If you're a world traveller and have visited asia then you have likely seen, smelled or possibly tasted dog meat.  In China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Phillipines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar dog meat is a somewhat popular dish and can be found served in soups and stews, roasted and even pan-fried with noodles.  From a cultural standpoint, in many parts of asia a dog is simply regarded as another type of animal that can be used as a food source.  In the west where we adore our canine companions the whole concept of butchering and eating dogs seems barbaric and backwards.

The question is: if you were visiting an asian country and were offered a dish containing dog meat, would you eat it?  Is it any different than eating a stew and contained diced pork from a pig?  The answer to this question is a part of the great vegetarian debate: if you won't eat the flesh of a dog then why eat the flesh of a pig, or a cow, or any animal? 

It's an interesting question and when put in different terms it can really make you think.  After all, would you turn away roasted lamb if you visited New Zealand?  Can you visit the state of Maine and not try some Atlantic lobster?  Would you send back a Black Angus steak in a Texas steakhouse?  Could you resist ordering the swordfish at a beachfront Caribbean restaurant?

Hit the jump for some debate on the topic.  Warning: there is a very graphic photo when you hit the jump of a woman carving a roasted dog.  Do not click the link if you find this type of imagery disturbing.

» TREK EARTH