JAKARTA — Animal rights groups say the consumption of dog meat is on the rise in Indonesia and it's high time something was done to protect man's best friend. <br /> <br />As a majority Muslim nation, dogs aren't as popular as pets in Indonesia as they are in other parts of the world. <br /> <br />But although many Indonesians tend to regard dog meat as unclean, it isn't outright forbidden by Islamic tradition in the same way pork is, the New York Times reported. <br /> <br />According to reports, the number of dog thefts in Indonesia has increased recently. <br /> <br />We guess that's because dog meat is relatively cheap and many Indonesians believe eating it can cure skin diseases and boost stamina. Of course, there's no medical evidence for that. <br /> <br />Animal rights activists in the country say dog thefts are not treated seriously by the police even though the crime is specifically outlawed by a 2009 law on animal welfare. <br /> <br />On the island of Bali alone, where there's a Hindu-majority population, it's estimated that 70,000 dogs are slaughtered each year. <br /> <br /> <br />Many animal loving organizations are now backing a campaign entitled "DOGS ARE NOT FOOD." And we'd like to lend them our support. Man's best friend should be by his side, not on his dinner table.
