The regency of Karanganyar in Java, Indonesia, has pledged to end the dog meat trade in the country and will save at least 2,000 dogs per month from being slaughtered or consumed by humans.

The move comes after the investigation of the Dog Meat-Free Indonesia (DMFI), which showed that dogs were being blow-torched alive and bludgeoned in animal markets all over the country.

The pledge was welcomed by Peter Egan and Ricky Gervais, the two are ambassadors of the Dog Meat-Free Indonesia.

The two celebrities thanked Bupati Juliyatmono, the head of the district, for the promise that will help save more than 20,000 dogs per year.

The new pledge includes closing every stall in every market that is or will be selling meat in the regency. The plan also includes shutting down plants and other farms that bread dogs.

The investigation that was carried out by Dog Meat Free Indonesia, Change For Animals Foundation, and Humane Society International, showed that dogs were being brutally beaten up and were hanged upside down so all the blood in their veins could be out.

The investigations showed that horrific things were done with dogs while they were still alive and conscious.

Wendy Higgins, a member of the Humane Society International, said, “Indonesia is a popular tourist destination for millions of travelers including about 360,000 Brits each year, but the country’s natural beauty is hiding an ugly secret that many tourists will be unaware of. Visiting local markets is often promoted by tour guides but innocent travelers could be exposing themselves to horrific scenes of animal cruelty as well as dangerous diseases like rabies.”

She added, “The national government has issued a crackdown but for as long as local regions like North Sulawesi simply ignore that, the killing and the risk to tourists continues.”

Activists and members of animal rights groups are hopeful that the new pledge will be the start of a new movement that could possibly be seen in the country in the near future.Campaigners are really eager to bring down the dangerous and illegal trade that slaughters dogs.

But, the governor of North Sulawesi, Olly Dondokambey, refuses to act.

The North Sulawesi province in Indonesia is currently the center of the cat and dog meat trade.

Reports suggest that there are around 200 animal markets in the province that are open every day.

Dog meat is only consumed by around 7 percent of the population of Indonesia.

The main reason why the government wants to tackle down the trade is because of the health threat it brings.

Some dogs that are killed in the dog trade may bring rabies, a virus that is responsible for over 55,000 deaths per year, in which, more than 50 percent are in Asia.

The disease infects the central nervous system, and if it is not treated, it can cause death.

As of now, there are 24 provinces in Indonesia that are endemic in Rabies, and those provinces that are included are the ones that consume the most dog meat.

According to a report that was released by DMFI, the North Sulawesi Province has the highest numbers of human deaths that were caused by rabies.

Even after the lack of action in North Sulawesi province, progress is being made in Karanganyar and Yogyakarta, and campaigners said that people in the province should not lose hope.

It is reported that one out of every 30 dog meat-selling stalls are going to be closed.

The governments of the provinces are currently holding meetings that discuss alternative livelihood opportunities.