12,200).</p>.<p>How the ban will be enforced remains to be seen, as Cambodia has long struggled with lax policing.</p>.<p>However, Four Paws on Wednesday hailed the decision to take out Siem Reap as a "lynchpin for the Cambodian dog meat trade".</p>.<p>"We hope that Siem Reap will serve as a model for the rest of the country to follow suit," said veterinarian Dr. Katherine Polak.</p>.<p>Their investigation last year found that the northern province served as a gateway for the trade, with roving dog catchers nabbing animals and selling them to over 20 dog meat restaurants in the tourist city.</p>.<p>Thousands are also transported each month to different parts of the country, including the capital Phnom Penh where there are still more than 100 restaurants.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, a streetside vendor in the capital continued to advertise dog meat on his menu, hawking barbecue dishes from $2.50 to $10 a kilogram.</p>.<p>Tourism to Cambodia has seized up due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>Siem Reap draws the bulk of the kingdom's six million tourists, nearly half from China.</p>