Meet Wayne Capriotti, publisher of Vietnam’s first (and possibly only) online bilingual pet magazine
The inspiration for Me Thu Cung (petmagazine.vn) began several years ago when Wayne and his wife decided to add a dog to their family. They visited a handful of pet shops (very few existed in 2010) and were shocked by the unsanitary conditions – the animals look sickly and underfed. Eventually they bought a Maltese mix female from a shop on Le Hong Phong Street in District 10. The owner said the puppy had received vaccinations but couldn’t produce a receipt or a ‘healthcare passport.’ Wayne pointed out the lack of documentation, but was told it was standard practice, unaware of the notorious reputation this “pet street” had and still has today.
The days were numbered for their puppy. She became sick immediately, showing symptoms of canine parvovirus, a potentially fatal disease that renders an agonizing death on a puppy that does not receive proper vaccinations. They looked for a veterinarian, first trying a government clinic but the vet there had more experience with pigs and water buffalos than with dogs and cats. Fortunately, at the same time they were in the process of buying a cat from a breeder who recommended a qualified veterinarian. If they hadn’t found this vet, their puppy would not have survived.
The desperate feeling of not knowing where to find pet services for a dying dog left an indelible mark on Wayne and he vowed to make a change.
Oi speaks to Wayne about Vietnam’s growing pet culture and redefining the role of pets in society.
The Vietnamese are now starting to view dogs and cats as pets rather than food. What do you think is causing this shift?
In the last five years, the quantity and quality of pet ownership in Vietnam has increased, driven by a pet social phenomenon, observed in developed countries called ‘pet humanization.’ To create a mature pet culture, greater amounts of disposable income from an emerging middle class is spent on pets, raising the status of a pet from a pragmatic position within the household into becoming a family member.
Little by little in Vietnam, a pet’s status is reaching the privilege of family member or even as a child of the family. The marketing ramifications of this is that the more the pet is considered family, the more money is spent on the pet, creating premium pet product and service markets, thereby creating a thriving pet culture.
*Images by Neil Featherstone
Can this shift also be attributed to pets as status symbols?
The vaulted status of the ownership of pedigree dogs, or cats, is highly regarded anywhere in the world. Vietnam is no different. It really depends on the individual and their maturity and experience of pet ownership. There are those who love a particular pedigree and are deeply interested in helping the status of the breeds in Vietnam and will show their dog(s) in public. Then there are those who showcase their expensive dogs in public much like they would an expensive electronic device or a brand new car. Pedigree dogs or cats, no matter in what country, are very expensive and carry social status.
I am quite the same, but in a slightly different way. I am very interested in the local native Phu Quoc Ridgeback dog and the establishment and preservation of this breed. So, if I owned a VND40 million to VND60 million Ridgeback dog, with dynamic black and orange brindle patterning that makes the dog look like a fierce tiger, with proven pedigree (three bloodlines), I too would prance around in public, saying, “Look at me, look at me.” Shameful, I am, but it is for the sake of the breed!
You’re campaigning to ban dog meat here. Is this not culturally insensitive considering eating dog meat is part of the local culture?
We are not about banning anything. We are in favor of using education in developing socially responsible pet ownership in Vietnam that may reduce this culinary act to a simple footnote. We would like people to seriously consider the origins of this practice and ask why they eat dog or cat meat. Eating dog meat is considered an elevated social status where those with newfound wealth can afford the relatively expensive dog meat.
I’ve spoken to many older Vietnamese and some refuse to call the act ‘culture.’ Even my mother-in-law would not call it a ‘culture’ as her own mother told her to never eat cat or dog because you would become poor for generations to come. Translation: no more kittens or puppies to take over the job of being ‘mousers’ and protectors of house and property.
Yes, there was period of starvation after the war that lead many to eat anything, including cats and dogs. And yes, there is habit that cat meat should be eaten at the beginning of the lunar month and dog at the end to bring good luck. There are also unsubstantiated rumors of dog and cat meat that act as aphrodisiacs. And the most unpleasant ritual surrounding the eating of dog or cat is the bizarre notion that the brutal torture of the dog and cat will release the ‘animal sprits’ into the meat and when consumed, the diner will be fortified. They also say that dog and cat have more protein than beef or chicken per kilogram. No one has really clearly supported this with scientific evidence.
Dognapping has increased rapidly in the past year. Why and what are the thieves doing with their victims?
The increase in dognapping is from a reaction to the control of stolen dogs from Thailand into Vietnam. These kidnapped dogs are shipped by truck through Northern Thailand, across Laos, and into Vietnam en route to Hanoi and China. This clampdown has reduced the supply of dogs.
It is a lucrative trade, the price of dog meat is three times the price of pork and thieves earn up to VND250,000 to VND500,000 per dog. The stolen dogs are sold to slaughter houses or restaurants throughout Vietnam.
The other motive is ransom. The thieves determine whether the dog is worth more alive and then held for ransom.
More cats than any other animals are abandoned. Why?
An endemic problem as any local animal rescue shelter will tell you. One reason, the sound of “mèo” (cat) sounds similar to “nghèo” (to be poor). Cats are quite noisy during their heat cycle. The unneutered male and female cats also urinate marking territory, outside the litter box. The frequency and pitch of the female cat in heat is irritating in close quarters. And, if there is an unwanted litter found, even more dire consequences.
This raises the awareness of the sterilization of cats. Many Vietnamese cat owners are unaware that a kitten over the age of three months can have a litter. More education is required on cats’ reproductive cycles and sterilization to end this problem.
If I want to buy a dog or cat where should I go to guarantee they have been legally obtained and are in good health?
I recommend dog breeders with a Vietnam Kennel Association certification endorsed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. For cats, there are many breeders with similar recognized certifications.
A word of caution, never buy a dog or cat from street traders, no matter how cute the animal looks, they are the walking dead, kept alive by medication.
There are good pet shops that deal with good breeders. Do your research and ask questions. Unless you know them, avoid home breeders. Most cut corners in breeding to improve margins.
What about adoption options?
We also promote the adoption of pets for people who cherish the idea of helping a pet recover their dignity. Many rescues need experienced owners, able to handle behavioral issues from abuse. An inexperienced pet owner may not be able to handle a rescue and may also not receive commitment from family.
