Eating Fido for Supper?

After reading the article, Are Rabbits Pets or Meat?, for a class discussion, I have been thinking about my own experiences with the fine line between meat and pets.

South Korea has a negative reputation for eating dogs. One of the main comments / questions I receive when people find out I've lived in South Korea is "don't they eat dogs in South Korea?!".

I will start off by saying that eating dog in South Korea is not as common as Americans think. It is not like people commonly ask each other if they feel like going out for dog. Personally, I have never tried dog meat even though my father has tried it once with his Korean co-workers.

Koreans have a long history of eating dog which dates back to as early as 4th century AD. However, even that early date, they have different words for a pet dog, "견; 犬", and dog meat, "구; 狗,". 

Hwangu dog breed

Currently, Koreans consume about 2.5 millions dogs each year. The primary breed used for meat consumption are the Nureongi or the Hwangu, which differ from breeds that are raised as pets. Dog meat is thought to ensure good health and vitality.Dog meat is typically consumed during the summer and is either roasted or put into stews. 700 bowls of dog stew are served each day in South Korea.

Dog stew 

Despite the long history of dog meat, young Koreans are protesting the use of dogs for meat. With Seoul being a metropolitan city and more people owning dogs as pets, many Koreans are protesting dog meat restaurants and farms. Western animal activists are also getting involved -- some even flying out dogs from these dog meat farms to California for adoption.

Protests against dog meat

This is causing dog restaurants to slowly close their doors. At one time Seoul had 1,500 dog meat restaurants but now that number is around 700. The generations are in a battle -- The older generation wanting to preserve this traditional and beloved Korean cuisine while the younger generation stands for animal rights.

Dog meat

Similar to the rabbit meat, the line between pet and meat for dogs in Korea is tight. Especially in Bozeman, where dogs rule the town, it is hard to picture a world where dogs are not necessarily man's best friend.

This is a tough one for me as one who loves my dog (who is from Korea) but also respects cultural traditions.

My Korean dog

Therefore, I ask you:

What Do You Think: Should Koreans be able to kill dogs for their traditional cuisine or should dogs be only considered pets and not eaten?