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I have been an animal rights advocate for some time now. I feed a lot of stray dogs and cats. Sometimes even cows. Recently one of the pups I lovingly raised disappeared. It was really heartbreaking. Many a times I've had to bury dead pups and dogs myself. https://twitter.com/bainjal/status/1279100983885262849
As a community that was into agriculture and animal rearing, we raised and bred cattle too. My mother still reminisced how she misses her cattle that they had to sell since there was little to no money.
I have known about this tradition of dog meat consumption for a very long time. Since it got trending recently, I dug deep into the issue and kept reading about it.
It's not as black and white as many vegan food advocates or Vegetarian Indians would make you believe. Food and ethical treatment of animals are in a very complex relationship. At least in Asian societies.
For context, read this article. https://scroll.in/article/849123/barking-up-the-wrong-tree-why-the-debate-on-eating-dog-meat-in-india-and-globally-is-hypocritical
I understand the frustration and concern for many dog lovers in this case. But it's important to understand a couple of things.
1. Traditionally, Naga people raised dogs and ate them after a brief period.Their relationship with them is diff. Can't define it from our worldview
1. Traditionally, Naga people raised dogs and ate them after a brief period.Their relationship with them is diff. Can't define it from our worldview
2. We shouldn't demonise people/communities for their food choices.Long before we all came together, that's literally what they ate and lived with.
Now, coming to this repugnant behavior of vegetarians calling for ban on any kind of meat must understand that historically they never were involved on rearing them and seldom were involved in any kind of relevant labour involving animals.
So before going gung-ho over meat ban of any kind, we must understand what ramifications they might have on the choices and traditions of tribal communities involved here.
However, it's important to recognise the illegal and unethical practises involved in smuggling dogs to these meat markets as a contentious issue that needed a closer examination and thereby some regulation.
I'd love dogs not to go under the butcher's knife. But of someone grew up eating them, we must rethink how we must conduct our animal rights activism. There is a middle ground which we might have to find.
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