Yulin, China, the controversial dog meat festival

In the West, many people see it as an act of extreme cruelty to kill a dog to eat its flesh, which, in contrast, is seen in several Asian countries as a very nutritious food source.

In several states of the United States and in European countries like UK it is legal to eat dog meat. But why is it unthinkable for most people?

"Most people in the West have and admire dogs for being social or hunting companions and you do not eat a partner!" Dr. Dennis C. Turner, director of the Institute of Ethology Applied and animal psychology of Switzerland.

The event, which was condemned by animal protection organizations, triggered an internet campaign in which one million people signed on the Change.org page to cancel the festival.

According to Dr. Nathalia Gjersoe, a professor of behavioral psychology at the Open University of the United Kingdom, dogs are particularly good as pets because they have many psychological skills that other animals lack.

This is how a new factor comes into play: morality.

Taylor points out that eating dog meat violates the established norm and puts the person who does it at risk of becoming a social outcast who violated a moral code.

"Our taboo about the consumption of dogs says something about them and a lot of us.The French, who love their dogs, sometimes eat their horses.The Spaniards, who adore their horses, sometimes eat their cows "The Indians, who love their cows, sometimes eat their dogs," wrote Jonathan Safran Foer, author of the book "Eating Animals" in an article in The Wall Street Journal called "Let Them Eat dog ".

The author claims that eating dog meat is not in any way harmful.