NOT for guinea pig lovers...

[moosmom]

I overheard a woman at work talking about her trip to Peru. She said that the delicacy in Peru is guinea pigs!!! :eek: She also said that Peruvian people have a whole lot of them running around their homes, not as pets, and they don't name them either.

EEEWWWWWWWWW!!!! I can't even IMAGINE plucking one up from the living room floor saying, "Okay, here's dinner".

[Miss Z]

Sad fact. What many keep as pets is a delicacy to others. In a way, I suppose it's no different to chickens or sheep, some people keep them as pets and others farm them. But I couldn't imagine keeping guinea pigs to eat either:( When I go to other countries and see delicacies like that, I often think 'thank God I'm vegetarian!'

BTW, if you type 'guinea pig' into Google Image Search, one of the first images you get is a picture of roast guinea pig:( :eek:

[Kfamr]

Some people eat cats, some people eat dogs, some people eat chickens. Some people think it's a sin to eat beef! Different strokes for different folks. I can safely say I could never bring myself to eat what we see as domesticated pets here in the US.

[cyber-sibes]

What I want to know is...do they taste like chicken? (sorry, bad joke, but I couldn't resist! :D )

I'd have a hard time eating them, too. I did illustrations for a book about really wierd things people eat, like scorpions, bugs, spiders, & crickets, yuck!

[animal_rescue]

It's there preference I guess, all I can say is I will never eat one!

I have a peruvian guinea pig, Squishy, could you eat this face?

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid179/p10a0ef2330b5675771cbf9b30dd036a1/f310aa48.jpg

[cyber-sibes]

I have a peruvian guinea pig, Squishy, could you eat this face?
He's adorable, and, NO!

[CathyBogart]

I could never eat Squishy, of course! He's one handsome fuzzball. :D

HOWEVER....I do have a lot of family from Peru, and I don't condemn the eating of GPs...I don't know that I would eat one myself, but I don't find it gross, it's just a different part of the world.

[Karen]

From the television shows I've seen on that part of the world, guinea pigs are an important protein source for many of the indigenous people. And while I could not eat them, I do not begudge them that. And if it were not for that. they'd never have been domesticated, and then become the pets we know and love!

Mind you, Paul, who has watched the television shows with me, knows full well that I'd probably dump all my belongings out of my suitcase and fill it with guinea pigs to bring and back and save from becoming someone's dinner.

"Uh, no, officer, my suitcase isn't wiggling - didn't you feel that earthquake? And those squeaks - well, must be my asthma kicking up again, sorry!"

[moosmom]

Karen,

LOL!!

[finn's mom]

I don't really think it's disgusting or anything, although I personally wouldn't eat a guinea pig.

[critter crazy]

guinea pig is not something i would like to see on my dinner table but everyone likes diferent things!! I myself like rabbit meat, even though i own a rabbit!! not that i could ever eat Buttercup!! Just like I like chicken and own 21 of them!! they will not be eaten!! but that dosent stop me from buying it at the grocery store! I also like turtle soup and have two turtles!! just as long as nonone tries to eat my critters I dont care!! But if you have that hungry look in your eyes looking at my critters you will be staring down the barrel of my 12 guage shotgun!!! :D

[Muddy4paws]

Isnt it like eating chickens or any meat? :confused:


I wouldn't even try eating a Guinea Pig but still.. I think its the same as any meat.

[jennawing]

That is how guinea pigs got to Europe originally- explorers that visited South America brought some back as a food source. AND rumored how they got their name- as they made noises that reminded them of pigs and they were sold for a guinea (a coin). Someone thought they were cute and made theirs a pet instead of eating it- smart person! :D

Lots of things that we see as pets are eaten in foriegn countries- dogs being the most obvious.

[Cubby'sMom]

In my opinion, I would not want to eat a guinea pig. I don't dislike people who do though, it's just a part of their culture and food. Just curious, anyone here like lamb? I seem to be the only person around who likes it in the real world lol, and my family can't imagine why I would eat a lamb. I think lambs are adorable, but they are also good food!

[*JTM*Coco*pi*Caramel*]

Haha Karen I laughed out loud!

I wouldn't eat one but as was said before, different strokes for different folks. Other countries might think the things we eat in the western world are weird too!

[Flatcoatluver]

I saw this show like really late last night, they like had like 200 guinea pigs in this little tiny wooden cage. I watched them cut the guinea pigs open and like cook it. I was about to throw up, but I know guinea pigs are probally easy to get. Everybody has their preferance. I don't eat meat or anything. But if i was their I would hide the guinea pigs because they would be like a pet for me.

[Alysser]

Thats sick.:(

[Anita Cholaine]

Thats sick.:(

It's not sick, it's just a different culture...For people in Peru, eating GP's must be the same as eating chicken, pork or cow, and for a vegetarian it must be the same too. They are all animals...

Personally, I see them as pets and I would never eat them, but it's just a different part of the world, and I respect their culture...

[animal_rescue]

It's not sick, it's just a different culture...For people in Peru, eating GP's must be the same as eating chicken, pork or cow, and for a vegetarian it must be the same too. They are all animals...

Personally, I see them as pets and I would never eat them, but it's just a different part of the world, and I respect their culture...


I agree, they can eat it if they want but don't try and touch my baby! :D