Azmira was in Cambodia last October and here’s what she says:
Dear Dr Chan,
I was in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap last October. The flood at most places in Siem Reap was drying up. The flood had already gone down on the last day I was there which was on 22nd october while Phnom Penh has mostly dried up since early october. Death toll about 200+. Anyways, when I was there, it was difficult to find street cats. I did find some street dogs but not as many as in malaysia. And there are a lot of pomeranian-looking dogs. Btw I asked a local why they dont have as many street cats n dogs and he said that locals do eat cats and dogs -best served with red wine! Aiyoh!
Azmira Amran
Am glad to know that the floods have dried up in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, but as always, it is sad to know that their people eat dogs and cats (and so do some other cultures). But to the fair, our people also eat chicken, pig, cow, goat, rabbit, duck, fish, turkey, deer, etc. So, until the day when we decide we should stop eating each other, there would always be a stronger species eating the weaker ones.
To say that some animals are “meant” to be eaten while other are not does not seem to hold water (excuse the pun!) if we talk about this from a compassionate point of view. All sentient beings have feelings and fear death.
Hence, it is really up those who love animals to lead the way and do what is right.
Comments
One response to “News from Cambodia”
I agree wholeheartedly with your statement, KY — if one eats one type of animal, there's very little moral ground for saying that people shouldn't eat other species.
As someone who's spent a lot of time in Cambodia, I would also like to mention the country's crushing levels of poverty. It becomes difficult, too, to criticise the Khmer people for eating dogs or cats. Many of them are lucky if they have anything at all to eat. Lack of money gives them very little choice. When you see very small orphaned children, maybe 5 years old, looking ill and dirty, sleeping in doorways in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, it becomes clear very quickly why animal welfare is not the country's first priority. 🙁