We don't serve dog meathttp://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150710/news/chinese-restaurants-we-dont-serve-dog-meatChinese restaurant employees are slamming Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan for what they call his “uneducated” and “irresponsible” statements regarding Chinese food.Khan, who was weighing in on video footage of Chinese men skinning a dog, which went viral on social media last week, was reported as suggesting there was a link between a decrease in stray dogs on the streets and an increase in Chinese restaurants all over the country.
“We normally have stray dogs and one wonders if the Chinese restaurants, those which have sprung up all over the place, have been serving dog meat and something else,” Khan told Newsday.
He further said Chinese seasonings could change the taste and texture of the dog meat.
“When you mix food with MSG—vetsin, that is—it softens the meat. The taste will change as well as the meat consistency, and it will look like beef, pork or something.”
Worried about impact
However, employees at several Chinese restaurants in Port of Spain yesterday described the comments as “ignorant, uneducated and irresponsible”.
Manco Qui, an employee at the popular Me Asia Chinese Restaurant on Ariapita Avenue, said he was disgusted by the insinuation and worried about the impact it would have on Chinese food businesses.
Qui said despite the belief that eating dogs is a part of Chinese culture, it was a misconception that all Chinese people eat dogs.
“We don't serve dogs,” he said. “It is a false belief that all Chinese people eat dogs. Killing dogs is cruel and we believe anybody who kills a dog should be punished.”
Qui said he saw the video and wanted to point out that the men in the video were Chinese construction workers and not restaurant workers, and were most likely preparing the dog for their own consumption. He was adamant Chinese restaurants would not serve dog meat to the public.
Asked if sales had been affected since the video began circulating, Qui said not at all.
At another popular restaurant on Maraval Road, a female employee who asked not to be named said Khan's comments were “uneducated”.
She added that despite the video now being circulated, it was not a recent video. “I had that video on my phone months ago,” she said.
While she too expressed concern about the impact Khan's comments would have, she said it was business as usual at the restaurant.
“Nobody has complained to us. People come in and make jokes about it, but sales have not been affected.”
The Express checked with several other Chinese restaurants in the capital city yesterday, where it was also business as usual.
Customers could be seen enjoying their meals.
Mosos Nnaji, who purchased a midday meal of rice, chow mein and chicken at a restaurant on lower Henry Street, said he would continue to buy Chinese food because it is affordable and tasty.
“I don't believe what they say about the dogs,” he said.
Another customer said he didn't care either way. “If it's dog, it tasting good,” he said, as he placed his order.
Efforts to contact Khan yesterday were unsuccessful.
TTSPCA: Respect
Trinidad culture
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA) Sita Kuruvilla yesterday said Chinese nationals in Trinidad must have respect for Trinidad culture.
Speaking with the Express via telephone, Kuruvilla said while eating dogs may be a cultural norm for the Chinese, it is unacceptable here, as dogs are considered companions.
“Culturally in Trinidad, people don't eat dogs. We view them as companions. In Trinidad, it's not acceptable in our culture. You don't go to somebody else's country and do something that flies in the face of the culture of that country. If people come into Trinidad, ideally they should try to abide by the cultural norms.”
She said while there weren't any laws to prevent the eating of dogs in this country, there is a Summary Offences Act dealing with cruelty to animals which may apply in these cases.
“We don't know the conditions under which these dogs were caught or killed, so that may actually constitute cruelty to animals,” she said.
Kuruvilla said the TTSPCA was appalled at the contents of the video and is currently trying to verify where the incident took place.
No decrease in stray dogs
She also took issue with Khan's comments, calling them “uninformed”. She said while there may have been an increase in Chinese restaurants, there has been no substantial decrease in stray dogs in Trinidad.
“People keep telling us that they have been seeing a decline in the stray dog population. We recognise that on the main highways you don't see as many dogs, but from our work we know that in communities and recreational areas, there are lots of stray dogs. The regional corporations continue to pick up stray dogs. They pick up somewhere in the region of 4,000 stray dogs a year,” she said.
Another 4,000 dogs are relinquished to the TTSPCA each year, she said, in addition to those brought into other animal welfare organisations.
“There is no shortage of stray dogs in the country at this time and those statements were not based on any facts at all,” she said.