Dog meat

Dog meat is meat derived from dogs. In some cultures, it is known as fragrant meat or simply fragrant. People around the world have eaten dog meat throughout history. Today, consumption occurs to a limited extent in various nations. These include Cambodia, China, South Korea, Laos, and Indonesia. It is also eaten in parts of Northeastern India, Ghana, Nigeria, and Switzerland. The legality of eating dog meat varies by country. Some nations allow it, while others have nationwide bans. In 2014, it was estimated that humans ate 25 million dogs each year globally.

Cultural views on dog meat are deeply divided. Some groups see it as part of traditional, ritualistic, or daily cuisine. Other cultures view the practice as a taboo. A taboo is a social rule that forbids certain actions. These opinions can change drastically even within a single country. For example, in North America, views among indigenous tribes varied widely. The Sioux and Cheyenne people consumed dog meat. However, other tribes like the Comanche treated it as a forbidden food. The Kickapoo people include puppy meat in many of their traditional festivals.

In the Philippines, dog meat is connected to specific spiritual rituals. Among the Cordillerans in the highlands, a ritual called dao-es or daw-es is practiced. This cleansing ritual occurs after unexpected deaths, severe illness, or witnessing death. Cordillerans believe dogs possess one of the purest souls among animals. They believe these souls are comparable to human souls. A shaman, known as a mambunong, sends the dog's soul to the spirit world. This act is believed to cleanse the minds of participants from evil spirits. These specific rituals are legally permitted but must be overseen by the Committee on Animal Welfare.

History shows how different breeds were tied to these practices. In the Aztec Empire, Mexican hairless dogs called Xoloitzcuintles were bred for many purposes. Hernán Cortés claimed he saw small, gelded dogs sold in Tenochtitlan markets in 1519. While no other source confirms this, these dogs appear in pre-Columbian Mexican pottery. The breed nearly went extinct in the 1940s. However, Norman Wright helped develop a thriving breed from dogs found in remote villages. In Hawaii, a unique breed called the Hawaiian Poi Dog once existed. This dog was primarily used for food. This breed is now extinct.

In Oceania, the role of dogs changed as people moved between islands. Austronesian migrations brought dogs to Melanesia and Polynesia. As dogs became competitors for limited food resources, they were eaten. This led to the extinction of the original Lapita Culture dogs on many islands. Later, dogs were reintroduced from other populations. This caused a major change in the genes of Pacific Island dogs. In Tahiti, James Cook recorded in 1769 that South Sea dogs were viewed similarly to English lamb. In Hawaii, some people considered dog meat to be of higher quality than pork or chicken.

Dog meat has also been used as a survival food during extreme crises. During sieges or famines, people often turn to alternative food sources. In Germany, dog meat was eaten during every major crisis since the time of Frederick the Great. It was sometimes called "blockade mutton." During the Siege of Paris in 1870, food shortages forced citizens to use alternative meats. In the 19th-century United States, mountainmen and the U.S. Army sometimes ate dogs during meat shortages. Explorers also used dog meat to survive. Roald Amundsen's party planned to eat their sled dogs during their South Pole expedition. This allowed them to carry less weight and helped them win their race.

Modern laws and religious rules shape how dog meat is treated today. In the United States, the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act was signed in 2018. This law bans the slaughter of dogs and cats for food. However, there is an exception for Native American rituals. Religious dietary laws also play a major role. Under Jewish kashrut, eating dog meat is forbidden because dogs do not chew their cud and have cloven hooves. In Islamic law, eating dog meat is considered haram, which means prohibited. The Maliki school of Islam considers it makruh, meaning it is disliked but not strictly prohibited.