A bill to ban the consumption of dog and cat meat in the United States has been passed by the US Congress and was expected to be signed by the president within the week.
The 2018 Farm Bill will ban the sale and slaughter, as well as importing and exporting dog and cat meat for human consumption. If and when it is passed, the bill will make consumption illegal in all 50 states of the country.
At present, 44 states have yet to outlaw the practice, Fortune reported. Congressman Alcee Hastings and Vern Buchanan introduced the provision, which was passed by the US Senate in July.
In addition to dog meat consumption, the bill will also repair the loopholes concerning animal fights. At present, animal fighting is permitted in non-state US territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam. The new bill will extend the ban to such regions.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill before the holidays begin in the United States.
The consumption of cat and dog meat is minuscule in the US, unlike Asia. People in Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as in China and Korea, are known to have a taste for dog meat.