Explaining "What's Wrong with Eating Dog Meat?"

Some of you may have seen the article on CNN.com today, “What's Wrong with Eating Dog Meat?” which discusses the dog meat trade in South Korea. While it's great that this issue is garnering more media attention, we felt the need to address a few points in this article.

The article states, “They were… going to show videos of farms raising dogs under sanitary conditions — something, they will tell you, that would become a more ubiquitous practice were the industry legalized and regulated.”

"Sanitary conditions" or not, the deliberate cruelty inflicted on these dogs - during capture, transport and farming - is appalling. The slaughter methods used (which include clubbing, throat-slitting, hanging, electrocuting and blow torching) are purposely designed to intensify and prolong the suffering of the animals, under the misguided belief that torturing a dog before its death results in better quality meat.

In no way, shape or form should such actions be legalized.

The article then poses the question, “So, what's really wrong with eating dog? Just because we don't do it in the U.S. doesn't seem to make for a very good argument.”

While dogs are seen as family members or best friends in some cultures, we understand this is not necessarily true in others. That being said, culture is dynamic, and the inhumane treatment of animals is never excusable. 

All in all, the unnecessary, appalling cruelty associated with the dog meat trade industry is reason enough to end it. Other areas of the world - such as Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore and Hong Kong - agree, and have taken a progressive stance by completely banning the consumption of dogs and cats, in response to public concern. Furthermore, WSPA research in China and Korea suggests that the consumption of dogs and cats is reducing in popularity, especially within the younger generation.

For more information on ending the dog meat trade industry, click here.