Another 'wtf' thread! This isn't ok?

[Stellenbosch]

"killing dogs to eat and consuming their meat is legal in Britain"

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6030759/Campaigners-call-Theresa-ban-eating-dogs-Britain.html

@IDontEatFriedTurtle "I don't get the hand wringing here. Same as that petition to ban a dog eating festival in China  WTF does it have to do with you if people eat dogs in CHina I always wonder."

Do you realise how barbaric these "festivals" are? Dogs are abused and often boiled alive. Racing greyhounds that no longer make money for their trainers are sent there and meet horrible deaths.

Meh. I'm yet to meet an animal I wouldn't eat.

A poster on here (not this thread) has a chicken who can complete jigsaws. Probably not the difficult sort, but...

As humans what sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom is (supposedly) our level of consciousness, morality, compassion, and intelligence. If we are to uphold that difference (I assume no one thinks it would be ok to kill humans for meat?) then we should uphold it fully

Doesn't this raise the question of what "fully" involves though?

I have a strictly vegetarian friend who sets killing traps for the rats and mice in her garden. The rat is also an intelligent creature, but when asked about this by someone else she saw no problem with eradicating them because ... "well, they're rats"

Apparently, in this case, the quality of mercy depended largely on the cuteness factor (and I imagine she's not alone)

Some cultures/religions have massive issue with pigs or cows being eaten.

The general British culture has an issue with dogs, cats, horses etc but turns a blind eye to rabbits and pigeons which are beloved pets to many too.

It's all about perspective. If you eat meat you cannot reasonably object to the humane farming of any kind of meat.

Generally speaking commercial farming isn't pleasant for animals even when humane which is probably why there's an increase in ethical veganism.

A good party game is to ask your guests what they would do if they were in a plane crash in the Andes and the only food available was the other dead passengers? Would you eat them or not? This certainly leads to some interesting discussions.

Apparently this is suppose to have happened when a football team crashed.

Well yeah dogs are superior to chickens because chicken are stupid(I'm sure someone will come and try and prove me wrong-no need)

We could go down a very slippery slope if we value life based on intelligence.

@Fairyliz the rugby team's Andes air crash was covered in a book call Alive by Piers Paul Reid. It's quite old now, but an excellent read if you can get hold of a copy

Bit of a sensationalist headline by the Fail though - if you read the article, it may be strictly legal, but in practice doesn't really happen (in the same way that in Chester, it's legal to shoot a Welsh person with a bow and arrow inside city walls after midnight ).

"In a statement, the RSPCA, said: 'It is illegal to sell dog meat to the public in the UK. There are also no abattoirs that have a licence to kill dogs and it would be against slaughter and animal welfare legislation too. So, while dog meat eating is not specifically banned here these laws mean that there is effectively a ban on the practice.'

'The RSPCA has no evidence that dog meat eating is on the rise in the UK, nor have we ever received any reports on this issue. While we do not believe it happens here, we continue to monitor the situation.' "

I come at this as a recent (12 months) vegetarian. Before that a meat eater but only "ethically" raised food.

There is, in my mind, a perverse logic to not eating dogs or pigs. They are scavengers and therefore do not have a "clean" diet, unlike organically reared cows or sheep.

My lack of meat eating is based on environmental issues rather than the "sentient being" argument (although I am more and more persuaded to that way of thinking) - I'm trying to move towards veganism, (unsuccessfully at the moment) - so I think we should be focussing on exploring insect protein!

Frankly though, in answer to the OP - it's the Daily Mail -you're very brave posting that on MN. And I think Teressa May has plenty other things on her mind at the moment - this should be WAY down her list as long as the dogs are treated with the same "respect" that other slaughtered animals are for what that's worth.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I have a strictly vegetarian friend who sets killing traps for the rats and mice in her garden. The rat is also an intelligent creature, but when asked about this by someone else she saw no problem with eradicating them because ... "well, they're rats"

Your friend is not the person I'd hold up as an ideal role model for society then (though is possibly vegetarian for reasons other than welfare)!

Doesn't this raise the question of what "fully" involves though?

By 'fully' I mean applying our supposed intelligence, compassion, morality etc as far as practically possible, for the benefit of humans but also minimising harm to the environment and other living creatures. Unnecessary cruelty (which is what meat farming and slaughter is) would be something that I consider us now able to make the moral choice not to do.

For those who dont get the hand wringing..........when did you last year of a farm rearing dogs for meat in the UK?

@GoatWithACoat I agree.
Same with any arbitrary reason really.. usefulness,cuteness,fluffiness,ability to bond etc.

Well yeah dogs are superior to chickens because chicken are stupid

We could go down a very slippery slope if we value life based on intelligence.

Not read TFT, has anyone suggested eating Americans yet?

Some very fair points there, @Bazzlebear - and that's coming from a meat eater

Yes I think if you eat meat, the only thing you can realistically argue about is humane treatment from rearing to slaughter.

If you eat a lamb then if a dog was reared and treated the same you can’t sensibly argue it’s any worse to eat.

NO donquixote. I always found xenophobia to be an indicator of intelligence (or lack of) though. How do you taste by the way?

Taking this extremely simplistic argument to its logical conclusion, then you would say that if it's okay to eat a chicken it's okay to eat a human being. Both are animals, after all

Yes, both are animals and humans are made of meat. Or are you disputing that? It is, however unusual for animals to eat their own species, we also have laws against that because on the whole work is hard enough without worrying you will be eaten.

However, our minds are supposed to be capable of making distinctions—and yes, a dog is a superior being to a chicken. And not just because our culture says so.

That is such a genuinely bizarre statement to make. Like it's an objective fact that dogs are superior to chickens.

The RSPCA has no evidence that dog meat eating is on the rise in the UK, nor have we ever received any reports on this issue. While we do not believe it happens here, we continue to monitor the situation

You mean the Daily Heil misrepresented the situation for the purpose of stoking up rage against immigrants? How very shocking and unexpected.

@donquixotedelamancha what an outrageous suggestion!!! My best friend is American,she's basically family!! Not very fluffy or cuddly tho...hmmm...

As long as they are poperly kept. Why not?

*properly

Meh meat's meat. I'd eat it. You either eat meat or you don't. Lets not be prissy about it.

NO donquixote. I always found xenophobia to be an indicator of intelligence (or lack of) though. How do you taste by the way?

I agree that actual xenophobia is certainly an indicator of a lack of critical thinking skills, if nothing else.

Personally, I've always found an inability to detect irony an indicator of lack of intelligence.

I taste delicious, but you will need to buy me a drink first.

Personally, I've always found an inability to detect irony an indicator of lack of intelligence.

I didn't know tired "Americans are thick ammirite?" jokes was the pinnacle of ironic humour.

I bet you think piano ties are hilarious.

I wouldn’t eat it and find the idea abhorrent, but equally I recognise that is because I have lived and been brought up in a society where custom and culture has conditioned me to think that way.

I can appreciate that there is little to no logical reasoning as to why I would eat a sheep but not a cat, and a pig but not a dog.

To the poster who mentioned intelligence - my DP turned vegetarian after seeing a Newsround clip about a pig playing computer games