Vietnamese authorities had buried thousands of smuggled cats, many of which were believed to have been alive. 

Police said the cats were smuggled into the country from China, and were intended to be sold to restaurants in what officials call an illegal cat meat trade.

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A truck carrying three tons of live cats all crammed in bamboo crates was impounded in Hanoi, Tuesday.  Police said the cats were buried Wednesday, in keeping with Vietnamese law on smuggled goods.

An officer from the Dong Da district refused to reveal how many cats were alive at the time of burial.

"The cats were from China, with no official origin papers and no quarantine," the policeman said.

"Several of them had died, there was a terrible smell that could affect the environment and carried risks of future diseases. Therefore, we culled them by burying them," he added.

In Vietnam, other smuggled animals such as chickens are also disposed of the same way.

But animal rights advocates had called on Vietnamese officials to put a stop to the practice.  The Asian Canine Protection Alliance, a regional coalition of animal rights groups, said inhumane stories as to how the cats were disposed of weren't new.

Vietnam's Zoology Association Chair Professor Dang Huy Huynh, defended Vietnamese authorities saying the cull was needed to prevent diseases from spreading. He, however, admits burying is not the best way to dispose of smuggled animals. 

"The best way to cull the illegally imported animals is burning them. But this might cost more, so authorities may choose to bury them alive, still complying with procedures in accordance with laws," he said.

Animal lovers have taken to social media to vent their anger.

Compassion4Animals launched a petition using www.change.org, urging Vietnamese officials to change their animal handling policies. 

Some used the hashtag #animalabuse, while calling on Vietnam not to kill cats. 

Cat meat, although officially banned, is a delicacy in Vietnam.  It is known to locals as "little tiger" and is widely available in specialty restaurants.

Vietnam had banned consumption of cat meat in a bid to encourage cat ownership and help keep rats off houses and establishments. 

TagsVietnam, illegal cat meat trade, buried alive