Asia

Mar 10, 2010 5:42:21 AM

Should China ban dog meat?

WARNING: The gallery above contains an image that some people may find disturbing or offensive.

According to a recent CNN report, the Chinese government is considering banning dog and cat meat.

The move is sure to be controversial. On the one hand there are those who consider meat from these animals as part of a longstanding culinary tradition. For them, banning the eating of cats and dogs would be tantamount to giving in to foreign prejudices.

On the other hand, many people believe that eating domesticated animals is cruel and barbaric. They point to the mistreatment of cats and dogs as an evil, unnecessary practice.

During the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, the Chinese government restricted the sale of these meats in local restaurants. They were perceived as a turn-off to foreigners. That said, the tradition of eating dogs and cats is much more established in southern cities such as Guangzhou. No one knows what the impact of a nationwide ban would be.

What do you think? Would the banning of cat and dog meat be a step forward for the Chinese government, or would it be a type of surrender?

• 
• 
• Like this? Sign up to get our best articles by email