Dog meat

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This article is about meat taken from dogs. Dog meat can also refer to food intended to be eaten by a dog (dog food).
See also: Taboo food and drink
A platter of cooked dog meat
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A platter of cooked dog meat
Cooked dog meat
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Cooked dog meat

In some countries, apart from being kept as pets, certain breeds of dogs are raised on farms and slaughtered for their meat. This may be as an alternative source of meat or for specific medicinal benefits attributed to various parts of a dog. However, in some parts of the world many people consider the use of dogs for food to be abhorrent, specifically ones where dogs are kept as pets.

Contents

[edit] Cultural attitudes, Legalities, and History

Cultural attitudes, legalities, and history regarding human consumption of dog meat varies from country to country. Following is some country-specific information:

[edit] China

Although the Chinese were the first to domesticate the dog and keep them as pets, dog meat has been a source of food in China from at least the time of Confucius, and possibly even before. Ancient writings from the Zhou Dynasty referred to the 'three beasts' (which were bred for food), including pig, goat, and dog. Mencius, the philosopher, recommended dog as the tastiest of all meats.

The average Chinese does not consume dog meat, as many consider dogs as pets. In addition, the dog is at the top of food-chain and is thus more expensive than most other meat choices. Also many Chinese believe that dog meat has too strong a medicinal effect to be consumed regularly. Relatively concentrated dog meat consumption areas in China are in the northeast, south and southwestern areas. [1] [2]

In Hong Kong, a local ordinance prohibits the slaughter of any dog or cat for use as food, whether for mankind or otherwise, on pain of fine or imprisonment. [3][4]

[edit] Indonesia

In Indonesia, eating dog meat is usually associated with people from the Batak Toba culture, who cook a traditional dish named saksang that is like a dog-meat stew.[citation needed] The Minahasa are also well-known for eating dog, which is considered a festive dish and usually reserved for special occasions like weddings and Christmas. However dogs are not consumed by the Muslim population of Indonesia, as dogs are omnivores and are haraam under Muslim dietary laws. [citation needed]

[edit] Korea

Dog meat
Hangul:
개고기
Revised Romanization: Gaegogi
McCune-Reischauer: Kaegogi

Gaegogi (also, Kaegogi) literally means "dog meat" in Korean. Gaegogi, however, is often mistaken as the term for Korean soup made from dog meat, bosintang (보신탕). It is made from a specific breed of dog that differs from those breeds that are kept as pets. The distaste felt by dog lovers, particularly from the West, with respect to eating dog has made this dish controversial in recent years.

The consumption of dog meat has a long tradition in Korea. Dog bones were excavated in a neolithic settlement in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. One of the wall paintings in the Goguryeo tombs complex in South Hwangghae Province, a UNESCO World Heritage site which dates from 4th century A.D., depicts a slaughtered dog in a storehouse.

Today in Korea, a small segment of the population use dog meat in medicinal summer soups and stews, and to avoid heat. Use of dogs for meat and the alleged methods of slaughter have generated friction between dog lovers, particularly Westerners, and people who eat dogs; the conflict occasionally breaks out as headline news. During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea's capital city, the South Korean government asked its citizens not to consume dog meat to avoid bad publicity during the games. Korean law technically prohibits dog meat[citation needed], but the laws are not enforced[citation needed]. The controversy surfaced again in 2001 when the 2002 FIFA World Cup soccer games were held jointly in South Korea and Japan. [5][6] The organizer of the games, under pressure from animal rights groups such as PETA, demanded that the Korean government re-address the issue, but little changed. Joey Skaggs organised a hoax whereby a fictitious Korean restaurant asked for dogs to be made into dog meat in order to expose the intolerance of those opposed to dog-eating. [7][8]

Many people have argued that international organizations such as FIFA and PETA have no right to interfere with an ancient Korean custom, maintaining that the only difference between slaughtering a dog for food and slaughtering a cow or a pig or other animal is the culture in which it is done. Pet owners and those in related industries assert that the relationship between working animals or pets and their owners is intrinsically different to that between humans and domesticated animals raised for food – notwithstanding that pet breeds are not used for meat production. Others claim that this alleged "intrinsic difference" is subjective. Another part of the controversy stems from the methods of slaughter, which include beating to death by clubs (rarely found) and hanging (criminal offenses in Korea under the Animal Protection Act 1991 [citation needed]), as well as electrocution.

The average Korean does not consume dog meat, as it is generally considered a medicinal dish (either to improve male virility[9] or to combat the heat in summer). Many Korean Buddhists consider eating dog an offense. Unlike beef, pork, or poultry, dog meat has no legal status as food in South Korea. There is an opinion in South Korea that dog meat should be legalized so that only authorized preparers can deal with the meat in more humane ways, while others think eating dogs should be banned by law. During the FIFA World Cup, in the face of foreign pressure to ban the sale of dog meat, a group of prominent South Koreans wrote an open letter in support of dog-eating.[citation needed]

[edit] Mexico

Dogs were historically bred for their meat by the Aztecs. Hernán Cortés reported that when he arrived in Tenochtitlan in 1519, "small gelded dogs which they breed for eating" were among the goods sold in the city markets. [10] These dogs were called itzcuintlis, and were similar to the modern Mexican Hairless Dog. They were often pictured on pre-Columbian Mexican pottery.

[edit] Philippines

In the capital city of Manila, Metro Manila Commission Ordinance 82-05 [11] specifically prohibits the killing and selling of dogs for food. More generally, the Philippine Animal Welfare Act 1998 [12] prohibits the killing of any animal other than cattle pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer and crocodiles except in the following instances:

  1. When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an established religion or sect or a ritual required by tribal or ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communities; however, leaders shall keep records in cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare;
  2. When the pet animal is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian;
  3. When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the animal as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian;
  4. When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being;
  5. When done for the purpose of animal population control;
  6. When the animal is killed after it has been used in authorized research or experiments; and
  7. Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined and certified licensed veterinarian.

Nevertheless, as is reported from time to time in Philippine newspapers, the eating of dog meat is not uncommon in the Philippines. [13] Dog Meat Trade .com, an organization working in the Philippines to eliminate the eating of dogs in the country, estimates that 500,000 dogs are killed annually in the Philippine Islands for human consumption.[14]

In the Province of Benguet, Resolution 05-392 has been passed declaring, among other things, "it has been an evolved cultural practice of indigenous peoples of the Cordillera the butchering of animals, dogs included, as part of their rituals and practices leading to its commercialization to a limited extent, and had become an inevitable common necessity in their way of life"; and resolving, among other things, "to seek the help and assistance of the Committee on Animal Welfare, Department of Agriculture, the Regional Police Office, Cordillera Administrative Region, the Provincial Police Office, Benguet Province, for the proper observance of the said rights of indigenous peoples".[15]

[edit] Polynesia

Dogs were historically eaten in Tahiti and other islands of Polynesia at the time of first European contact. James Cook, when first visiting Tahiti in 1769, recorded in his journal that "few were there of us but what allowe'd that a South Sea Dog was next to an English Lamb, one thing in their favour is that they live intirely upon Vegetables". [16]

[edit] Switzerland

According to the November 21, 1996 edition of the Rheintaler Bote, a Swiss newspaper covering the Rhine Valley area, the Swiss rural cantons of Appenzell and St. Gallen are known to have had a tradition of eating dogs, curing dog meat into jerky and sausages, as well as using the lard for medicinal purposes. [17] Switzerland, as a whole, has no prohibition on the consumption of dog meat, although trading and sale is illegal.[18]

A few years earlier, a news report on RTL Television on the two cantons set off a wave of protests from European animal rights activists and other concerned citizens. A 7000 name petition was filed to the commissions of the cantons, who rejected it, saying it wasn't the state's right to monitor the eating habits of its citizens.

[edit] Taiwan

Dog meat in Taiwan is known as 香肉 (xiang1 rou4), meaning "fragrant/savory meat." Dog meat has never been commonplace in Taiwan, but it is particularly eaten in the winter months, especially black dogs, which are believed to help retain body warmth. In 2004, the Taiwanese government imposed a ban on the sale of dog meat, due to both pressure from domestic animal welfare groups and a desire to improve international perceptions. [19] According to Lonely Planet's Taiwan guide, it is still possible to find dog meat on some restaurant menus, but this is becoming increasingly rare.

[edit] Vietnam

While it is not considered a daily meat, dog meat is eaten throughout Vietnam. It is more popular in the North than in the South. To many Northerners, dog meat is a popular, if relatively expensive, dinnertime restaurant meal. The term thịt chó, Vietnamese for 'dog meat', is used widely in the North. However, places selling dog meat in the South tend not to use the term, using instead "thịt cầy" (Chow Chow meat) or other word plays to conceal the meat's origin.

In Nhật Tân Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi, many restaurants serve dog meat, often imitating each other. Groups of male customers, seated on mats, will spend their evenings sharing plates of dog meat and drinking beer. Dog meat is supposed to raise the libido and is sometimes considered unsuitable for women; in other words, eating dog meat serves as a male bonding exercise. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for women to eat dog meat.

The consumption of dog meat can be part of a ritual usually occurring toward the end of the lunar month for reasons of astrology and luck. Restaurants which mainly exist to serve dog meat may only open for the last half of the lunar month.

Popular ways of preparing dog meat include stewing or grilling cubes or patties of meat. Dogs' feet are particularly popular.

In urban areas of the north, increasing incomes have sparked a search for new and more exotic recipes. There are about seven dishes featuring dog meat, and they often include the head, feet and internal organs.[20]

See also: Cuisine of Vietnam.

[edit] Arctic and Antarctic

Dogs have historically been an emergency food source for various peoples in Siberia, Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland. Sled dogs are usually maintained for pulling sleds, but occasionally are eaten when no other food is available.

This article or section may contain inappropriate or misinterpreted citations which do not verify the text.
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The polar explorer Roald Amundsen ate dogs during his trip to the South Pole, and in fact had scheduled the slaughter of some of his dogs as a mobile food source during the trip. Over half of the dogs were killed and fed to the remaining dogs, reducing the weight of dog food required for the entire trip.[21]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jeffries, Stuart. "Fang shui", Sydney morning Hearald, December 29, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-09-04. (in english)
  2. ^ Batik, waterfalls and dog meat in rural China. Retrieved on 2006-09-06.
  3. ^ Slaughter of dog or cat for food prohibited. Hong Kong Bilingual Laws information System (1997-06-30). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  4. ^ Slaughter of dog or cat for food - Penalty. Hong Kong Bilingual Laws information System (1997-06-30). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  5. ^ Fifa warns S Korea over dog meat. BBC News Asia-Pacific (2001-11-06). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  6. ^ S Korea dog meat row deepens. BBC News Asia-Pacific (2001-11-12). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  7. ^ Letter from Kea So Joo, Inc, 1994. snopes.com (May 1994). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  8. ^ Kim Yung Soo (a.k.a. Joey Skaggs) (May 1994). Kea So Joo, a.k.a. Dog Meat Soup. joeyskaggs.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  9. ^ Cerralbo, Yoav (2005-04-25). Dog meat's new tale. CBC News. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  10. ^ Cortés, Hernan, trans. Anthony Pagden. Letters from Mexico. ISBN 0-300-03799-6.
  11. ^ Metro Manila Commission Ordinance 82-05. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  12. ^ The Animal Welfare Act 1998. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
  13. ^ Desiree Caluza (2006-01-17). Dog meat eating doesn’t hound Cordillera natives. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  14. ^ Official website. Dog Meat Trade .com (2006-01-17). Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  15. ^ Resolution 05-392. Province of Benguet (2006-01-17). Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  16. ^ Mumford, David. The Explorations of Captain James Cook in the Pacific. ISBN 0-486-22766-9.
  17. ^ Yang, Jeff (2005-10-13). ASIAN POP Putting On The Dog. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2006-12-02. “Dog sausage and smoked dog jerky remains a staple in the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen and Appenzell, where one farmer was quoted in a regional weekly newspaper as saying that meat from dogs is the healthiest of all. It has shorter fibres than cow meat, has no hormones like veal, no antibiotics like pork.”
  18. ^ from EVU News, Issue 4 (1996). The old tradition of eating dogs is still alive in Switzerland. European vegetarian union (EVU). Retrieved on 2006-12-02.
  19. ^ Taiwan Bans The Selling Of Dog Meat. Retrieved on 2006-09-06.
  20. ^ Arthurs, Clare (Monday, 31 December, 2001, 10:56 GMT). Vietnam's dog meat tradition. BBC. Retrieved on 2006-10-10.
  21. ^ Roald Amundsen. Wikipedia.

[edit] Further reading

  • Colting, Fredrik, Carl-Johan Gadd (2005-07-10). Magnus Andersson Gadd: The Pet Cookbook: Have your best Friend for dinner. ISBN 91-974883-4-8.
  • Professor Yong-Geun Ann, Ph.D. Dog Meat (in Korean and English). Hyoil Book Publishing Company. (contains some recipes)
  • Dressler, Uwe, Alexander Neumeister (2003-05-01). Der Kalte Hund (in German). ISBN 3-8330-0650-1.

[edit] External links

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