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We're one of the few societies in the world that can afford to designate certain animals as food, and others exclusively as pets. Just because we don't eat dogs or cats in the US doesn't mean it's wrong to do so. I often wonder that if our food/economic situation became as dire as those in several other countries, would we change our practices?

Your friend's reaction was insensitive and uncourteous, to say the least. There are plenty of things I wouldn't eat, but, if they are accepted in your heritage and by your family, your friend had no business being so angry (or rather, she could be as angry as she wanted, but she shouldn't have shown it).

I agree with Beth and pooch--in wartime or famine, companion animals have to become food. It's awful to think of but it always does happen that way.

I have dogs as pets so I am not eating them. I don't plan on having cows or chickens,as pets so I am eating those. If anyone has a pet shrimp, lobster, pig or fish; I will eat those, so don't be offended. In the words of the great DL Hughley, you don't see Americans walking chickens on a leash because you do not walk food. He saw someone in a foreign country walking a chicken on a leash. Go figure.
In the event of war or famine I will dispatch my drunken next door neighbor before I eat my dogs. She has been marinating for years. She should last a good month. She is almost veal by now. her drunken husband would be next on the cannibal culinary menu.
Your not a criminal at all, you were not told what you were eating. Is it barbaric? Not if you don't care. Me personally I think its down right distasteful and shows how poor the economy is in Korea. A real shame they have to eat pets. Glad I am in the good old USA.

Certain cultures didn't necessarily keep trinket animals until fairly recently in history.

When I was growing up, I always thought it was demeaning for people to keep pets. You call them and expect them to come; "train" them to do what you want them to do; and scold/hit them when they do something you don't care for. Oh wait, that's the way we treat kids...and not even 100 years ago, the way some people treated servants. Although I'm not condoning eating humans, I am curious.

I'd try dog, as long as it's prepared well. Hell, people eat rabbits too. *shrug*

I think it's wrong to vilify some other culture's food because it's different.

I was at a 7/11 near my university and saw someone pushing their chicken in a diaper with stroller. It was quite well behaved.

hmm. My family was not starving nor was Korea in war during this time. The economy was fine and people were not just grabbing each other's pets and cooking them up. btw, in Korea, certain breeds of dogs are raised in farms, just like our cattle here in the US. These animals are considered separate from companion dogs and are raised to be food, never pets.
Like I mentioned on the post, personally, I wouldn't eat this dish again if I knew what it was. But honestly, I don't think that the people who do eat it are distasteful nor savages because I realize that their point of view of these animals are not the same as mine or those who consider dogs to be only pets.
I guess some cultural differences can never be understood.

When I was a freshman in college I was taking an ethics class and I was warned by older students who'd had the same professor that the ethics section concerning animals was especially hard to stomach.

So, one day I walk into class and it's time to discuss ethics in respect to animals and the day begins with a horrifying video that asks the question: Is it ok to eat what we Americans consider to be "domesticated" animals?

Now, I've never watched those horrible PETA videos that show the killing floors of slaughter houses. I suppose it's a good idea to know how your meat gets to your plate, but I can't bring myself to do it. Anyhow, the ethics video showed how in China cats are eaten in posh restaurants. The cats, hundreds of them, are kept in cages, dragged out, dipped in scalding oil while still very much alive, their fur is peeled off and then their eyes are quickly sewn shut. The camera panned to a long line of these cats that now resembled creatures from outer space ... and many of them were still breathing. Despite what they'd just gone through, you could see their bellies inhaling and exhaling ever so slightly.

A Rabi was interviewed in the documentary and I clearly remember him saying something to the effect of: "If you're going to eat meat, you can't rationalize what meat is "ok" to eat- meat is meat."

I was a vegetarian for three years after watching that video. Do I think it's "ok" to eat dog? Not necessarily, but who am I to judge? I eat chickens, cows and pigs- who, by the way, have scientifically proven to be very smart animals.

PumpkinBear, that description of how the cats were slaughtered is horrifying. And the way many animals are slaughtered for meat is also horrifying. But to me, the question of whether to eat this animal or that animal is a very different one from how the animal is slaughtered for meat.

I am not fond of long protracted conversations about killing animals for food either. Very unappetizing. I think you beat this one up but good.
Stick a fork in it.
I am however interested in the chicken with the diaper. I wonder if anyone would eat him? What if he did not taste good? Post dead pet chicken remorse? Oh my!
Just a reminder we are not in Korea. We could discuss the social implications of eating anything all day long. It really will keep coming round to what you personally are willing to eat. I still think my next door neighbor would be tastier than any dog. Go figure!

I agree with the majority of opinions here. Your friend is obvious very passionate about her beliefs, but whether or not to eat dog in a country where people do so is a cultural thing. One has to get into the right mindset when it comes to eating anything different. As jenn3250 said, Americans in general have a hard time accepting anything out of the norm.

As Pavlov (the commenter above) indicated, eating an animal raised for the purpose of consumption is not the same as eating a pet. Many vegetarians would disagree, of course.

It's a little bit hypocritical of us to eat some animals and not others, but that's how it goes.

I'm reminded that out of cultural sensitivity restaurants in Beijing were banned from having dog on their menu during the Beijing Olympics.

I predict that JerzeeTomato's comment In the event of war or famine I will dispatch my drunken next door neighbor before I eat my dogs. She has been marinating for years. She should last a good month. She is almost veal by now. her drunken husband would be next on the cannibal culinary menu. will be selected for the next "Look Who's Talkin': Recent Comments We Have Known And Loved" post. In fact, I nominate it as one of the best comments ever at SE: Talk. :D
Sure, veal is baby cow but we can let that slide.

@Cassaendra: Was it a chicken or was it a very ugly baby?

@CanadianFoodieGirl: When I stood in line at the 7-11, I initially didn't pay attention to what was in the stroller in front of me at the counter because, well, I assumed it was a human kid.

I happened to look at the cashier and noticed a puzzled and shocked look on his face. I followed his gaze and saw a strapped in chicken in a diaper sitting quietly in the stroller with its head moving a little side to side (so it wasn't dead).

When she left the store, I asked the cashier if he saw what I saw. We laughed really hard. I doubt anyone else in the store noticed though. And honestly, I wouldn't believe it if someone told me this story...

@cassaendra & dianeb... did you ever consider these folks who were pushing the aforementioned fowl were doing so to restrict movement, and by doing so were in fact making them more tender? hehehe

I have a dog who is my absolute baby. I wouldn't eat her in a million years. However, given the opportunity, in a country where any animal is raised as livestock for consumption, I would probably try anythig. I like to try things before I say whether or not I like or won't eat it again. I am not sure I will ever be in a situation where I can eat dog, but if I were, I would try it just to see what the fuss is about. I agree with the commenters who wrote that it's a matter of what's different to those of us in the US; in India, we might be considered barbaric for having eaten all the cows we do, since cows there are considered sacred.
Peruvians eat guinea pigs, and I don't see many people freaking out over that.
Also, if you're going by the 'cute and cuddly' standard, as someone mentioned, what about rabbit? And... my understanding is that the dogs eaten in Korea are more dingo-like than Fido-like.

When I asked about the chicken I couldn't decide if I was serious or joking.

I am playing with my lovely dog's ears as I type. I could never eat dog. That said, we euthanize thousands of dogs and cats every day in this country. If we are already killing animals simply to solve the problem of overpopulation, it seems there would be a slight (if culturally abhorrent) benefit to eating them, too. While I find bullfighting strange, at least in Spain their meat is donated to soup kitchens.

that is awesome! although im not sure how good it was i would definitely try it