Dogmeat Festival gets underway in China

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36583400

An annual dog meat festival has begun in southern China, amid widespread domestic and international opposition.

About 10,000 dogs and cats are expected to be killed and eaten during the controversial 10-day festival in Yulin.

What's your opinion on this?

The idea of dogmeat makes me feel physically sick. But isn't it hypocritical to get upset about this, when we happily munch on other domesticated animals?

I am heading for a burger later this evening, with zero apologies. I'll happily drink a pint of milk with dinner, even knowing the cruelty inherent to the dairy industry.

Dogmeat, however, just seems wrong. Or is it?

Barry Badrinath

I dunno

A sausage dog would be nice.

LightsStillOn

China are just ahead of the curve. In 100 years when all the resources start to run dry cats & dogs will be the first on the menu.

I'd be curious to see what dog and cat taste like.

gramar

McGruber wrote: »

I dunno

A sausage dog would be nice.

Better than a Shih tzu anyway.

gramar

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd be curious to see what dog and cat taste like.

I dunno about dog but pussy is nice.

_Brian

When I've been In China I've eaten dog, TBH it's not a great meat at all, in a sort of stew with peppers and chillies.

Now the little seahorses deep fried on sticks, I tried that but couldn't do it.

Interesting thing a guy in China said to me in the spring when I was there.

When a Chinese person sees an animal for the first time their first thought is....'how will I cook that"

I think we shouldn't get caught up on what meats are eaten in other countries, it's just cultural difference. My concerns are that the animals are reared well and dispatched humanely. It's not always the case and that makes me angry.

There's one, pigs face, I tasted that but it's not a thought I really like. We keep pigs to kill for the freezer and while they're nice and the kids love playing with them, they're food, damn tasty food.

LightsStillOn

gramar wrote: »

I dunno about dog but pussy is nice.

An awful taste of trout if you don't get a fresh one though!

_Brian

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd be curious to see what dog and cat taste like.

Dog is like a chewey cheap cut of beef.

IvySlayer

The primary concern is that the animals are skinned and cooked alive in certain cases.

Ms Doubtfire1

wrong or right can be either way.However, the fact that these animals are boiled alive, often skinned while still alive and beaten to death with clubs because the adrenaline caused by fear of death makes my blood boil.They are often stolen pets,with collars still on so..my answer sis a resounding NO to this festival.If you want to see gorey details..just google the festival and look for pictures...just keep a bucket handy

_Brian

IvySlayer wrote: »

The primary concern is that the animals are skinned and cooked alive in certain cases.

Imdeed, and I can't understand it.

With the likes of cattle and pigs you want the animal as calm and relied as possible when they are being dispatched. Huge surges of adrenalin and other hormones taints the meat and ruined its flavour.
We usually give our pigs a few pints of Guinness slops on the morning of their last journey, they go off very relaxed. Last two had a wee sleep in the abattoir just before being dispatched, was a very calm affair altogether.

suicide_circus

Great bunch of labs

2Mad2BeMad

_Brian wrote: »

Imdeed, and I can't understand it.

With the likes of cattle and pigs you want the animal as calm and relied as possible when they are being dispatched. Huge surges of adrenalin and other hormones taints the meat and ruined its flavour.
We usually give our pigs a few pints of Guinness slops on the morning of their last journey, they go off very relaxed. Last two had a wee sleep in the abattoir just before being dispatched, was a very calm affair altogether.

If Humans are ever on the menu feel free to have me if your still offering pints of Guinness when it comes to it.

Ms Doubtfire1

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

wrong or right can be either way.However, the fact that these animals are boiled alive, often skinned while still alive and beaten to death with clubs because the adrenaline caused by fear of death makes my blood boil.

Adrenaline taints meat, it doesn't improve it.

There's a distinct smell of BS off any story about skinning animals alive, or boiling them live.

I just don't see the benefit.

The only exception is lobsters, which are boiled alive due to rapid decay after death. That doesn't apply to mammals though.

Badly Drunk Boy

Some sickos in Ireland have oyster festivals! How depraved is that?!?

Summer wind

I could never eat a dog or cat. I think it's 100% wrong and disgusting.

Shenshen

Honestly can't say I approve of it, but I generally don't eat meat or fish anyway.

RobertKK

heads out to garden to get some snails for the dinner...if lucky may find a frog.

Fr_Dougal

Obvs not vegan.

ScumLord

I guess it's hard to complain, pigs are almost as cute and intelligent as dogs yet we have no problem eating them. I don't think we'll ever see the likes of it here. I think in general it's not a good idea to eat predators because environmental toxins tend to build up in predators because of their position at the top of the food chain. Cattle, sheep and pigs would be easier to deal with too, dogs would require intensive farming, you couldn't just let them out in a field. With Chinese people getting more and more access to alternative foods they may well abandon the practice, I can't imagine dog is anywhere near as tasty as bovine.

ScumLord

ScumLord wrote: »

I think in general it's not a good idea to eat predators because environmental toxins tend to build up in predators because of their position at the top of the food chain.

That's a good point, but could equally be deployed in objection to our consumption of tuna (eg the mercury link).

I'm not sure what toxins might be specifically relevant to dogs, though

Dave0301

Summer wind wrote: »

I could never eat a dog or cat. I think it's 100% wrong and disgusting.

That is because of the environment that you were brought up in and how you consider them to be pets and not a food source.

Eating beef here is acceptable, but would be considered taboo in India.

Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz. Although I do agree with posters saying that it should be humane.

eviltwin

It should be humane but apart from that I've no issues with it. Hard to be outraged when we consume plenty of meat ourselves.

eviltwin

Summer wind wrote: »

I could never eat a dog or cat. I think it's 100% wrong and disgusting.

Why?

ScumLord

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

That's a good point, but could equally be deployed in objection to our consumption of tuna (eg the mercury link).

I'm not sure what toxins might be specifically relevant to dogs, though

And we probably shouldn't eat that much tuna, in small amounts the benefits probably outweigh the risks.. I'd guess though that toxins that would build up in land mammals would be more relevant to our health than toxins that might build up in fish. It seems like every animal on the planet comes with an innate ability to consume fish. They are one of the original foods.

Dave0301 wrote: »

Eating beef here is acceptable, but would be considered taboo in India.

Even in India they still use the byproducts of cattle. They make great use out of it's feces, and they use the milk. Cattle produce many other byproducts, there would probably always have been a dilemma in olden times, between the day to day value of a cow verses the immediate value of it's meat.

Dogs are more like a tool than something that produces valuable byproducts, so it's still quite bizarre to link them to food. It's a bit like eating your bow and arrow.

Sapphire

eviltwin wrote: »

It should be humane but apart from that I've no issues with it. Hard to be outraged when we consume plenty of meat ourselves.

That's the way I see it too. I can understand someone who is a vegan or vegetarian not liking the idea but the person who happily tucks into rashers and sausages has no business judging another nationality for the meat that they eat.

Other nations nearby regularly eat other types of meat like rabbit, horse that wouldn't be all that common here.

aaronjumper

No hot dog jokes? For shame.

eviltwin wrote: »

It should be humane but apart from that I've no issues with it. Hard to be outraged when we consume plenty of meat ourselves.

This is pretty much how I feel about it. I think some people have their blinkers on because they would be thinking of their pets.

Dravokivich

Dont tell the the Indians we use beef in their curries.

Summer wind

eviltwin wrote: »

Why?

I don't eat much meat just chicken now and then. I see dogs and cats as being a part of the family. I could never look at a dog or cat and think they'd be nice in a stew.

eviltwin

Summer wind wrote: »

I don't eat much meat just chicken now and then. I see dogs and cats as being a part of the family. I could never look at a dog or cat and think they'd be nice in a stew.

That's a cultural thing. It's no more disgusting to eat a dog than it is to eat a cow or a sheep or indeed a chicken.

Lau2976

_Brian wrote: »

Imdeed, and I can't understand it.

We usually give our pigs a few pints of Guinness slops on the morning of their last journey, they go off very relaxed. Last two had a wee sleep in the abattoir just before being dispatched, was a very calm affair altogether.

Gotta be honest here, this post has sickened me. The smile at the end just makes it so much worse.

The whole dog thing is no worse then eating any other animal, which as a vegan, I believe is wrong and anybody who does is contributing to genocide.

I hope, but doubt, in generations to come we will have a more civil and compassionate society as opposed to one where most people happily munch away on the cooked, rotting flesh of a being reared and murdered so that you can have a piece of bacon.

_Brian

Lau2976 wrote: »

Gotta be honest here, this post has sickened me. The smile at the end just makes it so much worse.

The whole dog thing is no worse then eating any other animal, which as a vegan, I believe is wrong and anybody who does is contributing to genocide.

I hope, but doubt, in generations to come we will have a more civil and compassionate society as opposed to one where most people happily munch away on the cooked, rotting flesh of a being reared and murdered so that you can have a piece of bacon.

Each to their own...

We don't farm very intensively as I feel farming in Ireland is becoming too similar to the American factory farms where animal welfare is slipping down the priorities.

Humans have eaten meat for as long as we've been humans, actually evidence points towards the eating of meat being the very thing that brought us down from the trees in the first place, so if you feel you have the higher moral ground its only because you're standing on the shoulders of generations of meat eaters.

I'm not judging you for being Vegan, and common curtsy would see you not judge me for being a meat eater, although I do like veg too.

Strong Life in Dublin

They are not eating pet dogs, these dogs are farm dogs. Just like cows here

Strong Life in Dublin

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

wrong or right can be either way.However, the fact that these animals are boiled alive, often skinned while still alive and beaten to death with clubs because the adrenaline caused by fear of death makes my blood boil.They are often stolen pets,with collars still on so..my answer sis a resounding NO to this festival.If you want to see gorey details..just google the festival and look for pictures...just keep a bucket handy

You're talking out of your ass!! They are not stolen pets:rolleyes: these dogs are breed for food

Guy:Incognito

_Brian wrote: »

When I've been In China I've eaten dog, TBH it's not a great meat at all, in a sort of stew with peppers and chillies.
.

Anyone thats eaten at a concert or sports event before it got all fancy in the last decade or so probably has too

Guy:Incognito

Lau2976 wrote: »

Gotta be honest here, this post has sickened me. The smile at the end just makes it so much worse.

The whole dog thing is no worse then eating any other animal, which as a vegan, I believe is wrong and anybody who does is contributing to genocide.

I hope, but doubt, in generations to come we will have a more civil and compassionate society as opposed to one where most people happily munch away on the cooked, rotting flesh of a being reared and murdered so that you can have a piece of bacon.

jester77

I'd eat it before rat. Travelling through Asia and fried rat was common in some places, couldn't bring myself around to eat it.

The One Doctor

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

wrong or right can be either way.However, the fact that these animals are boiled alive, often skinned while still alive and beaten to death with clubs because the adrenaline caused by fear of death makes my blood boil.They are often stolen pets,with collars still on so..my answer sis a resounding NO to this festival.If you want to see gorey details..just google the festival and look for pictures...just keep a bucket handy

Sounds like a Facebook rumour.

Cows are scared in India, no beef is eaten. Yet we eat it like it's going out of fashion. And yet because we keep dogs as pets you piss and moan about China.

Perspective. Use it.

_Brian

Cuttlefish, now there's one ugly bottom feeder, I can't look at them never mind taste them.

RustyNut

China where fast food = greyhound.

Great lads.......

Lt Dan

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36583400



What's your opinion on this?

The idea of dogmeat makes me feel physically sick. But isn't it hypocritical to get upset about this, when we happily munch on other domesticated animals?

I am heading for a burger later this evening, with zero apologies. I'll happily drink a pint of milk with dinner, even knowing the cruelty inherent to the dairy industry.

Dogmeat, however, just seems wrong. Or is it?

They should burn in hell!

c montgomery

IvySlayer wrote: »

The primary concern is that the animals are skinned and cooked alive in certain cases.

Lobsters are boiled alive and no one really cares. What's the difference here?

Call Me Jimmy

lobster dont got dem feelz tho

DBB

The One Doctor wrote: »

Sounds like a Facebook rumour.

There was a documentary shown on TG4 a number of years ago that showed hundreds of dogs crammed into tiny, flat cages. When I say crammed, I mean the dogs were curled up into balls with no space between them. The people handling this "cargo" just fecked the crates down off the truck they arrived in.
The footage showed the dogs being clubbed.
It showed that at least some of the dogs were still very much alive whilst being skinned. Horrendous viewing.
A person involved was interviewed, and specifically said they preferred the dog to be alive when skinned because (a) it tasted better, and (b) it gave better quality to the pelt, which is sold on.
The last scene in the documentary was a completely skinless dog lying, supposedly lifeless, on the ground. The camera panned into its face. Its eyes moved and looked straight into the camera.
I'm not given to getting emotional about things, but this footage has haunted me for years now. I've a lump in my throat just writing this.
I wish it was just a Facebook rumour.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

c montgomery wrote: »

Lobsters are boiled alive and no one really cares. What's the difference here?

Lobsters don't hump your leg.:)

murpho999

Summer wind wrote: »

I could never eat a dog or cat. I think it's 100% wrong and disgusting.

Why is it wrong or disgusting?

It's animal the same as fish, cows, lambs, deer, rabbit, pigs, chickens, turkeys and game that are all eaten here.

It's all about culture.

Seen horse meat for sale in The Netherlands but wouldn't happen here because of cultural associations with horses.

Jews and Moslems would find it disgusting how we eat pig meat.

Just because we have domesticated and become fond of dogs does not mean it's the same in other countries or make it disgusting.

murpho999

c montgomery wrote: »

Lobsters are boiled alive and no one really cares. What's the difference here?

Most people kill them first, and even if boiled alive they die instantly.

skywanderer

When I was in secondary school I took Home Economics with the Girls, just one of three lads. Anyway the first day there was a big discussion about foreign foods, Pasta from Italy etc. sort of a thing. My contribution was DogMeat from China and how the Chinese ate Cats and Dogs. I got detention and was also accused of Racism. The internet wasn't as widespread back then. That Teacher was some arrogant piece of work looking back.

mdwexford

Disgusting cnuts would be my take on it.

uck51js9zml2yt

A friend was working in China and went to the meat market. She saw a kitten and knowing it's fate wanted to save it and have a pet.
She pointed to the cat and the seller killed it for her knowing what it was for.
She had no choice but to buy it from him as he had killed it.