http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6327111Oh my.
The sparkling husband primitive who, like all men, nightly pitches his tent one day's march closer to the mausoleum:
Stinky The Clown (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 12:29 PM
Original message
Warning - this story may squick you.
No charges likely in New Zealand dog barbecue
The SPCA in New Zealand is calling for a change in the law after its investigation into the killing and cooking of a pet dog by a Tongan family in Auckland.
As long as the animal is slaughtered humanely — how’s that for a contradiction of terms? — eating a dog is not illegal in New Zealand.
The family who barbecued their pet dog say back home in Tonga dog meat is considered a delicacy, and they didn’t realize they were doing anything wrong.
Paea Taufa was found roasting his pitbull mix in a pit at his home. The dog had been skinned and gutted and was partially charred when SPCA inspectors arrived.
Auckland City’s mayor, John Banks, said the family needs to be educated rather than charged with a crime, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Banks, an animal rights activist for years, says better education on local customs and sensibilities is needed. “This activity is deeply offensive and totally wrong in our New Zealand society. For many people, this is absolutely repulsive,†the mayor said. “But the way forward is education. This man has obviously not been taught that killing and eating a domestic pet is not right in New Zealand.â€
http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/08/17/no-charges-likely-in-... /
While this link has the story, it is also being carried on cabalnooz.
Mojorabbit (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 12:35 PM
Response to Original message
1. They humanely killed it for dinner?
The emotional side of me who loves my four pups more than anything is repulsed.
The logical side of me that knows I eat many animals can't see why this family while following a cultural dietary activity should be prosecuted if they were unaware of the local customs.
Stinky The Clown (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 12:37 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. The Aukland prosecutorial apparatus agrees with you
And so do I. And like you, our dogs and cat are as dear to us as our human kids.
Wow. One wonders what the sparkling husband primitive's kids think about dad's comment. Perhaps that's why they're helping the sparkling husband primitive's wife when she uses the chemistry set to concoct some things that can't be detected in food and drink.
phantom power (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 12:38 PM
Response to Original message
3. On the one hand, it squicks me...but on the other, I can't say I can finger a particular ethical reason that slaughtering and eating a dog is better or worse than slaughtering and eating any other mammals, which I do on a regular basis.
Unless, it's the idea that they had a pet, which they apparently had absolutely no emotional bond with. In which case, I'm reacting to their sociopathic relationship with the dog, which is slightly different than reacting to the idea that they ate it.
Stinky The Clown (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 01:49 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. That came up for me, too .... but consider .......
..... that the reporting was probably done by a person for whom eating dogs is abhorrent. There's no way to know that the family was keeping the dog "as a pet". It may have been closer to the way a 4H kid raises a cow or sheep or pig only to see it slaughter after winning the blue ribbon at the county fair. Or maybe closer to a cattle rancher.
In view of the Michael Vick crap that is getting replayed, this makes an interesting counterpoint. Obviously the essential difference is likely to be intent and culture. I think
progressoid (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
4. I once met someone who had a pet pig...but regularly ate pork.
Somebody was keeping the subway cat as a pet?
Stinky The Clown (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. I'm sure that person is no unique
Keep an eye on the sparkling husband primitive's mistypes; they're a valuable clue as to whether or not the sparkling husband primitive's wife is on the right track, with her chemistry set.
Mojorabbit (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-17-09 05:15 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. I have five pet hens and eat chicken regularly. Meanwhile I spoil those five chickens with all manner of special treats. I could not eat them for anything.
