(MY) letter on dogs/cats

[Guest guest]

2007/06/22 - New Straits Times

Eating Dogs/Cats: Don't treat pets as livestock

By : CHRISTINE CHIN for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals Ampang Jaya, Selangor

 

 

EATING dogs and cats is culturally unacceptable. It has never been a

part of the Malaysian lifestyle.

Apart from satisfying the gastronomical appetites of a minute

proportion of Asians, the majority of Asians are appalled at the

thought of eating these animals who we consider as our companions.

 

There are two main lines of thought pertaining to this.

 

The first is a philosophical or ethical justification.

 

People who to this viewpoint are quick to point at the

double standards of those who object to eating dogs and cats yet eat

veal, duck, chicken and other animals. How are dogs and cats different

from cows or ducks?

 

 

Cows, pigs, and chickens are considered as livestock and hence,

rearing them for food is an acceptable commercial practice.

 

But dogs and cats are companion animals and are not considered as livestock.

 

Hiding behind the cultural veil does not justify the move to make

these animals which we consider as companions as a dish for dinner.

 

Just because we raise these animals with kindness and compassion, does

killing them for food justify what we are doing?

 

The problem with these forms of ethical debates is the subjectivity of

the issue. This stalemate provides proponents a form of justification

to continue with their atrocities.

 

The second train of thought focuses on the emotional aspect. The

emotional bond between humans and dogs is well documented and

stretches tens of thousands of years.

 

The wonderful characteristics of dogs — loyalty, companionship,

protection — have endeared humans towards this wonderful creature.

 

Their propensity to give up their lives in the fight to protect their

owners is unheard of anywhere else in the animal kingdom.

 

It pains dog lovers to see these creatures treated so callously.

 

This principle does not allow for the eating of dogs no matter in what

manner they are slaughtered. To these Malaysians, this is akin to

eating another human being.

 

The gruesome images that come to mind, the abysmal misery of dogs and

cats, and all food animals, before and during slaughter is not

condoned from either point of view.

 

A majority of Malaysians' lack of emotional attachment towards cows,

chickens, pigs, although not justifiable, is equally pertinent in our

debate.

 

However, the immensely strong bond humans feel for dogs and cats as

companion animals is all too real; hence, the extreme repulsion many

Malaysians feel towards eating dogs and cats.

 

Let's not add another species on the dinner plate. Let us go along the

path Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and South Korea have recently

taken where there are laws in place against the slaughter of dogs and

cats for consumption.