Funny because those cats and dogs would happily eat you. Not in a "cats eat their dead owners sense" but in the sense that dogs and cats are pretty un-discerning when they are hungry.
The real reason to not eat cats and dogs is that they are mediocre food
This reads like an appeal to nature which isn't a compelling reason to change my behaviour.
There are people in this world who might steal from me or try to hurt me, too. My response wouldn't be to do the same to them; especially not proactively. I also know that a bear would eat me. Why would this mean I should want to eat it? It may not be discerning, but I certainly am.
My take is that the real reason to not eat cats and dogs is that they appear to have a relatable, sentient experience of the world — just as we do — and ending that for the sake of a meal lasting mere moments is an unthinkably awful thing to do.
The real reason to not eat cats and dogs is that they are mediocre food