Comments on: May The Lassies, Plutos, Benjis and Eddies of China R.I.P.

By: Kerry Huang

Kerry Huang — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:32:56 +0000

Prof Carr,

I did not know that the meat was dog until a few days later. It may have been the breed of dog but it was not very tasty.

By: Lindsay Yoshitomi

Lindsay Yoshitomi — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:17:45 +0000

Originally, people started eating dogs in the winter when food and other resources were scarce. As time has progressed, it has turned into a delicacy and is perceived to have a medicinal value of increasing the positive energy of one’s body, and helping regulate blood circulation. I’m not necessarily against eating dog, I won’t be, but every country has their own customs and eating habits and is free to do whatever they want. My only issue with the practice of eating dog is how they are often inhumanely killed. I know in Korea, an infamous way of killing the dogs is to beat them with a 2×4 or break their backs. The idea is that pain and adrenaline make the meat tender. I think it’s the beating…but that’s just my opinion. People are allowed to eat whatever they want…cows, pigs, chickens, or dogs…but they should be humanely slaughtered. According to Wikipedia, the common breed of dog grown for meat is a cross between a local Chinese dog and a St. Bernard. The animals are slaughtered between the age of 6 to 12 months…aka…puppies. I LOVE dogs, and will not be able to bring myself to eat one, let alone a puppy.

By: Derrik

Derrik — Tue, 29 May 2007 21:21:44 +0000

I think we also need to be making a distinction between the types of dogs we’re talking about here. The way I see it there are basically to types of dogs out there, useful dogs (i.e. German Shepards, Huskies, Labs, Retrievers, etc…), and dogs you carry in a purse. The latter of the two, I can only hope were created for consumption purposes. Otherwise I have no idea what that crazy scientist, who bred a wolf with a rat so many years ago, was thinking. With that said, if there’s a Dachshund taco on the menu, I’m all in.

By: Christopher Arena

Christopher Arena — Tue, 29 May 2007 04:06:57 +0000

Its all about cultural conditioning. We are conditioned as Americans that a dog is man’s best friend, not man’s best entree. In China, its considered a delicacy and considering that Chinese culture is over 2000 years old, I’m pretty sure that by now they are pretty good and making Fido taste good. To draw another analogy, in some Indian cultures the cow is considered a god, or something like that. I’m probably wrong about the god part, but in their culture, you certainly don’t eat them. In America, cow is one of our primary sources of protein. Just another example of how cultural differences are sooooo important.

By: Evelyn Ma

Evelyn Ma — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:50:52 +0000

When in Rome… When in China?

I’m not as excited as Chuck to try dog, but I’ll open to trying it. (Even though I’m on the search of adopting a dog in the near future). yikes!

By: Chuck Rylant

Chuck Rylant — Sun, 27 May 2007 15:58:32 +0000

I can’t wait to try it!! With BBQ sauce it probably tastes like chicken.

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:41:08 +0000

Kerry,

In your view could even dog meat be/become an acquired taste?

I used to despise tomatoes. Now, I can’t imagine a salad without them.

By: Kerry Huang

Kerry Huang — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:57:03 +0000

I can comment with first hand experience. My mom and I were in China a few years ago. We frequented a restaurant near my dad’s company that has the food on display behind glass. My mom picked out an innocent looking hotpot and assumed that it was beef since nothing was labeled. The meat was stringy and tough so I did not even finish one piece. Not wanting to waste food, my mom ate all of the “beef.” The next time we went to the restaurant my mom commented to the person behind the counter that the “beef” was not very good. The person corrected our assumption (it was dog) and my mom was thoroughly grossed out since we had a pet dog.

In short, dog meat is not tasty, even when we thought it was beef.

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:37:34 +0000

Ditto re good comment.

By: Patrick McGuire

Patrick McGuire — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:33:07 +0000

I have frequently asked myself why it’s normal to eat beef or chicken but not cat or dog. Most Americans are repulsed by the idea of eating a dog and in fact Congress has spoken up recently against using dog fur for consumer products, but most of them were probably standing in leather shoes they bought with money they kept in a leather wallet. So what’s the difference? It’s got to be that we only want to eat animals we don’t keep as pets. There’s a scene from the West Wing, when the president is tormented by the idea of inviting to the White House a diplomat he is arranging to have assassinated and he recounts a story of taking his daughter to a restaurant. She saw the lobsters in the tank and started giving them all names and at that point nobody could eat lobster. I’m all for trying new things and immersing myself in local culture, but I don’t think I could bring myself to eat dog. I’ll stick to trying the century eggs and think twice every time I see a “hot dog” ad!