It's my friend's contention that cats and dogs are eaten in relatively
few countries, by relatively few people. I believe cats and dogs are
eaten by a
majority of the world's people. So this question is multi-part:

* How many of the world's people (or what percentage) eat cat?
* How many of the world's people (or what percentage) eat dog?
* In what countries (or general geographic areas) are these cuisines
acceptable?

Thanks!

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Request for Question Clarification by websearcher-ga on 23 Oct 2002 19:58 PDT

Hi porkribs-ga:

It is likely impossible to tell how many people in any one dog- or
cat-eating country actually eat these animals. I could find for you a
list of countries where these animals are eaten and then determine how
much of the world's population these countries contain *as a whole*.
Would this be a satisfcatory answer to your question?

Thanks. 

websearcher-ga

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Clarification of Question by porkribs-ga on 23 Oct 2002 21:07 PDT

Hi, websearcher. Thanks for your question. I'd like to see at least
some kind of estimate as to how many people in these countries eat
cats and dogs -- my guess is (with no proof, obviously) that this
answer has been estimated somewhere. If that does turn out, after a
week or so, to be unanswerable, I'll go with your revision... but I'd
like to see at least an attempt at the question as asked.

Thanks again,

porkribs

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Request for Question Clarification by fons-ga on 23 Oct 2002 23:05 PDT

Hi porkribs,

I agree with websearcher here.
I'm living in Shanghai and eat dog every now and then. Sometimes I eat
things I'm not too sure what it actually is, although I try to avoid
intestines. How often should I eat it, once a month, to call into your
category.
Very hard to estimate in this way.

Regards,

Fons

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Request for Question Clarification by websearcher-ga on 24 Oct 2002 09:15 PDT

Hi porkribs (and everyone else):

Thanks for the clarification. I'll wait and let someone else try to
find the more specific data you want. If that doesn't happen, let me
know when you're tired of waiting. :-)

Thanks. 

websearcher

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Clarification of Question by porkribs-ga on 24 Oct 2002 11:02 PDT

I will indeed let you know. Thanks again.

Unfortunately I would have to agree with websearcher on this one.
Having been former military, and spending time in Korea ( where it is
OK to consume dogs ), I can testify to the complexity of your
question.

This issue of 'pet eating' is a big issue in countries like Korea.
Many people detest it, yet many argue that a chicken makes a great pet
- and dog tastes like any other food. Cultural acceptance is the
factor.

If you can narrow down your question to one aspect in particular (
maybe which countries ), we just might be able to pull something
together.

Good Luck -

SgtCory

Who knows what they are eating in restaurants?

While it's not commonly accepted to do so, up until a couple of weeks
ago it was legal in Victoria, Australia to kill one's own cats and
dogs 'for personal consumption'. There was such an uproar about the
fact that it was still legal - but as a vegan, the only difference I
can see between eating cats and eating cows is that the cats are
likely to be treated better. Good luck with your search!

Just come from Dog eating part of Indonesia where it maybe helful to
your research to know that on Java the main island of 105,000,000
people it was estimated very recently that over 1000 dogs a day are
killed for restaurants, sidewalk food vendors etc. The article in
question that deals with issue in detail appeared in the JAKARTA POST
only two weeks back. If you log onto their site, www.jakartapost.com
you should be able to track it. If not email them and author can be
contacted and dealt with direct by you as this newspaper is very good
in that way I have found. It is also possibly the one true independant
newspaper in SE Asia not afraid to say what they like.

  John From Melbourne

In Haiti cats are considered a delicacy and are commonly served at
parties. Definitely pushed me towards vegetarianism but I agree with
the poster who said it is cultural, as is the eating of horsemeat for
example.