Uzbekistan’s animal protection society, Mehr va Oqibat, has raised concerns after receiving numerous complaints from locals and foreign visitors about cafes and restaurants in Uzbekistan offering dog meat dishes on their menus.

Controversial Supply and Health Concerns
According to Mehr va Oqibat, Uzbekistan lacks specialized farms for raising dogs for meat, unlike some other Asian countries. The organization suggests that state services responsible for capturing stray animals might be the primary suppliers of dog meat.

Activists argue that the purported medicinal benefits of dog meat remain scientifically unproven. Additionally, they warn that dog meat can transmit viruses during preparation and consumption, posing potential health risks.

Mehr va Oqibat has officially contacted Uzbekistan’s State Veterinary Committee and the Sanitary-Epidemiological Service to clarify whether dog meat consumption is permitted in Uzbekistan. The organization has also inquired as to whether cafes and restaurants have obtained official authorization to serve dog meat dishes.

Cultural and Historical Context
The consumption of dog meat in Uzbekistan, as well as in neighboring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is primarily linked to the Korean minorities residing in these countries. This practice is not widespread and is generally followed by small groups of ethnic Koreans and others, including Russians, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz, who consider it an “exotic” culinary choice.

Ethnic Koreans were forcibly deported to Central Asia from the Russian Far East in the late 1930s under Joseph Stalin’s regime. Uzbekistan is now home to the largest Korean minority in Central Asia. As of 2023, over 200,000 ethnic Koreans lived in the country, according to the Uzbek Embassy in South Korea, making it the fifth-largest Korean diaspora in the world after the United States, China, Japan, and Canada.

A Shift in Perspective
The issue of dog meat consumption has garnered increasing attention globally. In January 2024, South Korea’s National Assembly passed a law banning the production and sale of dog meat, with the ban set to take effect in 2027.

While dog meat consumption remains a niche practice in Uzbekistan, activists hope that raising awareness about ethical and health implications will encourage the authorities to address the issue comprehensively.