# Why do you think it is wrong to eat dogmeat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419 "2013-06-20T01:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/1 "2013-06-20T01:33:54Z")
Or for that matter, why do you think it isn’t wrong ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/2 "2013-06-20T01:44:33Z")
I do not think it is any more wrong to eat dog than any other animal. The usual caveats apply: 1. The dog should not suffer unduly over the course of its short life before it becomes meat. 2. There should be a clear difference between dogs as food animals and dogs as pets / working animals, even if that distinction is only made on a dog-by-dog basis. With dogs, it’s a little hard to reconcile #1 with #2 since they’re such highly social animals. But if you can figure out a way around it, meat is meat. I do draw the line at eating humans. Disclosure: I do eat meat. I do love animals, a lot, and have pets. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/3 "2013-06-20T01:46:19Z")
It’s not _wrong_, it’s just repulsive. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/4 "2013-06-20T02:02:34Z")
I do think it is wrong. I am also a vegetarian, so it fits into my general worldview. For example, [pigs are very intelligent and social animals as well](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10angier.html), and I regard them on the same level as I regard dogs. I think the only reason most people don’t see them the same way is because most people don’t get to know pigs in the ways that many people know dogs. However, even that aside, I have heard that dogs are other killed in particularly cruel ways at least sometimes in countries where dogmeat is eaten: Skinning the dog alive, intentionally torturing the dog because of a belief that it will improve the meat quality, etc. Why would other people disagree with eating dogs when they do think it’s okay to eat cows, pigs, etc.? I think a big reason is that many of us are used to seeing dogs as part of the family, or at least a very good friend, and it seems like a betrayal to kill and eat your friend. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/5 "2013-06-20T02:06:50Z")
I’d eat dog if I had to. Why not? Heck, given the right circumstances I’d eat human flesh too if it was a matter of survival. I wouldn’t kill people to eat them, but I don’t see anything wrong with consuming protein from dead carcasses. It’s not like they’re using it any more. There might be a gag reflex initially, but I’d get over it. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/6 "2013-06-20T02:21:20Z")
It’s taboo among my people. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/7 "2013-06-20T02:21:51Z")
I frankly don’t care what you eat, so long as it’s not people. I don’t think you should eat people. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/8 "2013-06-20T03:12:49Z")
At least what I’ve tried was not very tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/9 "2013-06-20T03:15:08Z")
It’s isn’t wrong with the common provisos for good treatment Tried it once, OK, but mostly because the cook wasn’t that good. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/10 "2013-06-20T03:56:47Z")
I’m a vegetarian anyway, but I’ve been told that you shouldn’t eat high on the food chain for flavor reasons. Plus dogs can be given medications that are not USDA-approved for human consumption, so I would highly doubt the provenance of dogmeat, especially when compared to a species that isn’t overflowing the animal shelters/possibly someone’s beloved pet killed for profit/etc. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/11 "2013-06-20T04:29:48Z")
I think there are a few good reasons to avoid eating carnivorous mammals - flavor being one of them, another being the possible bioaccumulation of toxins. ---
**Author:** ![Jockstrap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@Jockstrap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jockstrap)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/12 "2013-06-20T04:44:02Z")
Taste is the best reason not to eat dog. It tastes like wet dog smell. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/13 "2013-06-20T10:57:58Z")
I don’t have any problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/14 "2013-06-20T11:08:33Z")
I’ve never tried it but I’d be willing. I’ve got nothing against eating cats or horses or other pets either. Why don’t I think it’s wrong to eat any animal? Because animals aren’t sapient, plain and simply. Ok so maybe I’m against eating dolphins and gorillas then, but only maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/15 "2013-06-20T11:12:10Z")
Basically, dogs are known for their loyalty and devotion to humans, and it’s just _tacky_ to eat the loyalists. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/16 "2013-06-20T11:21:48Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Basically, dogs are known for their loyalty and devotion to humans, and it’s just _tacky_ to eat the loyalists. So just eat the stubborn breeds of dogs (poodles, anyone?), raised in captivity with minimal exposure to humans. I mean, I wouldn’t really think eating someone’s pet pig is a nice thing to do either, even if they were ok with it. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/17 "2013-06-20T11:39:10Z")
I think it’s wrong because of the 100% completely asinine myths involved in how to dispatch the dog and prepare the meat along with the stupidity of the reason for consuming dogmeat. 1. _Dispatching the critter_: The myth is that the more the animal suffers, the more “effective” the meat will be (See #2). This leads to beating the animal and burning off its fur while it’s still alive instead of simply using humane butchering. 2. _Reason for consuming dogmeat_: “It’s good for stamina (read: men’s erections).” YOU MORONS! _Any_ balanced diet is “good for stamina.” Oh, I left out a fun factoid: In South Korea where dog is consumed at “boshitang” (health stew) restaurants, it’s unregulated. That’s because dogmeat is not legally classified as foodstuffs. Yet another fun factoid: It’s a complete myth…no, it’s just a damn lie that the only dogs used in Korea for preparing the aforementioned health stew (take a wild guess why it’s called that instead of dog stew) are just those specifically raised for such. Nope, folks; dogs of all breeds, and, yes, even stray pets are used there. Even the Jindo dog, considered by law to be a protected beast as it’s legally a national treasure, is chucked into the pot. Let me know if you want more information on this. I can link you to some Korean sites that cover the myths. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/18 "2013-06-20T11:47:46Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > It’s taboo among my people. It is taboo among my people as well. Our people should intermarry and thrive as one. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/19 "2013-06-20T11:47:57Z")
p.s. The links I refer to above are rather graphic/explicit. Let’s just say that the dogmeat industry isn’t like those involved in it would have you think it is. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419/20 "2013-06-20T11:54:31Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Let’s just say that the dogmeat industry isn’t like those involved in it would have you think it is. Big Dogma needs a new PR firm. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-think-it-is-wrong-to-eat-dogmeat/661419.md?page=2)