Why are people so offended by the idea of eating horse meat?

Question

It's not like they want to eat people's pets. People eat cows, pigs, chickens and even cats and dogs. If the animal has to be euthanized because it's homeless (like millions of cats and dogs in shelters every day) why can't they be butchered and eaten? At least their lives won't have been in vain, and wasted.

Answer 1

Actually there ARE eating people pets.Horses in this country are not raised for food and our not eaten in this country.The meat is sent over to Europe and Asia.They are pets and are treated as such.They are given things like dewormer,meds and other things that say do not use in horses for food.The reason they say that is because they are full of cancer causing agents.

Horse are bought for meat by meat dealers.They are bought auctions or bought under false pretenses are the owners are not aware of what happens to their pets.These horse are not Euthanized,they are hung upside down and bled out alive.and these aren't homeless pets roaming the streets.I suggest you do some research.Try the below sites.
What's next, slaughtering dogs and cats for people in Asia?

http://www.marynash.org
http://www.savethehorses.com
http://www.hoofpac.com
http://www.justsaywhoa.org/
or do a search for horse slaughter
http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/equine_protection/get_the_facts_on_horse_slaughter.html

Answer 2

Because we're so spoiled it's pathetic here. We have so many food choices and the perception of animals changed. In the '70s - not that long ago - horse meat could be bought over the counter. Beef prices were high and horse was a leaner, cheaper alternative - the topic even made a segment of "All In The Family". If the animal is euthanized it can't be eaten because it's full of TOXIC CHEMICALS. There is still on some USDA sites nutritional information about the nutrient value of horse.

Answer 3

Horses where not put here to be eaten. Horses have a purpose other than being eaten. The same reason dogs are not eaten because they where put here to work. Do you think you could train a pig to pull a buggy or to pull a plow. You cant do anything else with a cow except eat it or pig or whatever it is. Horses are easy to train and you can train them to do just about anything. Horses can be good company. Horses can also pick up on ur emotions not like a pig or cow.

Answer 4

It's a cultural and tradition thing. I know that in some asian countries, horse meat is considered a delicacy. We don't eat horse meat in the Western world for the same reason we don't eat cats and dogs. Horses, cats and dogs have never been perceived as a source of food for human beings, at least in this end of the world. I personally could never eat a cat, dog or horse because for some reason, it would be like eating another human being. I guess we've all built a relationship with these animals that we haven't with other animals.

Answer 5

I suppose it's because a horse is considered a pet and pigs, chickens, and cows aren't. I'm not saying no one has a pet cow or chicken or pig because my mom had pet sheep and pet chickens when she was little and she was heartbroken when she found out her dad had cooked her pet for dinner and she had eaten it. I however quite disagree with eating cats, dogs and horses probably because I have had pet cats and dogs and I really want to get a horse. I guess it's just some people's nature.

Answer 6

Until I took a animal rights and welfare class I thought it was wrong too. After hearing a presentation about all the unwanted horses in the United States I changed my mind. Like many people have said, people get attached to horses. It's about culture and traditon and typically in our society horses are more of a pet or hobby, not meant to make money for the most part (other than breeders selling elite horses.) I think that if you raised horses knowing they would be harvested, they would have a different idea of how you felt about the horse.

Answer 7

I always thought eating horse sounded pretty disgusting. But I guess you have a point. We eat pig, chicken, and pretty much any other animal. But then again I wouldnt eat dog either. To me there are some animals that for some reason just seem to carry with them some wisdom. Like they're not as ignorant as some other animals like chickens. We dont eat humans, and I swear some people are more dumb than my two horses I use to own.

Answer 8

Because generally when an animal is euthanized there is a deadly chemical in it that would be unsafe for people to eat. Also, it's not what people are used to. Most people do not like change. I think that what most of us are up against is not that people eat horses, but that many of the horses exported from the U.S. as meat were mistreated prior to their delivery to the slaughterhouse.

Answer 9

It is just something done here in America... where we look on cows and goats ,sheep,pigs as a food source,,, the horse is considered to be the working mans friend,, like the dog...

I know,, overseas they eat horse meat,, thats because they cant run down to the local grocery and buy beef,,

Sorry,, I have eaten it,, its not bad....

Answer 10

b/c we love horses. i have 4 and i would never ever think about eating horse meat. why would i eat such a loveable companion? i feel the same about dogs and cats. i luv all animals, no offense 2 pigs, cows, and chickens, but no 1 really cares much about them. only animals that can b pets.