I can see from the comments from this page a lot of guys here, have no experience living in a "rural" environment. I have been to meat processing plant years ago. Hot dogs of all kinds are made from the "leavings". That is ground meat from body parts not usually sold commercially, like the head, as well as tendon and gristle. It is cooked to reach a certain temperature. I learned to cook my dogs broiled in the oven. They turn out like the ones you buy at the dog shops. I have had both raccoon, squirrels and the infamous possum from back in the day. Cooked right, they are rather good. I have relatives in rural Alabama. Now, they are equipped to live off the land if need be, how about you?