Say no or stop eating dog meat for simple reasons like the following

According to the 2021 Dog and Cat Meat Consumption Report by the global animal welfare organization Four Paws, 88% of Vietnamese people support banning the dog and cat meat trade.

Another survey by this organization also showed that 95% of respondents believe that eating dog and cat meat is not part of Vietnamese culture. Do these numbers show that Vietnamese people are no longer considering dog meat a "cool" dish?

Fear of eating "someone else's family member" by mistake

Although he does not consider himself a dog or cat lover, for more than 10 years now, Mr. Thien Hai (40 years old, Thu Duc City) has not eaten dog meat. According to his observations, in recent years, more and more Vietnamese people consider dogs and cats as pets. They spend time caring for them, loving them, and considering them as family members.

"As far as I know, there is no place in our country that raises dogs for meat on a farm scale. It is also rare for people to raise dogs and sell them. Therefore, dog meat in restaurants is mainly supplied by thieves. I am afraid that I will accidentally eat someone's beloved pet," said Mr. Hai.

The man admitted that he used to eat dog meat and rarely refused his friends' invitations. However, life has changed and developed, many types of food are delicious, nutritious, and cheap, so dog meat is no longer an option.

The Border Collie (English sheepdog) is considered to have the highest IQ among the dog breeds that many people keep as companions.

Mr. Duong Thanh Huu (37 years old, Tan Phu district) also started eating dog meat since his student days. According to him, this dish is generally cheaper than other drinking dishes. When preparing it, many spices such as galangal, lemongrass, chili... are often used to create a very unique flavor. If you eat it during the rainy season and drink alcohol, you will feel "warm and healthy".

However, after 1 year of marriage, he witnessed his wife rushing back to her mother's house when she heard that the family dog ​​she had raised for more than 10 years had died of old age.

"She walked away, sobbing. I had the feeling she had just lost a loved one, not a dog," said Mr. Huu.

Can eating dog meat unintentionally contribute to theft?

At the end of 2014, Ms. Tran Thi Le Thuy (55 years old, in Binh Thuy district, Can Tho) picked up 2 puppies drifting along the water hyacinth during the flood season and raised them. As fate would have it, she has become the one taking care of nearly 40 abandoned and sick dogs for the past 9 years.

"Without love, I could not have spent time taking care of the dogs for the past 8 years. Even though I am tired, every time I look into their eyes and their affectionate gestures, I feel happy. Therefore, one thing is for sure, I do not support eating dog meat," said Ms. Thuy.

Dog meat eaters always have their own reasons to enjoy the food and it is their freedom, because Vietnamese law does not currently prohibit it. Many people believe that as long as they do not directly kill or steal dogs, they can eat them without feeling guilty.

"However, they do not know that dog meat consumption contributes to the increase in dog theft in many places, leading to insecurity and disorder in society," Ms. Thuy emphasized.

Ms. Thuy takes care of a Golden Retriever that was abandoned by its owner because its hind legs were paralyzed.

Although she used to keep dogs as pets, Ms. Thuy had to rescue dogs abandoned by their owners many times when they were seriously ill and difficult to treat.

Not spaying or neutering pets leads to constant breeding, which increases the number of puppies. If not cared for, they will only be left on the streets to find food. Raising dogs without protective measures such as locking them up or chaining them, allowing them to run freely, also inadvertently increases the problem of dog theft.

As the administrator of a dog and cat lover group in Can Tho, Ms. Thuy reviews about 5-7 posts every day looking for lost dogs. Therefore, according to Ms. Thuy, the issue of dog meat consumption involves many parties, and we should not just blame the person who eats it directly. The most important thing is the responsibility of the dog owner.

"The owners are not aware, unintentionally creating opportunities for dog thieves. If there were no stolen dogs, where would there be people selling and eating dog meat?" Ms. Thuy wondered.

According to nutritionist Do Thi Ngoc Diep, the use of any type of livestock or poultry as food must be controlled for issues related to food hygiene and safety. That type of livestock or poultry must have a clear origin and be raised for commercial purposes.

The doctor does not deny some of the benefits of dog meat that many people still have the habit of using. However, eating dog and cat meat is currently controversial because it is often related to the theft of domestic dogs, violating human ethics.

"We can provide protein for the body from animal meat such as pork, beef, chicken, goat... and seafood and eggs," said Ms. Diep.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/khong-hoac-bo-an-thit-cho-vi-nhung-dieu-don-gian-nhu-sau-185230711102600721.htm