HONOLULU -- The Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaiian Humane Society are investigating reports of dogs that are being stolen and slaughtered for food sales.

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"We are looking to see if anyone knows about an organized pattern of stealing and butchering it and marketing that dog flesh for food and some sort of area that would feed it to other individuals," HPD Detective Letha DeCaires said.

The Humane Society and the federal Agriculture Department have received calls.

There have been three calls in the past 12 months. Police say a white van may be involved, but so far no one has been able to get a license plate number to help track down the story.

"There have been calls on the north side of the island, the west side of the island and into Kalihi and Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, so they have gone all over," DeCaires said.

Just the thought of someone stealing dogs with the idea of killing and eating them provoked anger and fear from some of the pet owners with whom KITV 4 News reporter Catherine Cruz spoke.

Tia Okuhara worries about her pet dog Lani.

"It's pretty scary because I love her and I wouldn't want anything to happen to her," Okuhara said. "That's just disgusting that people would eat dogs."

Joanne Humphreys believes her big dog would be tough to steal. She hopes people who know about this kind of activity going on will come forward.

"There's a lot of cruelty to animals besides this, but this is just appalling," Humphreys said.

Eating dog meat in some countries like Korea and the Philippines is not uncommon. However, laws are different in this country.

"It is illegal to kill an animal such as a dog for no reason. That's what cruelty to animals is all about and it's punishable to a year in jail or a fine," DeCaires said. "In our community, it's not acceptable to take someone's pet, steal it, butcher it and sell it."

Police are asking anyone with information in the case to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.