Dog meat good for your health?

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by RedRide

I guess the "taboo" about us eating dogs and cats stem from the fact that these two animals are welcomed into our homes and almost treated like one of the family unlike any other animals.
...
I'd wager that someone who has a pet pig wiil not eat pork.

The "taboo" likely comes from the fact that dogs and cats are intelligent animals with a self-awareness that is obvious to anyone who has spent time around them. Pigs, as it happens, are arguably even more so.

I am "sort of" a vegetarian. Let me explain that. I care about self awareness, intelligence, and the capacity to experience pain. And... my own health.

Breeding mammals (cows and pigs) under poor living conditions, as we do, seems unworthy of a society which aims to consider itself civilized, when other means are available for feeding ourselves. Breeding animals like birds (chicken, turkey) seems somewhat better. But still does not seem quite appropriate for a civilized people.

Fish? I've no problem with that. While it is entirely possible to live well on an entirely vegetarian diet, there are documented benefits of omega-3 oils, found mainly in fish. And fish are a good source of protein. (Protein is an easily surmountable problem when planning a vegetarian diet. But being allowed fish protein is a significant convenience from a dietary planning standpoint.) And fish have very simple nervous systems. Very simple brains. It's hard to imagine anything of substantial complexity going on in there.

Think of this as a sort of rational and ethically oriented vegetarianism.

If eating dog meat is not bad for one's mental health, I'd as soon see that person die.

Given the same personal exposure, I would extend that opinion to people who eat pigs.

No doubt there will be some disagreement on some of these points. I would be happy if those who disagree would simply step back and consider the points which I have raised. I don't really care about proving myself right.

-Steve