The warning comes as Indonesia prepares to host the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, the nation’s capital, and Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra, in August and September, with millions of tourists expected. About 12 million tourists visit Indonesia each year. The coalition said Indonesia's central and provincial governments had failed to act in spite of mounting evidence of the dangers that the illegal dog and cat meat trade poses to public health and safety. In 2007, research conducted in markets in North Sulawesi showed that between 7.8 and 10.6 per cent of dogs being sold for human consumption were infected with rabies, the coalition reported. Members of the Dog Meat-Free Indonesia coalition protest against the killing of dogs for meat in their country. Credit:Dog Meat-Free Indonesia There is also increasing concern among Indonesian citizens at the lack of action by law enforcement officials to deter or punish gangs who terrorise neighbourhoods and steal dogs and cats from homes.

This year, the coalition revealed that dogs were stolen, bound, gagged and thrown onto trucks for long journeys to the markets. Jakarta Animal Aid Network said it receives numerous reports each week from pet owners who have had their dogs stolen by armed thieves. Following reports showing scenes of suffering a letter was sent to President Joko Widodo signed by more than 90 global and Indonesian celebrities - including Cameron Diaz, Ellen DeGeneres, Chelsea Islan, Jane Goodall and Simon Cowell - calling for urgent action to protect animals. Animal activists with a dog rescued from the meat markets. Credit:Dog Meat-Free Indonesia The coalition's main spokeswoman, Lola Webber, co-founder of Change For Animals Foundation, said in a media release: "With over 200 markets selling dogs and cats for meat in North Sulawesi alone, the scale of the problem is potentially catastrophic for Indonesia's attempts to eliminate rabies, and gravely jeopardises the health and safety of its citizens and animals.

"This latest finding should serve as a very loud wake-up call that action is needed to tackle this illegal, cruel and dangerous trade." Loading Nicola Beynon, Head of Campaigns for Humane Society International in Australia, said: "Indonesia is a country of world-renowned natural beauty, but its international reputation is marred by the ugly brutality of its dog and cat meat trade. "With the volume of dogs being smuggled for the trade, and the unsanitary slaughter at markets, it's a genuine concern that innocent travellers could be exposing themselves to dangerous and even deadly diseases. "The lack of government action to crack down on this trade is certainly calling into question Indonesia's position as a prime tourist destination.”

Bobby Fernando, of Animal Friends Jogja, said: "This is not a debate about culture or 'custom', this is an issue of animal cruelty and human health. Loading "The trade we are seeing in Indonesia is profit-driven and is not motivated by any desire to maintain a culture. The cruelty is unforgivable and the global community is united in our calls for the central and provincial governments to take action to tackle the dog and cat meat trade as it poses a grave threat to human and animal health, encourages illegal activity and tarnishes Indonesia's reputation." Dr Katherine Polak, of Four Paws, said: "Governments around the world should be issuing warnings to their nationals who are visiting Indonesia of the dangers of the dog and cat meat trade and the live markets, despite some local tour operators promoting them as 'must see' places and experiences.” 'Indonesia has laws to protect animal welfare'

In response to questions from Fairfax Media, the Indonesian embassy in Canberra said that Indonesia's Criminal Code prohibits intentional and unnecessary harming of animals. Loading "Law number 18 of 2009 addresses animal welfare, including the requirement that measures are taken in the interest of animal welfare in relation to capture, husbandry, slaughter and transport," a spokesman said. "Provincial and city governments in Indonesia have been taking necessary measures to enforce the laws to prevent, deter and punish those responsible for animal cruelty. "The Tomohon City Government has a local regulation No. 1 of 2017 regarding the control and eradication of rabies in Tomohon.

"The local regulation includes sanctions related to trade in contaminated or infected dog meat in contravention of Indonesia’s Criminal Code article 302 and Law No. 18 of 2009 regarding animal welfare. Loading "To implement this, the local government has put in place inspectors and tighter security to monitor the possible trade in contaminated or infected meat. The spokesman said the local government had implemented a number of programs to educate both sellers and consumers of dog and cat meat so they conform to the health codes with the aim of reducing the consumption of dog and cat meat within the next four years. "The long-term aim of the programs is also to educate consumers to stop the consumption of dog and cat meat. Such programs are conducted in co-operation with local animal welfare NGOs in Indonesia to educate the people there.

"The local government has also worked together with the provincial government to monitor the trade of dog and cat meat from outside the province to North Sulawesi." A spokesperson from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Fairfax Media: "The Australian government is aware of the risk of rabies throughout Indonesia. Our travel advice is kept under close review and highlights this risk on the Smartraveller website. The department is not aware of any Australians contracting rabies through eating dog meat in Indonesia." Dogs rescued from the meat markets. Credit:Dog Meat-Free Indonesia