It doesn’t have to, but in the case of eating animals it does equal cruelty. For what other pleasure than taste would there be this much bickering when the price is an animals life?

Let’s stay with the dog in the picture, would it be cruel to stun it with a bolt gun, hang it upside down and slit it’s throat? Not out of neccesity but because you like the taste?

Edit: Again, downvoting won’t change this :)