If dogs and cats were never our furry friends, would you eat them?!
If dogs and cats were never our furry friends, would you eat them?
This globe is populated by many different people, of many different cultures and beliefs. In China, cats and dogs are butchered much like our American cattle, pigs, and chickens, and sold for their meat. Farmer Brown may love that ol' cow Bessie since she was a calf, but he's still gonna love them Bessie burgers when her time comes. But somehow, I think there'd be major societal if not legal repurcussions if I decided to grill up my beefy bulldog Fido, or my chunky kitty Whiskers.
Would anyone else eat dog or cat if it were offered as a tasty entree? Why? Why not?
If America's the "Land of the Free", why couldn't I skin, gut, clean, and butcher my pets to see what kind of dishes I could cook up without having cruelty to animals charged against me? Or could I? Anyone know? PLEASE don't knock it, unless ya tried it.....
Answers:
I would... in another life!
Well as an animal lover, I'm trying to answer your question without getting defensive and preachy.
I think one reason is the lack of meat on a cat/dog. A cow is quite large and can feed many people. How many cats would you have to slaughter to feed the same amount?
The reason you can't cook a dog/cat in America is because of the reasons you stated yourself. Different countries have different cultures and beliefs about this sort of thing. America doesn't consider cats/dogs food. They consider them pets.
It all depends on what culture you were brought up in. If farmer was brought up in India, he wouldn't be butchuring ol' Bessie. However, what is acceptable in one culture, or different in another part of the world is not acceptable in America. The beauty of this country is that it is "Land Of The Free". And moving to this country means leaving part of that culture and heritage behind, it's the chance you take when you move here. We are known as the country where you have many golden opportunities, and that alone is worth sacrificing some of the things you have known all your life. There are many laws that other countries have that would be barbaric in the sense of our justice system, and we can't have different sets of laws for different cultures, our country would be in a state of utter chaos. If you like the taste of our pets, you should move to where it is acceptable, you are free to move anywhere you want. That's what being American is all about.
The technicaly reason why you couldnt in this country is that cat and dog meat are not regulated by the FDA. I dont think i would eat them even if they were. Though i also wont eat rabbit, squirrel, possum or other small fuzzies. (though i think I was served dog once in china town, and honestly it wasnt bad. Though i dont think i wold knowingly order it. (found out later what is was)
We probably wouldn't know any better and would eat them if they were not our pets. Who knows they might be better than chicken. It is just not my culture to eat cat/dog so i don't think i could try it. The main reason Americans don't eat dog/cat is because we domesticated them hundreds of years ago.
Each country has it customs. You should either travel or watch some of those travel programs on television.
In the States horse, dog & cat are a social no no to eat. Ducks and rabbit on the other hand are premitted.
America is the land of the free - free as long as you respect the local laws and customs.
Finally - i suppose if you lived in America's "out back" you could eat anything you wanted.... even your mother in law.
i wouldn't i am vegetarian and think eating all animals meat is cruel