Police raids against vendors of dog meat

The administration of the Central Market in Chisinau and the police plan raids through the market to identify those who sell dog meat. This comes in reaction to a TV report about instances of dog meat vending which is forbidden by law, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Ion Stratulat, director of the Central Market, this trade isn’t official. It is done by people who have no authorized stands. Moreover, the law forbids selling dog meat. “I have to answer after a TV channel called me on Friday and asked if dog meat was sold at the market. We are worried by this situation. I want to assure you that the administration will take all measures within our competences, but we also request the police to investigate this case”, stated Stratulat. He explained that those who sell dog meat most likely don’t work officially in the company. “I guess they are those who sell girdles. Today, July 30, the police will undertake some raids on the municipal enterprise’s territory to find them”, he announced. Mayor of the capital Dorin Chirtoaca admitted that people were inventive and that’s why authorities had to intervene more decisively. “Nothing surprises me anymore in Moldova. We know similar situations during the Easter holidays, when lamb meat is replaced with dog meat. At the market, like on the street, anything can happen, but people must be warned even through public notices. The culprits must be searched and identified permanently. All the vending must be based on contracts with the Central Market. No contract, no vending”, said Dorin Chirtoaca. Recently, a TV channel aired a report shot with a hidden camera, which showed a woman willing to sell dog meat at a reasonable price at the Central Market.