(TH) Man's Best Friend for Dinner

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Man's Best Friend for Dinner

12/12/2006

 

THAILAND (Reuters) - As the cold season approaches, many people in Thailand are

turning towards their furry friends for warmth.

 

But not for fur coats or mink shawls...

 

Here people are enjoying more winter time with their pets ... but with the aid

of a knife and fork.

 

Dog meat has always been popular in the northern city of Chiang Mai, but as

temperatures drop, an increasing number of roadside food stalls are cooking up

canine dishes.

 

Chado is said to be sweeter than most other meats and costs less than half of

beef and its popularity is largely due to the belief that it's good for stamina

and virility.

 

Known as " chado " , the meat is often served grilled or fried and in the form of

soup.

 

" It is believed that if you eat dog meat it will be good for stamina and it will

warm up the body when the weather gets cooler, " said one Thai resident.

 

Dogs are sold daily by villagers to the biggest dog butcher of San Pa Tong

district, but it's not uncommon for some villagers to slaughter their pets

themselves and cook them at home.

 

The tradition, however, has sparked outrage from Thailand's dog-loving community

who say the practice of eating man's best friend is both cruel and unnecessary.

 

47-year-old dog lover, Chutimon Panpaeng says, " I disagree with it. I really

hate it, but it's their right to eat whatever they want. But in fact there are

so many things they can eat, so why do they choose to eat dog when they could

have beef, duck or chicken? "

 

But for those with the acquired taste, the choice is simple. The meat of black

dogs is most popular among diners and is believed to provide more sustenance.

 

Dog meat is eaten in a range of Asian countries including China, Korea and

Vietnam.

 

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