Push to constitutionally ban dog meat

The mere act of consuming dog meat, irrespective of how it landed on your plate, could soon land you in jail - if a group of local animal rights advocates get its way.

As things stand, it is not against the law to kill and eat a dog in Namibia, provided that you own it, but it is expected that the animal is killed in a ‘humane’ way.

But activists, in a budding online petition, are calling for the total ban on dog meat – calling the animal a ‘sentient being’.

Simply put, this means they have feelings and emotions.

Dog meat is considered a delicacy among some tribes in Namibia, and calls by animal rights organisations to end the practice have previously been ignored. Even in recent weeks after a debacle involving Rehoboth dog Dalton, which was stolen and slaughtered recently, there has been pushback by dog eaters who argue that while they do not condone stealing other people’s dogs, meat acquired legally will remain on their menu.

Constitutional ban

Now, a group of dog lovers has called for a constitutional ban on the slaughtering of dogs and the consumption of dog meat, as well as for dogs’ rights to be included in the bill of rights of the Namibian Constitution, under which fundamental human rights and freedoms are enshrined.

The petitioners urged the Namibian government, lawmakers and law enforcement agencies to take immediate action to protect animal rights, condemn dog slaughter and enforce stricter measures against animal cruelty.

In an online petition that has collected 4 000 signatures following the alleged theft and slaughter of Dalton, Advocate Ronel Lewies asserted that their opposition to dog slaughter is not a matter of cultural beliefs, but rather a question of ethics and morality that transcends culture and tribe.

They also stressed that dogs are sentient beings that are valued as pets, friends and cherished family members, and should be regarded as sui generis type of property.

Dogs deserve legal recognition and protection based on their inherent rights, they said.

Sui generis generally means something that is unique and anything sui generis is its own thing, meaning there is nothing else like it.

Meaning of life

“We call for the declaration that animals, including dogs, deserve legal protection and rights based on their unique status as sentient beings. Specifically, we urge the extension of the meaning of ‘life’ as envisaged in Article 6 of the Namibian Constitution to include animals.

“However, we propose that the right to life for animals should be limited to ensuring their welfare and well-being in their treatment by humans,” the petition read.

Article 6 - which governs the protection of life - states that the right to life shall be respected and protected and that no law may prescribe death as a competent sentence.

It also says that no court or tribunal shall have the power to impose a sentence of death upon any person and that no executions may take place in Namibia.

About Dalton

Dalton was an eight-year old Weimeraner from Rehoboth that was allegedly stolen from its home and sold to individuals who sell meat at the town.

Following the disappearance of their dog, the family launched a search party which led them to a gruesome scene where they found that Dalton was killed, cut into pieces and braaied.

“Dalton's tragic story serves as a poignant reminder of the countless dogs who suffer similar fates in Namibia. By raising awareness through his story, we aim to inspire compassion and ignite conversations about the ethical treatment of animals,” the group said.

“We believe that every dog's life is valuable and that it is our collective responsibility to protect them from cruelty.”

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