Nov 20, 2009
CALABAR, Nigeria (Reuters) - Meat traders in the southern Nigerian city of Calabar are counting the cost after a truck carrying more than 100 dogs overturned, crushing scores of canines and triggering a scramble to snatch up survivors.

Dog meat is a delicacy in Calabar and the animals were destined for the popular Ika Ika Oqua market.

Dog is usually cooked with local gin, leaves, pepper and spices before being served in special dog bars, or "joints", usually with palm wine. A dog's head drawn on a board or the sign "404 is ready" outside a shack indicates meat is available.

Ordering the "telephone" gets you the tail and large intestine, a particular favourite among connoisseurs, while the legs are referred to as "gear box".

Some dog traders said they had lost their entire capital in the accident, but others managed to salvage what they could from the road kill.

"I lost over 300,000 naira as my dogs were worst hit in the accident. Even the rush sales I made at the scene were at a give away price," said Bassey Etim, a dog trader for many years.