Personally I cannot imagine eating a pet, but the thing that bothers me most is that he was marinating it alive. ?!

It was live, this guy Kurkoc is a nutcase...he was not going to eat the cat because it's delicious (I would imagine gamey) he was because his cat is possessive, greedy, and wasteful...

Skin it, and clean it (I don't mean bathe the cat I mean remove the entrails). It isn't a lobster...

I'd prefer that eating at least one species of animal remain illegal: homo sapiens.

Personally I cannot imagine eating a pet, but the thing that bothers me most is that he was marinating it alive. ?!

Of course -- you wouldn't do that to a cow, either. It's cruel. The guy's apparently nuts.

The problem, I suspect, is the easy abundance of pets to eat from shelters and backyards. Cattle rustling is still a hanging offense here in Texas (even if never enforced) so do we want to make stealing a cat a felony?

Plus, just ick. Predators in general don't taste great to eat. Very gamey.

I get the logic here, but damn...I could NOT bring myself to eat a dog or cat.

It just creeps me out.

"I'm not looking to eat Fido, but if somebody else wants to, why should we stop them?"

By this logic why should eating humans remain illegal. It's not your dead relative being eaten, and no one is forcing you to do it. As long as the meat is cooked properly there is little danger of disease. The only reason cannibalism is outlawed is because most people find it graphically offensive. That being the same reason that cats and dogs are being removed form the chow line even in China.

Also it is part of several religious practices to preserve the soul and pass on the wisdom.

No I'm not a cannibal.

Mr. Korkuc also told police that the male cat, Navarro, got pregnant after being spayed.

@Vlad: "The only reason cannibalism is outlawed is because most people find it graphically offensive."

Yeah, that's gotta be the only reason.

I'd think cat would be pretty stringy, no matter how it was prepared. I think they still eat Rover from time to time in the Philippines, though I've never tried it. It's hardly the most revolting thing I've ever heard of, however. I watched (or, rather, turned my head away from) my wife getting through a couple of balut last summer, but can't imagine trying one myself.

To me, the primary reason eating animals that are pets should be banned in this country is cultural. If the cow is sacred in India and therefore it isn't acceptable to eat beef there. Dogs and cats are a much beloved part of American culture, and, while not exactly worshiped, they are an integral part of the development of our culture. Domesticated cats have traditionally served as part of ranch and home life to keep the vermin away from both the humans and the livestock. Dogs have served as protection against both other species as well as our own.

Aside from that, I'm with momof4. Carnivorous and omnivorous species aren't especially nutritious or delicious, for a good reason: they've evolved to be the hunters, not the prey.

I would never eat a parakeet. (Oh, hey, I may be onto an Ogden Nash rhyme here.) Even a Cornish game hen practically requires tweezers as dining implements; can you imagine trying to find anything to eat on a parakeet? No, no, let's stick with the bigger game, like mammoths and walruses.

"It was live, this guy Kurkoc is a nutcase...he was not going to eat the cat because it's delicious (I would imagine gamey) he was because his cat is possessive, greedy, and wasteful..."

Nutcase is not a strong enough word. Possessive, greedy and wasteful, WTF?? He was expecting his cat to be generous, polite and environmentally resourceful? This guy is so batshit crazy that I would sure be afraid to live next door to him.

Steak chevalier (horse) is illegal through much of the Unites States too. (And the last slaughterhouse for making horse steaks went out of business in 2006 IIRC).

"Dogs and cats are a much beloved part of American culture, and, while not exactly worshiped, they are an integral part of the development of our culture"

There are Inuit who still prefer sled dogs to snowmobiles, because if you get stuck in a blizzard you can't eat a snowmobile. Just because an animal is an integral part of the culture doesn't mean that people won't eat it.

I'll admit it's sheet sentimentality on my part, but I couldn't eat a dog, cat, or horse. Should it be illegal? Man that's a tough one. Don't underestimate the pull of sentimentality.

The argument I've heard about leather is that it is a by-product of meat, where as fur is killed just for the fur and the rest is tossed out. So if you're eating meat you may as well eat leather.

Of course I've also heard that leather cattle and meat cattle are not one and the same, so who the hell knows.

I avoid leather myself.

I've never understood non-vegs who get worked up about certain animals getting killed for food, though. When veggie baiting, some omnivores like to say things like "In China, they eat DOGS!" thinking I will be even more shocked than they are about it and react accordingly. Then they wax on "Isn't that awful?" for a million years or so. Where as I nod politely and murmur "Yes, awful" all the while thinking the same thing Amy is, "Yeah... but you eat cows and chickens and pigs..."

I respect your right to be eating cows and chickens and pigs, but don't then make a big show about being shocked by dog eating..

It should just be illegal to eat a pet that you don't own. I wouldn't eat my cat, but I'm squeamish and recognize that this isn't a good quality.

This dude was obviously being cruel to an alive animal, and that should have been enough. If he had kept the cat in the cab of the car, and not pre-marinated it ALIVE I agree, it's no one's business. Though I'm not sure I want people slaughtering animals in a backyard right next to mine. I'm sure that would smell... not nice.

However, if we should ever suffer some apocalyptic event where I have no food? I will totally eat my cat.

"Yeah, that's gotta be the only reason. "
Actually in English law it is permitted only if the death was from natural causes. Look under necessity laws in England. My bad.

Actually human placentophaghy is practiced quite often all over the world. Not sure how this is different than cannibalism? If you don't know what this is don't look it up around lunch time unless you want a diet aide.

Inuits use sled dog instead of snowmobiles because it's cheaper and easier to replace the dog than repair the snowmobile. Sled dogs are typically not repaired.

"However, if we should ever suffer some apocalyptic event where I have no food? I will totally eat my cat."

You'd be dead from dehydration long before starvation necessitated eating your cat. You can live 30 days without food but only 7 without water. Also rats proliferate like plague in a catastrophe so a cat might just save your life by feeding you, dogs too (well some of them). We suck as natural predators, few of us own fire arms and even fewer know how to reload or dress a kill.

"This dude was obviously being cruel to an alive animal, and that should have been enough."

Yup. Most people that would go so far as to eat their "pet" (It's called a "pet" for a reason), like this man, are usually pretty goofed in the noodle. I don't have a problem with eating animals for food, but I do have a real problem with the torturing of animals. Marinating a cat in hot peppers - aye-aye-aye. His eyes and nose must have been burning up.

I know some years ago in Oakland there were stray dogs running every where down in the industrial part. Then a certain culture started to move in - business', restaurants and residences in the surrounding neighborhood - no more stray dogs (they were on the menu in their old homeland).

But I can tell you if ANYONE so much as touched my dog, let alone ate her, I would be more close to homicidal than I'd care to admit. I think that may be why the law exists to begin with. Dogs and cats get out all the time, whose to say your friendly neighbor from Vietnam wasn't killing their own pet and where is the evidence if it's been eaten?

I don't like laws. All for eating animals but I can live with certain animals being protected from being raised, killed, and eaten - cats, dogs, horses, etc.

There have to be some cultural mores that are black and white. Those rules may be different from group to group. Some cultures don't hold their pets in the same regard that we do. Example - they don't dress their dogs up in cute pink outfits and carry them around in their Birkins. Since we do, I think it's only right that we protect them from becoming dinner.

In her book "Animals in Translation", Temple Grandin talks about how our dogs have evolved with us, in stride with the evolution of man. Human brains, as well as canine brains, became smaller when they paired up. The hypothesis is that things got a bit easier for both species at that point - because we were working together. We have continued to be a team, changing many things about the species along the way.

I don't think anyone should be eating dogs for those reasons. Now cats, that's another matter entirely. But that may be another fight!

RE: meat cattle and leather cattle

I have five egg-laying chickens. I've been told that the "layers" have really awful tasting meat. They raise a different type of chicken all together for meat eating. I wouldn't have a problem eating one of my chickens if push came to shove.

My understanding is that its the same with dairy cows vs meat cows. I haven't heard of the leather cow though.

Also, this reminds me of my friend in Nevada , they had farm animals and then dogs as pets. They always had a couple of cows and sheep. Every year they'd raise them until adulthood (they kept their property well maintained by the grazing) and then they'd send them to the butcher to be processed.

They taught the kids early on that these weren't pets but were for eating - and each one they named something like "Hot Dog, Hamburger, Kielbasa, Mutton, Salt, Pepper..." to help the kids understand that.

Cows and sheep make awful pets. Mom had a cow growing up (Humphery) that she and he sisters couldn't wait to eat. And the only good encounter I've ever had with a sheep involves a side of potatoes. Sheep are MEAN!

"Sheep are MEAN!"

Oh boy are they! My friend in Nevada - we were about 8 or 9 and bent over picking flowers in the pasture. One of them ran over and head-butted my friends rear end. Sent her flying head first into the dirt. She didn't have a problem eating him either!

@Vlad: "Actually in English law it is permitted only if the death was from natural causes. Look under necessity laws in England."

I'm sure you're right. I tried doing a little basic research regarding legality and all that, but it was a little too queasy a subject for long-term pursuit (besides, I've go work to do!). Regarding the other thing you brought up, I guess if it's okay in shampoo, it ought to be okay in the stew.

Regarding sheep and cows as pets -- both my parents grew up as South Dakota farm kids, and my mom remembers distinctly the 4-H kids who'd spent all year raising their steer, rams, whatever, and crying their eyes out after their animals were sold off at the county fair. And my dad says they had a perfectly tame pig on their farm years ago. They named him Elmer. Beloved though he was, he still wound up as pork chops and bacon.

Layers dont taste awful - they dont taste as good and they dont get as large but the are edible

Layers dont taste awful -
- - - - - - - - - - - -
... for a minute I thought it said "Lawyers"

Thanks Vlad!!! In re: placentophagy

Am studying Maternal/Child this semester, and grabbed my new book to see the perspective on this. Nothing!!! Am amazed, as the record stands in support pretty much across the board otherwise, all sorts of good nutrients to be found. I'm thinking it would go well in some chili.

Can't to bring this up in clinicals and note my instructor's reaction.

"By this logic why should eating humans remain illegal."

Just adding the words "by this logic" does not make what comes after it an appropriate comparison.

There are an array of reasons for the prohibition of cannibalism. It is a widespread human taboo, though cultures where it is practiced certainly did, and still do exist. However even if you leave out the cultural reasons for its prohibition, the consumption of human flesh by other humans poses numerous problems. Human meat is rather like pork, difficult to prepare, and the eater is more prone to illness. Moreover, cannibalism amongst humans poses other health risks which can include deadly brain diseases, insanity, and other problems which, not surprisingly, are endemic to populations which continue the practice.

Note: Also not a cannibal.

And frankly, I can't see the appeal of eating the animals we count as pets...prey tastes better than predators, and it is no coincidence as Jessica points out, that those animals became popular pets. It began with their practical functions.

-------------------

Nicole, did you mean "wear" leather? I can't imagine "eating" leather.

Myself, I like wearing leather. And I like seeing vegans explode. Talk about a two for one deal. :)

What's really fun is when a vegan feminist starts getting pissy about leather and starts to rant, use the words: "Annoying little wench" and for an extra bonus, light up a smoke and have a container of fried chicken in hand. If we could harness that rage as an energy source we could power New York for a month. *lol*

I suppose it would come as no surprise that I'm a huge fan of Denis Leary.

"You'd be dead from dehydration long before starvation necessitated eating your cat. You can live 30 days without food but only 7 without water"

I'm actually aware of that, and that really misses the point of my comment. The apocalypse was not the point, I was engaging in a bit of hyperbole. The point was: I am allowing myself to be girly and squeamish during a time of plenty, however I would quickly abandon that if the choice was eat my pet or die.

Sorry for any lack of clarity on my part in the original post.

If it came down to a starvation situation, I would eat any creature I came across, human included.

KarenW...I will rephase, this guy is so far up the crazy tree that there is someone chasing him with a big butterfly net to drag him back to his cage....I chose not to reuse your phrase "batshit crazy" because I am not a copycat...or in this situation...a marinated cat...

Now in the apocolyptic situation, I have firearms, I know how to dress a kill and I'm not squeamish about eating any animal or person in that situation. EXCEPTION: Zombie Apocolypse, I am not going to eat one of them under any circumstance...unless maybe if I cooked it thoroughly and I'd survived the war for a long time...maybe I have a natural immunity....

Yeah, and we eat bee dung, but we don't eat chimpanzee shit? What's up with that?

Speaking of laws against eating humans and survival... has anyone ever read this hypothetical case (4300 A.D.) from the Harvard Law Review?

THE CASE OF THE SPELUNCEAN EXPLORERS

http://www.nullapoena.de/stud/explorers.html

Real mind bender. :D

It's bee vomit BOTU. They regurgitate the stuff, not poop it.

Try Number 2 -argh

Anyways... I have not yet had the chance to eat dog here in Korea. Been here quite a few years. Just never came up. Probably will try before I go. Now most Koreans do not eat dog. It is a specialty food now a days. It is not like you can find it in every second restaurant. Actually you have to go looking for most of the dog meat restaurants in a back street. The people who eat dog are men and it is usually in the Summer time. Apparently it goes ice cream, cold beer and .... DOG for the summer time heat. It is said to help with libido and stamina for men. Jeeze guys try the little blue pill I here it works better. My problem is not the eating of the meat it is how it is butchered. Dogs here a generally beaten to death or electrocuted! Apparently adrenalin adds that zest to meat. I hope the Korean government and I think they are is trying to set a standard for processing. Yet many of the old school still feel beaten meat is better then humanly killed!

Also it is noted that a few people have been charged for eating neighbors dogs (here in Korea) It is considered theft. I think the last one I remember was some guy eating a neighbors poodle. Now most dogs eaten are of the large variety. I think the guy was either nuts or just damn angry at the dog barking at all hours of the day! Try doing that to your neighbors poodle next time it humps your leg.

Now on to short ear rabbit whoops I mean CAT (Check your German history). Koreans do not like cats overall. They love dogs as pets (and food) but cats get a bad name here. Changing a little with the present generation. Any whoo... They do not really eat cat here. But you will get some of the older generation who will throw a live cat into a kettle and boil it alive to make some sort of drink. They use the kitty concoction as a remedy for Arthritis. Really love the logic. Me I am old an bent over and I move slowly. Hmm cats are graceful and agile. Why not drink some cat juice! I lost a cat here in Korea. I sure hope my cat was hit by a car and not snatched up by some Adjumma (Korean grandmother) and made in to some stupid Oriental Medicine powerade.

Now I can understand eating Kitty or Doggy for food and to live. Sometimes growing a cat/dog is easier than a cow. But give these stupid cultural / Oriental-Asian-Chinese medicine route to me is a complete crock. Ya I am culturalist The next time I see some hippy dippy veggy Birkenstock wearing hippy whose says "Oriental Medicine is so ...." I really want to beat them with drumstick saying sorry buddy it s not all herbs and spices. It's bloody animals too - bears, tigers, cats, dogs, monkeys, snakes (Oh my). You want to know why Rhino's are disappearing it because the Chinese thinks it gives them a stiffy. You do not eat meat but that Chinese herb is soooo good and healthy because it was good for some Asian guys for a couple thousands of year. Wouldn't that same logic go for meat, please try more monkey and tiger in your diet. Nitwits

Now I have to see if I can find a humane Bosing-tong restaurant.

Yes, I meant I avoid wearing leather... though I don't eat it either!

I agree with Dragon, I would totally eat whatever was handy... pets, rats, fellow advice goddess commenters.. when you're desperate, you're desperate and normal rules don't apply.

Speaking of odd things to consume. Aside from bee vomit ofcourse. There is a villiage in Italy which feed cheese to maggots and eats the maggot waste.

And ofcourse there is the world wide distribution and consumptption of distilled, mud filtered, bacterial waste - alcohol

A very good article and excellent blog. Is there any way I can subscribe to new articles, you know like getting them on email or something like that.

Cats and dogs, being domesticated, seem to have the ability to develop a relationship w/ humans unlike, say, a chicken. Now, maybe in some extraordinary cases a farm animal behaves more domestic. Like those pot belly pigs who cuddle on the couch with their owners. I'd find it hard to look at something as food when I might be able to have a potential relationship with it.

Oppositely, I've never known of a cow who likes to cuddle and follow someone around the house just because s/he shows curiosity and likes company.

Last night my pup crawled up into the big bed. She kept waking up and pawing my hand and wouldn't stop until I rested my hand on her little body. At one point I was too tired to move so she repositioned herself so her head was on my arm. Chickens don't do that. Cows don't do that. Maybe I've somehow conditioned her or caused her to be too attached to me - but the point is she has the capacity to get that way in the first place.

But it's definitely just because she love her mummy :-)

In an apocalyptic situation both cats and dogs serve a purpose in keeping you alive. I'd use my dog the same way I do now, fuzzy motion sensor. They are easier to feed when all is gone than trying to find a 9 volt for the electrical unit. Cats keep rats at bay while I'm out foraging, as they have done for generations back to before recorded history. Both have evolved to help humans hence the term companion animals.

I'd never touch human, just don't trust it. However eating rat that's eaten human is generally much safer. Their immune sysytem will usually kill anything they eat and cooking thoroughly get the rest. Plus rats are easier to kill than large game and are always plentiful in a disaster.

The disease that come with cannibalism are the same that come with eating any raw meat. So while unsavory it is quite safe if cooked properly, as stated above very much like pork.

...they found a live cat in his trunk, covered in cooking oil, peppers, and salt. Korkuc told authorities that his pet feline was "possessive, greedy, and wasteful" and that he intended to cook and eat it.

Authorities won't have any trouble prosecuting Korkuc, the Western New Yorker who was marinating his cat in the trunk.

Marinating?

Who marinates live meat?