Is the world going to the dogs or are the poor dogs going the way of the world? The answer is up in the air, at least in Seoul, South Korea, where an appeal has been made to the central government to propose categorization of dogs as livestock in order to properly regulate the trade of dog meat and strengthen sanitation inspections.
The purpose of the proposal is to address the absence of regulations concerning the sale of dog meat, which is considered a delicacy in Korea. City officials claim that proper categorization of dogs as livestock will force things to improve.
“The real problem is, we cannot regulate the sanitation process of how dog meat is served due to the lack of regulations. We will have a series of public hearings to discuss the issue as it’s a necessary step,” said one official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG).
The way things are, dogs are considered the same as donkeys, rabbits, horses and deer; that is, not livestock such as beef and chicken. This permits mass breeding, butchering and serving of dog meat in restaurants, but does not allow authorities to apply the same regulations regarding livestock to dog meat.
Animal rights groups and dog lovers have loudly and openly criticized the treatment of dogs in South Korea. In 2001, a law was proposed to set up proper regulations concerning dog meat and its categorization as “livestock,” but it was scrapped due to pressure from animal rights protesters.
Dog meat is considered a natural product. Whatever this may indicate for a lack for better laws, this situation is not likely to change soon. For now, the way the laws are set up the authorities can only take a legal action against those who butcher dogs in a brutal way or cause pollution to the environment during the slaughter process.
Is the world going to the dogs?
What do you think?
MDeeDubroff
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acidchalk
About damn time!
Disgusted
Barbaric.
dan
lol and butchering other animals is not?
have you ever seen a slautherhouse? who are you to decide which animals can be eaten.
people eat animals and just because some people don't eat the same set of animals that you grew up eating, doesn't mean that they're barbaric, you ignorant pompous prick
Animals4Ever
oh ok,so then if i was to eat your stupid mom for making you,no one should judge, especially you,because i can be a canibal for all you know, so you can stfu cause you dont hav the right to talk either because you dont know anyones lifestyle until you live it. so choke on it and die worthless crap
Guitar Tuition Reviews
I thought it was Livestock in most Asian countrys?
eag
Dogs have been known to eat people. I say, eat them back! That ought to teach them a lesson.
Milli
ok then. just how many times have you seen some article about a dog eating a person? we see more things about snakes eating people whole. one of the few reasons a dog would eat a person is 1) it was starving to death and appearantly the person isn't even trying to fight back, or 2) it has super freaky cujo rabbies.
what are korean's excuse for eating dogs? appearantly they taste 'good'.
sure. that's 'justice'.
frikkin' sicko.
Emily
FUC* YOU!
Animals4ever
maybe i should kill your stupid mom for having you as a child, cause that is ONE HUGE MISTAKE she made, and your dad for helping,i hope you die, cause you dont deserve to be alive, and if you do eat dog meat, i hope you either choke on it, or get some freakish disease and suffer and die.thats all i have to say.
pacat
YUCH!!!!! COUNT ME OUT.IF I AM STARVING I COULD EAT A RAT EASIER THEN A DOG OR CAT. I SAY CUT THE POPULATION BACK.JUST DON'T MANE ANYMORE BABIES TILL THE POPOULATION IS UNDER CONTROL
Name
This has nothing to do with population, it's culture. And in any case, you think that people will just stop making babies? Get real.
abcc
Guitar, how misinformed can you be? Go check the world map and see how big Asia is before u spout such generalisatio nonsense.
JM1
Only a true coward would eat man's best friend. I would love to get a chance to show everyone of them how cowardly they really are when faced with the same cruelness that they gladly inflict on highly social and intelligent creatures. Save the crap about "their culture" and how the animals are raised differently than pet animals. To call this cultural, is to insult Korea, or any other country. To believe that the animals nature is somehow changed, because they are mistreated is foolish. Basically, dog eaters are no better than child molesters. They use the trust and good nature of their victims to inflict harm on them for their own selfish pleasure. This is a joke. Their is no proper and humane method to breed, raise, and slaughter companion animals for food. At best, it makes a very bad situation a little better for its poor victims.
Vinessa
Thank you for speaking out!!!!
the hoff
Eating dog in Korea is basically like North Americans eating cows. In India, cows are considered sacred, just like we in North America basically see dogs…so in all fairness, it is just a cultural difference. Stop being rude.
ElleC
thank you the hoff…it is cultural obviously by the term JM1 is using "man's best friend" which is a western term! This is an Asian culture you are talking about and as much as there is western influence, again they have their own customs. By comparing them as child molesters is being very ignorant and judgmental. Its like calling Americans child molesters for eating cows, calf, pigs, lambs, duck, deer, etc. Please don't be so brash and don't speak for Korea unless you understand their customs, culture, background. Dogs use to be like wild game before they were domesticated as pets. If you're hungry and Whole Foods didn't exist, you lived off the land. True this is not for all cultures but this is true for parts of Korea. Now its considered a delicacy just like turtles, snakes, octopus, veal, duck con fi etc. Not all Koreans eat dog and may have a pet dog just as in America a farmer has a pet pigs named Wilber but a city folk eats a bacon and ham. And ps pigs are very intelligent creatures as well.
guest
JM1, once again westerners show ignorance through uneducated posts on something they consider offensive. Did you know that horse, cow, sheep, goat and even pigs are very social and intelligent creatures. Yet you as a high and mighty Westerner, you still probably eat them. This is not a considered an insult to eat dogs in Korea. It has been a part of the culture for thousands of years long before your civilization even started in the west. So once again, please stop comparing something as natural as eating an animal that is considered as livestock to child molestation. Only certain dog breeds are raised and eaten. I am glad that the world doesnt revolve around your narrow minded, uneducated, ignorant opinions.
dan
dogs are man's best friend only in the western world.
we in the west, eat indians' god so i don't think that's a fair thing to say.
Pred
While I don't agree with eating them I have to agree with the reasons for declaring them livestock. The dogs are going to be eaten either way, at least this way there is a chance that their mass breeding is healthier, and there is a lower chance of human illness from consumption.
If the dog is going to be eaten anyway they can at least make sure no one gets sick from eating it. You aren't going to change the views of a large portion of the asian continent by telling them what they've always done is wrong.
JM1
Firstly, they have not "always" done this. Secondly, it really is not a very large portion of the continent, now is it? It is mostly males of certain "social" status, and lame tourists. Thirdly, I believe that everyone who eats dog should get sick, and hopefully die. Perhaps, this classification truly only serves the scum, and only somewhat benefits the animals indirectly. Thanks for setting me straight on that Pred.
Really?
I hope everyone who eats cow should get sick, and hopefully die.
See how much neither of us accomplished by saying that?
Anonymiss
It stays an animal, it stays prey to other species. It's stays meat.
In S-Korea there are animal friends and dog owners as well. It's a sad situation for them, but it's not as if they are forced to eat that meat.
But if I'd have to choose, eat meat of unknown origin, uncertain about if it's good meat, healthy and so on, then I do have much rather regulations on the dogs as on the livestock.
To Indians, the western culture is horrible too, if you look at the amount of cows we eat.
It's all about different cultures AGAIN.
JM1
Not about different cultures with dog eating. Maybe, for the Indians, not for this vanity sport. Let us get this straight, the human filth that participates in this practice wants you to identify it as "cultural," because it serves their purpose. This is an issue for Asia. This has nothing to do with the west, because for whatever reason, even the lowest of the low in the west generally won't consume dog meat. They will do other rotten things, however, but they don't do them because of their "culture." They do bad things because they are disgusting wastes of genetic material. Just because a bad thing happens in a certain place, that does not mean it a "cultural" event. Does much of Asia not have a treasured history of Buddhism? Obviously. Now that is "culture," and a culture directly opposed to this abominable practice.
Rin
dog, cow, bird, pig.. its all the same.
should Jewish people condemn those who eat pork?
should Indian people condemn everyone who eats beef?
should vegans or vegetarians denounce everyone who eats meat?
its all cultural differences. don't hate on your brothers and sister because their different. variety is the spice of life. 🙂
JM1
Not "cultural." Dog eaters are a worthless lot. Their lives are void of virtue and value. They are brothers of no decent man. FOR ONE LAST TIME, PIGS, COWS, AND CHICKENS ARE NOT THE SAME AS DOGS. A DOG SEEKS OUT THE COMPANIONSHIP OF MAN, FOR MAN HAS CREATED THE COMPANION THAT IS THE DOG. CAN YOU ALL BE SO STUPID, AND/OR CORRUPT AS TO NOT SEE THE DIFFERENCE?
Milli
Calm down, they're just trying to put this in a way that everyone can be happy.
Every one has different view points on something like this. Yes dogs are wonderful sweet creatures who are very much loved in America, and then Korean's go and start treating them like live stock, of course we'll get mad, no one will blame you for it. But what about cows? Indians love them more than a person could ever love their dog, and we eat them every day because we consider them 'un-intelligent'.
So over-all, yes, eating dogs is very wrong. That's no reason to get mad at someone trying to make peace.
JM1
Well, cows are really dumb, but I don't eat them. They are, however, herd animals that do provide food to carnivores. A dog really is not a food animal in the natural universe. If an Indian were to call a cow eater a sick cowardly bastard, I certainly would not excuse cow eating as "cultural."
That being said, their condemnation would be based upon religious principles and my condemnation of dog eaters is based on common decency.
Frankly, if I ever catch a dogeater in the gym I will stretch him until something breaks, provided he has the guts to take to the mat. I guess you can call that my "culture."
JM1
You cannot be serious. If someone endorses something barbaric, then there is plenty of reason to get mad at them. Save this hippie Gen Y crap for your Facebook moron friends.
jkd3
maybe someone should eat you and get rid of your worhtless ass
Milli
it's nice to see someone who isn't looking at this in a hateful way, but, it's normal for Americans to be upset my this, dogs have been helping them and bringing them joy since they were made.
It's not all the same for us.
JM1
Absolutely wrong. Two of my great friends, both Korean, find this even more objectionable than I do. They hate being associated with this sick practice. One owns dogs, one does not. I do hate people who do indecent things, irrespective of their country of origin. Nothing wrong with that. The world needs more of it.
Rin
look, why can't you just just stop?
ranting and raving on the internet won't stop anyone from eating dog.
also, its not like they're going to see a lab and say, "well, that looks good, i'm going to eat it!" they have a special breed that they use~
personally, i don't think i would eat dog. but some people like it, and have been doing it for quite a while, so i believe it should be allowed. the only reason this is such a big issue is because many types of dogs have become domesticated and can be people's companions now. if dogs had never been domesticated, people wouldn't care. (unless they were being hunted until extinction. they people probably would.. ^^')
p.s. why can't people set aside their differences and let this die? there never will never be an agreement for something like this~~ arguing does nothing :3
JM1
Personally I would not abuse a child, but some people like it so it should be okay? After all, people have been doing it for a while. Maybe, the ugly kids don't get abused, so no problem? So, let us just put aside our differences and embrace NAMBLA, right? That is your logic, not mine. You cannot be serious with that kind of stupidity, right?
Pippos
Actually they are already considered livestocks. They eat every living being, they don't deserve to be considered humans and can burn alive for the rest of their miserable life
Animals4ever
i think you shud burn alive,cause im pretty sure if you or your mom was treated like that you wudnt like it one bit..maybe should just burn your mom,and make you eat her.that would be exactly as if i was to eat my own dog,but who cares if your mom dies and i eat her? or your dad eats her, right? it wudnt make the slightest difference.in conclusion, u should choke and die, and burn cause poeple like you shouldnt be alive.
pippos
Don't they have troubles with atomic bombs? well, they can use nuclear weapons against themselves and set us free
Casey Marion
Dog meat, pig meat, cow…..what's the f-ing difference?
No one in Korea is eating poodles. They have a certain breed that they've been breeding for food for a LONG time. They aren't eating house pets.
Why not regulate it?
However, I must point out that regulating anything in Korea is a joke. The Korean Food and Drug Administration or KFDA, exists to do nothing other than put some foreigners at ease when they eat out.
There is no sanitation code in this country, no restaurant inspections, etc. So, putting dog meat under govn't scrutiny is about the same as not regulating dog meat.
It's all about creating a needless bureaucracy to boost employment.
pacat
I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS,DOG EATERS WILL EAT POODLES,PUGS AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY CAN FIND.SOME TIMES THE MORE EXSPENSIVE THE ANIMAL THE MORE IT IS CONSIDERED A DELICOUSY.
PARDON SPELLING
pacat
GOOD DRIEF!!!!!! I MUST ADMIT THAT MANY MANY YEARS AGO ,WHEN I LIVED IN THE PHOLIPPINES,I ATE DOG.I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THAT TIME, WHEN I FOUND OUT ,MY BROTHER AND I WERE SICK FOR A WEEK. I COULDN'T BELEAVE THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE THESE DOGS AS PETS THEN TURN AROUND AND KILL THEM. EVEN THOUGH THIS FAMILY,AND THEY WERE RATHER WEALTHY,RAISED AND ATE THIER DOGS,THEY WEREE THE ONLY ONES WE KNEW THAT DID.
EATING CATS IS JUST AS POPULAR AS EATING DOGS IN THE ORIENT.YOU DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT THAT THOUGH.GO THROUGH MOST ORIENTAL FOOD MARKETS AND YOU WILL SEE CAGES FILLED TO THE TOP WITH CATS.THEY AREN'T SELLING THEM FOR PETS I CAN ASSURE YOU.
Iris
So now they eat dogs, then next they can eat human too???? What wrong with them! STOP ABUSING ANIMAL!!!!!! Dogs are "man's best friend"!!! I dont think you will eat you friend right!!!!!
PeopleAreStupid.
Western ignorance at it's finest.
and yes, I can classify you as a Westerner because you use the term, "man's best friend."
Jay
The reason people do not eat the meat of carnivores is really simple its a natural health protection.
You see for omnivore's like ourselves are biology is more similar to meat eaters than plant eaters and as such we are more susceptible to catching diseases and parasites from eating the meat of another meat eater.
The same goes for eating the meat of another omnivore. Scientists think that a lot of diseases we have got have come from eating other omnivores and carnivores especially "bush" meat like primates and monkeys.
A simple example is this, pigs are omnivores yet we eat there meat i.e. pork and ham. Under cooked pork and ham can give you tapeworms a parasite that that lives in your gut another omnivores gut.
Other meat like beef and fish because of the difference in biology i.e. ones a herbivore and the other are fish are so different that we can safely with a bit of caution to eat raw.
But not fowl i.e. birds as mostly either carnivores or omnivores(chickens and turkeys).
So you see the reaction to eating the flesh of another carnivore/omnivore is not really a cultural one as such but a subconscious natural instinct one.
Hope that clears a few things up
-Jay
…
You damn racist bastards… whats wrong with eating a dog? its just like eating a chicken/cow/pig. dogs are men's best friend? sure they are but that doesnt really mean anyting. and we asians don't eat EVERYTING you f-ing sterotypical morons! wow, that just shows how stupid and ignorant you guys are… jesus f-ing christ! man, you guys are stupid enought to say "they eat humans"? its obviously a f-ing crime… wow i cant believe how ignorant you f-ing morons are… probably f-ing rednecks… and we all know that abusing pretty much anything is a crime. I am an animal lover as well and i hate people who tortures animals… it is sad that some people torture dogs before killing them but YOU F-ING NORTH AMERICANS do the same thing to cows! i know it is wrong and they should stop abusing animal!
anyways, i have two words to say to you stupid ignorant people "f**k you!"
Kaika
I agree with you. People are hypocrites. I live in North America. It's disgusting how cows and chicken are treated. It not okay to torture or eat dogs or cats, but it's okay to torture, drug, and kill cows, and chicken. It's okay to run over squirrels and raccoons in a car for laughs. It's f**ked up that people pick and choose which animals are worth saving and which ones can be treated like s**t.
Jon
Wow it's amazing how narrow minded people can be. How are cows (Which are pretty much like dogs to Indians) chickens, pigs and goats any less or more valuable than a dog? They all have feelings, can feel pain, guilt, satisfaction- what i don't get is how these people are bashing South Koreans for eatings dogs when we ourselves are doing almost the exact same thing, only on a larger scale. Our industry tortures poor animals each and everyday, but you're ok with that because it's not something you see everyday. Just because dogs are named "Mans best friends" doesn't make it any more or less special than the livestock we eat each and everyday.
ElleC
thank you for your comments. seriously I am commenting below as well as to other people's comments. I can't believe how ignorant people are. I know some people who have tried dog and to compare them to be a child molester or cannibals really pisses me off! They are good people who were mere curious or just had it growing up! Its so ludicrous and it makes me so angry how judgemental people can be.
Eddle
True that my friend. True that.
esnjay
Um, the Korean population is actually on the decline, pacat. So I'm not quite sure what you're talking about with "getting the population under control." Are you talking about China? Because China and Korea are two different countries. And then… Korea is divided even further into North and South. Did you even graduate high school?
ElleC
Wow the things some of the people are saying here is just absolutely ignorant and just outlandish. This is how my father explained it…some point before they were domesticated pets they literally ran wild like chickens and it was a source of food. Same as cows, same as lamb, same as duck, same as pigs.
This is to IRIS: Humans and Dogs are NOT the same thing. I understand if you're a vegetarian but I would love to see you tell someone who is eating a hamburger that what they are eating is equivalent to a human and see that person's reaction. Such a western terminology "man's best friend" that is imposing such judgments.
I don't like the idea of eating dog meat but that is my personal choice. I have a wonderful maltese poodle who I love but to call people i know a child molester (JM1) or a cannibal so insane just because they had dog meat. It doesn't change them, its just meat to them and I believe in free will. Its their choice. They are good people who had it out of mere curiosity or had as a kid or out of like. I mean, veal is just unfair to a poor baby cows who aren't even allowed to move before becoming meat but hey, they are on menus on high end restaurants in America and there's an American Veal Association! Just because its not an American common meat doesn't mean its not in Korea, although i have to tell you not every Korean restaurant offers it either. They are very much like Americans and love their beef and pork.
I think this matter should be determined by Korea since its their culture community country that its impacting. If it makes it safer for sanitation purposes to consider them livestock as they have been for the past than it should be passed.
Eddle
I absolutely despise people who think they are moral crusaders by being against dog consumption. Personally, because of my western beliefs I do not condone dog consumption, but come on. Could you be more hypocritical? The slaughter and consumption of dogs is just as bad as the slaughter and consumption of cows, chickens, pigs, etc.
Mike
Lana what are you talking about? Koreans may eat odd items, but where do you get your 85% figure? That sounds like "dog s***" facts to me. (No pun intended). I've never heard that nonsense about Duck Meat either. And your conclusion doesn't follow from your premise.
I respect the "Open Marketplace of Ideas" a comment board gives, but your comments border on offensive.
James
If it's a culture thing, then they should consider changing it – since Korea have adapted so much from the West anyways with their pop culture, its about time to stop consuming dogs? And cultures can change – for the better but knowing how Koreans are they're very narrow minded people it prolly wont happen. I think if the people here who's all into free will ect choice , "its just their culture" or whatever bull, well just imagine sitting in front of a group of Koreans eating a dog in front you you vs a group eating a hamburger. If it's just "meat" then why not just settle with beef n pork and chicken like the rest of the world – at least it'll limit the discrimination and prejudice. What exactly do they get from eating dogs anyways? bigger eyes?? taller nose? oh wait those are surgeries they get on the regular basis. S.Koreans need to move out of their bubble, if they can copy the west in so many ways, then they can at least stop consuming dogs.
guest123
Thats the reason I don't travelin to South KOREA 😉
Seriously?
I don't travelin to South KOREA?
You must have eaten a bowl of stupid for breakfast.
Jefferson Louie
I bet the people in the North wish they have some dog to eat. Send some dogs to North Korea.
Michelle
sick mother fuckers
Jefferson Louie
When in Rome… At least it is not hot dog.
dan
lol lana you dumb tard.
hmm cruel korean cuisine on tables vs cruel western meat collection in slaughterhouses
have you seen pictures of a slaughterhouse?
don't open your worthless dumb trap if you haven't and go back if you think the culture is barbaric.
retard
danann
GO,,,VEGAN PEOPLE!!! Abolish slavery of all forms.
See, then it cannot be said "oh, your one to talk look what you do to the cow" and so on
Maybe we wouldn't fight so much between ourselves either, if at all!!!
Jefferson Louie
EAT EVERY ANIMAL YOU CAN GET YOUR HAND ON! DON'T DISCRIMINATE!
danann
There is not much difference between seeing a non-human animal as a piece of meat and say someone who is in child sex trafficking, seeing them as a piece of met for sex and money. We don't need meat to live happy healthy lives. The abundance of "food" as meat is likely helping to drive up human population so unsustainably.
GO VEGAN
Juliette
You're ignorant and grammatically incorrect. Well done, sport.
Andy
Wew…
so many dog lovers here…
What is your reason not to eat dog again?
Because they're social creatures? cows are also social, and we eat them after all
Because they're man's best friend? well, with their claws and fangs, they're actually a lot more dangerous than a goat and ducks. And we eat goat and duck
Come on man, this is free world, stop being busy interventing others about their food. As long as they didn't torture the dogs to death (by no means to kill them as fast as posibble), or eating YOUR DOG, it's just okay
Jefferson Louie
I am sure they would if there wasn't any other meat. Like the people in Japan after the tsunami.
Avery Head
Personally, im disgusted by the human-eating-dog idea, but it's mainly because i own one. Those who hate a specific race just because of what they EAT, well, are total idiots. We can't eat dogs because they're intelligent? Well, science has proved that pigs are wayyy smarter, but do we treat them like a "man's best friend"? Pigs are being killed in more inhumane ways than these dogs, and how is that okay? Koreans have been eating dogs since 4 AD (source:wikipedia) because there were no pigs or chickens and cattle were valuable working animals for farms. That means they have been eating dog for over 2,000 years. What I'm saying is, as a dog lover, I'm totally against this dog eating business, but that's not the point here. You people should respect one's culture, instead of being racist and all that crap.
Jefferson Louie
Everybody should eat dog…yummy!!! I want a dog meal now.