Cowering in a rusting metal cage, the are the last moments of these tragic dogs’ lives are filled with horror before being bludgeoned and blow-torched alive and butchered for eating.

Animal welfare campaigners have uncovered brutal torture at an Indonesian market promoted as a tourist attraction by internet travel agent TripAdvisor calling it a “must see” attraction.

Described by one of the campaigners as “like walking through hell”, live dogs and cats are seen huddled together and trembling as all around them their cage mates are slaughtered.

One by one they are yanked out of their cage, smashed over the head, and thrown to the ground as they writhe in agony.

They are then blow-torched to remove their hair, a final torment that takes place whilst many are clearly still alive.

Many of the scenes captured on video are too graphic and sickening to publish.

Scenes were described by one of the animal welfare campaigners as “like walking through hell” (
Image:
Dog Meat Free Indonesia)
A worker blow-torches an animal at one of the markets in Indonesia (
Image:
Dog Meat Free Indonesia)

Campaigners from the Dog Meat-Free Indonesia coalition filmed at two of the most notorious of Indonesia’s 200 ‘live’ animal markets in North Sulawesi, Tomohon Extreme Market and Langowan Market, to expose the horrifying suffering routinely endured by animals.

Thousands of dogs and cats are killed at the markets in North Sulawesi each week where 90 percent are stolen pets, owned or street dogs.

TripAdvisor has since removed the page promoting the sick trade saying: “We have investigated the TripAdvisor listing page for Tomohon Extreme Market and concluded that it does not meet the standards set by our listings policy.

"As a result, we have permanently removed the listing from both our site and our app.”

One by one the animals were yanked out of their cage, smashed over the head, and thrown to the ground as they writhed in agony (
Image:
Dog Meat Free Indonesia)

British officials and international dignitaries have been urged to help shut down live animal markets, where thousands of dogs and cats are butchered every week.

Asia Minister Mark Field MP and Indonesian Ambassador Rizal Sukma have both been urged to act by activists.

Karin Franken of Jakarta Animal Aid Network, said: “Most travellers would be horrified at the promotion of such horrific markets which trivialise the very serious nature of the animal suffering that takes place there.

There is growing evidence that humans increase their risk of becoming infected with the fatal rabies virus through slaughtering and butchering (
Image:
Dog Meat Free Indonesia)

“The traders who beat and burn these animals alive show total indifference to their pain and anguish, and even appear to play up to the crowds. It’s a sickening display that should never be seen as entertainment.”

More than 10 million tourists a year visit Indonesia, mainly from Singapore, Malaysia, with more than 1.5 million form Europe and similar figures from China and Australia.

The DMFI coalition is calling on tourists and animal lovers around the world to join their calls for an outright ban on this illegal, dangerous and brutal trade.

Campaigners from the Dog Meat-Free Indonesia coalition filmed at two of the most notorious of Indonesia’s 200 ‘live’ animal markets in North Sulawesi, Tomohon Extreme Market and Langowan Market (
Image:
Dog Meat Free Indonesia)

There is growing evidence that humans increase their risk of becoming infected with the fatal rabies virus through slaughtering and butchering, and the illegal movement of large numbers of animals of unknown disease status is also a massive public health hazard.

Lola Webber, Dog Meat-Free Indonesia campaign coordinator, said “The animals we saw at the markets were terrified and often sick and injured, after surviving gruelling journeys to market and rough handling by traders.

“It was like walking through hell. They huddled together in cages, trembling with fear as they watched others being killed around them, waiting their turn.

"The sight of absolute terror in their eyes, the thumping of the club as they were bludgeoned, their screams of pain, and the smell of burning hair and flesh, were appalling and unforgettable.”

Write to the Indonesian government and sign the petition to end this horrific practice here .