So there's this island off the coast of Africa that is teeming with stray dogs and cats. Some fishermen's solution? Use these animals as bait for sharks. Yeah, let's hook their snouts and throw them overboard while still alive. And, hey, we don't discriminate, we use puppies and kittens too. Bastards. It took me two days to be able to post this or even write about it because it is so shockingly disturbing.
This dog right here was one of the lucky ones as he got away and the picture was taken at a vet's office. Here's National Geographic News' write-up on it. And if you want to sign a petition to end this heinous crime, go here.
Perhaps my heart is still too naive for this world but I can never wrap my head around criminal behavior such as this. To be so inconsiderate of a life and not see the fear and pain behind the eyes and not let it affect you? I would like to say these people are animals but that would actually be an insult to animals. I don't know what they are - perhaps the most despicable, basest forms of human beings atop this earth that still manage to exist. Seriously, there ought to be some form of natural law that prevents us humans from continuing to birth evil like this. But it is the way of our world, isn't it? Our own effed up natural balance - for every good, there is evil.
I don't know how successful we will be in seeing this crime against these animals end, but please link in, sign and pass it on and perhaps we will be able to make a difference. Spread the word.
*UPDATE*: One of my commenters, BeckEye, had sent a link (thank you so much Beck!) that wrote of the skepticism of some on whether this was a true story or not. But that article linked to this video of the dog as proof of its veracity. Though the video was filmed the day the dog was captured, it is mostly an interview with French lawyers about this case and what had happened as a result (apparently, a law was subsequently passed that banned fisherman in that island to carry any dog or cat, dead or alive, on board). I believe this video deals with a case of a local fisherman being charged with the crime that was now considered illegal. Read here to learn of the law that was passed and also, if you are interested, Patti Davis' (President Reagan's daughter) Newsweek's article on this crime, which was written in October 2005.
Thank you to all that stopped here, commented, and helped spread the word and informed others of this crime against animals. Though I thought initially this was a recent crime - and see now I was not alone in not knowing about this - I am happy the French government took swift action and if there are still fishermen that continue to do this today on the sly, we will never know but, nonetheless, it is comforting to know that there are now laws in place to prevent this senseless practice from continuing to happen.
37 comments:
Such cruelty, such sadness... it breaks my heart that such careless evil exist.
Love to you, mi Amor...
This is really obscene that someone could do this, I find the same issue to be true in using live fish as bait, but one could possibly justify that action noting that fish are consumed in the ocean the same way. But using domesticated land animals like dogs and cats is really sick.
You know it's funny that every time I take a look at man I lower my standards to the absolute lowest I can even imagine and say "It can't possibly be worse than this." Then I see something like this that completely undermines my lowering of standards. Humanity, no matter how little I think of it, it always worse than I imagine.
And people say I'm crazy for trying to destroy this world, but we seem to be doing a good job of it ourselves.
Rebecca, after reading this, I just can think of that quote from Antonio Gala, the Spanish writer: "The more I get to know humans, the more I love my dog".
What a cruel abhorrent practice.
PixieDust: It is a form of cruelty that I find so impossible to comprehend. I have difficulty enough living with the knowledge of the conditions in which the animals that provide food for our tables are raised. That's another story for another time, but it all boils down to the same: man's cruel insensitivity to other living things. ((hugs to you, amor))
Anonymous: I, truth be told, have difficulty with using live fish as bait as well (although yes, I agree, for the purpose you stated that it does not in any way equal to this heinous crime). Laugh if you will, but I've never been fishing and never have had any interest because I cannot stomach to see any living thing suffer. And, please, maybe next time could you leave your name after the comment? =)
Derik: I feel your sentiments exactly! Where has our humanity gone? When I first saw this picture on Sunday I quickly got off the link because I couldn't bring myself to look at it or read about it. Emotionally for me, it was too much to bear. And, yet....yet...it lingered in the (sub)conscious like a cancer and would not let go. Today, I finally got the courage to access it again and pass it on so that those that were unaware of it (like myself) can find the strength to read about it and sign the petition and pass it on. I believe the more people that know about this, the more successful we will be.
Leni: I ditto Mr. Gala's quote wholeheartedly. I often find myself quoting him often. But you summed it up perfectly: it is a "cruel, abhorrent practice." Leni, amor, I ask - how are we to lift ourselves up and progress/evolve as a species, if we can do such wretched things? Only man can think to do such senseless, barbaric acts. ((abrazos))
I remember I signed the PETA petition!This is disgusting,disturbing,yes no words can describe that!Those men deserve the same treatment!
argh...
so heinous...how can people do that...
such a sad thing...
OKay, I finally was able to read it. This is disgusting. I'm going to sign the petition right now.
Ohgodohgod...that picture gave me a searing pain in my groin. I couldn't read.
BeckEye: My initial reaction was exactly like yours. I had to leave right away because the picture took my breath away (an not in a good way). Then, like you, I returned later (except in my case, two days later) and read it and was finally able to post this. All I have to say is the same should be done to these bastards who do this to see how they like it.
Neha; A very sad thing and another example at the level of human cruelty that man possesses.
Candie: Good! Now let's get more people to sign and spread the word. And, I agree with you about those men receiving the same treatment! ((hugs))
I'll help to spread the word to help stop this. It is too inhumane to even think people could do this!
omg - I am sickened by this.
i feel sick. i can't even reasonably comment right now because i am shocked and tears and i feel well sick. i have no words. will go sign petition.
Here's a little more info on this story.
While it's comforting to know that this isn't the widespread practice that the original article makes it seem, if it happens AT ALL, it needs to be stopped. Even using dead dogs and cats as shark bait is pretty sick.
The picture may very well be of a dog that was involved in a fishing accident - people have been "hooked" before, so I don't doubt that dogs have too.
I still signed the petition, because the fact that there is ANY truth to this story requires action.
I remember using this article in an essay for a French class a few years ago. My professor was shocked when he read it, because he hadn't heard about the practice despite being French and having visited Réunion a few times.
Do you happen to know if there are any updates to this? I'd be interested to know if the practice has stopped or at the very least diminished.
As sickening as it is to read about this, thank you for posting it and making more of us aware.
Sharon: Thank you for spreading the word. The level of cruelty that man is capable of sometimes leaves one speechless. Thanks again.
Boho Mom: I know exactly how you feel. It is a visual that is very hard to comprehend.
BeckEye: Thank you so much for that link. It is comforting to know that it is not as widespread on the island of Reunion as one initially thought and that the French government is not condoning such practices and is incarcerating those that are committing the crimes. However, on the theory that this is a hoax (which is followed by the fact that the article states they are only using dead dogs) somehow smells of cover-up. This dog (as shown in the video on the bottom of your link) is alive and breathing. And as far as this dog being hooked by accident, I find the area of where he got hooked too convenient. Why wasn't he hooked on his chest or hind legs, etc.? Nevertheless, thank you, thank you, thank you for that additonal link because the more informed we become about this, the better. Best, Rebecca
Bryan: First of all, thank you for stopping by and welcome. No, other than BeckEye's additional link (see comment section), I do not have any updates. However, if you come across any more information, please come and leave us a link as we would all like to know the current status of this situation.
Lindy: Thank you and welcome. It took me two days to be able to post this because my initial reaction to the photo was one where I quickly left the site and didn't want to see anymore. It just made such a horrific, initial impression that I needed to digest it without looking at it. Two days later I got the courage to access the picture again and post this blurb and I am glad I did because, yes, the more that people know about this (though I now know it is from a 2005 incident), the better. But, my question as is Bryan's question on the comment section, is to find out if this practice has stopped or is it still going on.
Daisies: I know exactly how you feel. At the sight of the photo your heart drops at the barbarity of it all.
So very sad, Rebecca. I'll sign up. Thanks for brining this to our attention.
Done!
This photo took my breath away - it sickened me. Thank you for bearing witness.
It makes me want to do even worse to
the brainless criminals that did this.
This is brutal beyond belief. All this
to catch a dam shark. I hope the shark
took some arms and legs in the process.
This is horrific! This is the first I've heard about this. I am going to post about it on my Friday "Things I Learned This Week" post tomorrow with a link back here.
I came over from Bruce's page & never expected to read such an UNIMAGINABLE post! I'm practically speechless - I truly can't believe it!
I'm going over to the National Geographic page now
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN - I don't know what else to say about this.
I have bumped in to this elsewhere - sick beyond belief. I have signed a pile of petitions, I wash I was able to do more...
Words are just not enough...
Wizz :-(
I agree that is horrible. I have cats myself. But I think some of the effect it has on us is because we see dogs and cats as pets and companions. Would we be as shocked if they were doing it to animals we consider food, ugly or a pest? Like chickens, rats or gophers.
Thinking of it like that, I see people who work in slaughter houses worse than these fishermen. Only because of volume. We kill thousands of animals in our slaughterhouses everyday. Watch the video on YouTube called Earthlings and you'll see what I mean.
So is how we see an animal more important than the animal itself?
First of all, thank you to everyone who has stopped by to leave a comment and have signed the petition. I always believe together we can make a difference. Also, there is some additional information posted by BeckEye in her last comment that shows a video of this dog at the vet's office. If you are interested, please link onto that site as well.
Judith: Thanks for signing the petition and adding your voice to this horrific, senseless crime.
One Red Horse: I had the same reaction. It is truly sickening and thank you for taking the time (and courage) to read the article.
Double "D": Hear, hear, I ditto your emotion.
Karen: Thank you for posting about this on your blog and for the link. I've been learning, through this post, that it is something that many were still unaware of (as was I).
Tricia: Thank you for coming over and reading about it. It takes courage to be able to see this and read about it. The picture, at first sight, takes one's breath away (and not in a good sense).
Life With Dogs: I agree, it is sick beyond belief, and thank you for having already followed up. I only learned of this last week.
An English Sheperd: Ditto.
Jay: Can I say I agree with you on this? The raising of animals for food consumption is something that I battle with constantly (because I am still on the road to becoming a full vegetarian) and sickens me to the core. What I find interesting is that in this area, I find many do not want to become knowledgeable because it would then mean that they would have to make a moral choice and would have to stop eating the meats and chicken that they so much enjoy. But these animals, aside from the fact of the conditions in which they are raised, pose a list of health problems for us in the future. I buy organic and free-range and refuse to buy anything that is farm-grown or raised in factories. Have you read John Robbins' The Food Revolution? He was the heir to the Baskin-Robbins ice cream chain and he gave it up to live and raise his family as vegans after watching both his uncle and father die early in life of massive heart attacks. If you've not read the book, I suggest you pick it up, it is enlightening to say the least and you will never be able to eat chicken or meat or pork or veal again without truly acknowledging the conditions in which they were raised.
My mom person threw up when she realized what this was. There are no words to say how we feel about this.
OK, It would appear that the practice exists or did and it's barbaric at the least of it. Now we need to sit back a little and take another approach. Being a retired artist with some computer background, I suggest that this may be a prank put forth by a competent but cruel artist. The thing that makes me think this is the lack of anxiety on the dogs face, he's still wearing a perfectly dry leather color, his hair is not out of place, there is no blood. If this were true, there would have to be some sort of trauma around the holes where the hooks are.
Now don't shoot the messenger, I just wanted to give everyone a different thought to ponder about this photo. I believe the photo is a fake. I seen lots of retouched photo's in my history both traditional and electronic.
Still like all of you, any animal cruelty by humans is no different than another human performing cruelty on another human.
Sorry, it's me again. I've just taken an even closer look at this photo and if you look carefully you can see around the hooks and line, the edges of the retouching. Looks like a small halo that follows the line of the hook.
I don't know Double D! Take a look at this video and then tell me what you think. Don't think the thought did not cross my mind after BeckEye sent me the link but then I took a look at the video and it confirmed it. However, since this was a 2005 case, I believe the outrage that it caused then (and how come so many of us didn't hear about this?) put a chink in it if they are still practicing it at all (I sure hope they are not). But I haven't been able to find anything more recent on it. But come back here and give me your thoughts after you've watched the video.
Candie or Leni -- could either one of you please look at the video for us and give us a translation of what was said? Would appreciate it tons! Thanks!
Double D, I just found this. It answers the questions we had. A law was passed after the 2005 incident that banned fishing boats from carrying dead dogs/cats, alive or dead. I believe the video I gave you the link to was the first case of a man that was being charged with the crime after the law passed.
Rebecca, a very convincing video indeed.
Maybe the halo's I see are because it's clipped
from the video. Your investigating powers
are far greater than mine. Good job.
Why do humans forget that there something called Karma.
What you give is what you get in return!!!
According to snopes.com, it's a hoax. I sure hope so.
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/sharkbait.asp
Megha: Very well said. Unfortunately, I believe many to do not much thought into this.
Creepy: Welcome. And, unfortunately, it is no hoax. At the end of the post I posted an update with a link to a video that very clearly states otherwise.
Post a Comment