A statement from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called on authorities to take pets off the menu.

It continued: "Sensitive, scared lambs, cows and pigs are sent to the knife only because of human prejudice that allows us to protect certain species, bring them into our homes and make them part of our families while treating others as mere commodities to slaughter for a taste, a bit of trim or some other frivolous whim.