Is there anywhere where it's against the law to buy animals from a pet shop for food?

I find a lot of deep fried versions represented out there too, but I have to say they look pretty disgusting. This fancy pan-fried version is probably tasty. (* I suppose I should also add the disclaimer - Warning: pan-fried guinea pig)

So I just got back from a family friend’s house in the, er, 'sticks. They watch my son for me when I need to be away for a period of time and his nannyshare doesn’t start for another week. ANYWAY.

Around Easter, they bought bunnies…and the bunnies procreated…and they’re making bunny soup soon. I had a laugh because I could only imagine the HORROR if they were Dopers. I think rabbits are stupid pets and I didn’t realize they were serious when they talked about the stew! They had a little rabbit coup (pen?) and everything.

Poor Flops and Peter.

So if I mince up some pet-shop guinea pigs and feed them to my standard pig I could eat that, savouring the hint of guinea in its offal.

If you’re a vegan and pro-choice, can you still eat eggs? :slight_smile:

Are puppy-mills still hand-cranked or do they sell electric ones now?

Many people keep pigs as both pets and bacon. I know the potbelly variety isn’t generally on the menu, but still. Also, it’s not illegal in most states (at least I don’t think it is) to eat horses (althought it should be.) I believe it’s still relatively common to eat horse meat in France (another reason to hate the French.)

Many people keep pigs as both pets and bacon. I know the potbelly variety isn’t generally on the menu, but still. Also, it’s not illegal in most states (at least I don’t think it is) to eat horses (althought it should be.) I believe it’s still relatively common to eat horse meat in France (another reason to hate the French.)

Interesting statute. I think it could be attacked as void for vagueness under the selective enforcement doctrine if you could show that many animals that are regularly eaten as food (rabbits, geese, whatever) are also “commonly kept as a pet or companion” and the possession of those for consumption is not prosecuted under the statute.

There was a federal law against slaughtering horses for human consumption enacted in 2006. It was repealed in 2011.

I agree. If the law accepts ‘tradition’ as a definition of what defines a pet then it would just require enough people to start keeping pigs and cows as pets and they could prosecute every farm, slaughterhouse and grocery store in the state.

Except that 598(c) adds

But there still really seems to be a lot of gray area between the two, like rabbits for example. I have no numbers but it seems as many people probably keep rabbits for pets as there are people who eat them.

Of course, you’re entitled to your opinion, but mine is different; I think rabbits are great pets, for the right owners. They’re perfectly smart, trainable and communicative, to the pet owners who take the time to understand them. (YouTube link to trained rabbits.)

I say this as someone who has had both pet rabbits, and raised rabbits for the table. There’s not always an either/or.

Anyone one else read this thread and think of Micheal Moore and “Pets or Meat”?

I have no idea if there is a law in Canada forbidding someone from buying a guinea pig and eating it, though I can’t imagine it’s a very economical source of meat. Last time I was in a pet store, they were about $20 each.

On the other hand, I suppose someone could invest in a pair and start breeding and raising the offspring for meat.

There are lots of animals that I would not eat because I see them as pets. I no longer eat chicken because I had them as pets, but I have no objection to others eating chicken. I would hope that anyone raising any animal as a meat source does so at every stage in a humane manner.

Three blocks from our house in Minneapolis, MN is a restaurant that has a rotisserie with cuy on it. And that’s not the only place that serves it locally. So it is available in the US.

/I had it when I was in Peru, once in my life was good enough.
//Hated seeing the teeth on its fried open mouth.

Links to 2 Peruvian murals where there’s a roasted/grilled cuy on the table in front of Jesus at the last supper:
The first one is from 1753, it’s in Cusco cathedral

And this looks like a modern mural in a school in Cusco;

I would think the reason there may be laws outlawing eating animals from pet stores isn’t “OMG, but they’re PETS and they’re CUTE!”, but because they weren’t raised for human consumption. They have not had specific diets and may have been exposed to certain medications that may make them unsafe. But hey, bring 'em home, breed 'em, monitor what you feed them, and cuy for all!

This is why it’s against the law to slaughter horses for human consumption in the US. Whereas countries such as Japan have breeds they specifically rear for slaughter, horses slaughtered in the US are basically rejected pets that have unknown histories by the time they go to slaughter (when it was legal). As horses get worming paste, vaccinations, liniments, and a host of medications for various reasons throughout their life…yeah, not USDA safe.

FWIW, I’m a horseowner and have loved horses all my life, and I have no more philosophical problem with people eating horses than I do people eating cows, as long as they are clean and safe and humane about it.

Get real. Everything’s green these days. A modernpuppy mill will be located by a river or stream and use safe, sustainable hydro power. A quality establishment will let you select a grind that suits your personal preference.

I understand that a finer paste is what you want for those puffy under-eye areas.
As usual, the French are way ahead of the rest of us regarding cosmetics. :wink:

Is that guy to the right of center choking a guinea pig under the table or is he just glad to be there? :eek:

LOL, that must be Judas holding the money bag, probably made of leather.