Man escapes charges for barbecuing pet dog

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:42 am

(CNN) -- A man who roasted his pet dog to enjoy as a meal with his family and friends escaped prosecution after authorities in New Zealand determined the animal was killed humanely.

"We were in a dilemma at seeing something we were fairly upset about -- but being in a position of being able to do absolutely nothing about it," said Garth Halliday, of the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, on Monday.

The SPCA -- which investigates acts of animal cruelty and presses charges -- responded to the house in Mangere, south of Auckland.

There, officers found the charred body of a Staffordshire terrier cooking in a barbecue pit.

"They had had the dog for a while, but the man told us his wife was getting tired of the dog. He was becoming a pest," Halliday said.

"They decided to get rid of him. But instead of bringing him to the SPCA -- which we recommend -- they decided to have a meal, and cook and eat him."

The family is from Tonga where eating a dog is not uncommon, Halliday said.

"He didn't think he was doing anything wrong," he said. Is eating dog meat acceptable? Sound Off below

The incident occurred in February. For the next few months, the SPCA looked into whether the man ought to be charged for the killing. Over the weekend, the organization decided it couldn't because the animal had been killed humanely.

The man, Halliday said, struck the dog in the head with a hammer, rendering it unconscious. He then slit its throat.

"That is the normal way -- if one can use that word -- that animals are killed all over the world," Halliday said.

And under New Zealand's Animal Welfare Act, it is legal to kill an animal if it is slaughtered swiftly and painlessly.

Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, a Tongan cultural expert from the University of Canterbury, told CNN affiliate TVNZ that dog meat is a delicacy enjoyed mostly by young men in his homeland.

Still, the case infuriated and repulsed many New Zealanders.

"It's appalling," said Gracie Williams of Auckland. "As an animal lover, I am sickened. The law needs to be changed."

Auckland Mayor John Banks, an animal rights activist, told reporters that rather than a new law, what is needed is better education of local customs.

In the end, the SPCA closed the case without charges.

"We talked to the people. We told them that although it's not against the law, it is against the general culture of the country to actually kill and eat your own pet dog," Halliday said.

Above: BBQ Pit where dog was roasted.

I guess we're supposed to be tolerant of other cultures and surely the way we slaughter animals in the western world is nothing to be proud of, but I have trouble understanding how you just decide to eat your (apparently not so) beloved pet one day.

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:48 am

What else can you do with a dead dog?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:49 am

Give it a proper burial? Find him a good home instead of killing him? Sounds good to me.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:55 am

That's not very nice.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:58 am

Sick Bastard.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:23 am

When the kids said that they wanted hot dogs for dinner.......

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:41 am

I know somebody who adores her two shih-tzus, yet she will go on and on about how great the veal is at her favourite restaurant, and she struts around town in an expensive fur coat, a status symbol of her successful career. :-5

"Why are some animals called "pets", and others called "dinner"?"

k.d. lang

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:39 am

Richard Bell;1231744 wrote: I know somebody who adores her two shih-tzus, yet she will go on and on about how great the veal is at her favourite restaurant, and she struts around town in an expensive fur coat, a status symbol of her successful career. :-5

"Why are some animals called "pets", and others called "dinner"?"

k.d. lang Double standards.

cigar898 · Post by **cigar898** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:48 pm

Korea it's allowed. Why do we judge others for what to them is a 'norm' but not to us? I'm sure 'we' eat things or do things that to others seem weird or strange........

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:13 pm

cigar898;1231883 wrote: Korea it's allowed. Why do we judge others for what to them is a 'norm' but not to us? I'm sure 'we' eat things or do things that to others seem weird or strange........

so its okay to eat your own pet?

not with me its not.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:34 am

cigar898;1231883 wrote: Korea it's allowed. Why do we judge others for what to them is a 'norm' but not to us? I'm sure 'we' eat things or do things that to others seem weird or strange........

YA like tofu.. I mean what the feck is that???