STOP LIVE DOGS AND CATS USED AS LIVE SHARK BAIT

    STOP    

                Dogs and kittens 

          Used as Live Shark Bait

Islanders on the French controlled Reunion Island have been using live dogs as shark bait.

French Islander, Mexican and yes American fishermen and hunters are using LIVE puppies and kittens as shark and alligator bait.

◎Brigitte Bardot

 

Stephanie Roche of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, another animal-welfare group in Paris, confirmed that live animals are used as bait on Réunion. But, she said, it is not a common practice.

The Bardot organization has been fighting the practice for a decade. But this is the first time Réunion politicians have reacted strongly and swiftly to stop it, Roche said.

The French Embassy in Washington, D.C., issued a written statement condemning the use of dogs as shark bait, emphasizing that such acts are illegal and will not be tolerated in the French territory.

The embassy maintains these are very isolated cases and authorities on the island are closely monitoring the situation.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in Friday Harbor, Washington State, is offering a U.S. $1,000 reward to any Réunion police officer who arrests anyone using live dogs or cats as bait for sharks. 

Brigitte Bardot Foundation

http://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr

Address:28 rue Vineuse 75116 Paris , France  

Phone:  33 (0)1 45 05 14 60  Fax:  33 (0)1 45 05 14 80

◎Patti Davis

 the daughter of Nancy and Ronald Reagan

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005

Patti Davis Speaks Up vs. Animal Cruelty

CROSS POST:

The Cruelty of Men
If only the story about live dogs being used as shark bait on a remote 
French island could have been a hoax. Sadly, it isn't.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY
By Patti Davis
Newsweek
Updated: 3:11 p.m. ET Oct. 11, 2005

Oct. 11, 2005 - It sounded like something out of a horror movie--so unbelievably cruel it could only exist in fiction or in the minds of some heartless hoaxer. But as the report spread across the Internet in the last week or so, animal rights organizations began to receive anguished phone calls and e-mails. The story? On the French-controlled island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, live dogs have been reportedly impaled on large fish hooks and left overnight in the ocean as shark bait. One consistent detail of the story was that a puppy that had somehow managed to free itself from the fishing line, was found alive in a creek bed, the hook still embedded in its upper lip. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society posted horrific photographs on its Web site.

Like everyone who came across this story, I wanted it to not be true. I wanted to find out it was some horrible, vile prank. Unfortunately, it is true. A Reunion newspaper, le Journal de l’Ile, reported on Sept. 30 that some amateur fishermen have been known to use dogs for shark fishing, sometimes employing the carcasses of stray animals found on the island. This summer, a man was charged with cruelty against animals after a live dog pierced with a hook was found near his home, according to the newspaper. The first person to be caught by authorities using this illegal fishing method, the man admitted he had used live dogs as bait several times, the report said. He could face up to two years in prison as well as 30,000 Euros in fines, according to the newspaper.

In response to inquiries about the story, a letter from the French Embassy states, “We too denounce the barbaric practices you refer to. Such acts are obviously illegal and will not be tolerated on French territory.” It is worth noting that similar acts were discovered and reported upon in 2003 on the island of Reunion, located east of Madagascar with a population of less than 800,000. The island’s newspaper notes that the practice is not used by professional fishermen.

It’s tempting, although futile, to ask what kind of human beings could even think of this barbarism, much less carry it out. What shut down inside them that they could immunize themselves to an animal’s pain and terror, and toss it into the water in the hopes that the suffering animal’s thrashing will attract sharks? Do these men go home at night and tuck their children into bed? Congratulate themselves on a good day’s work? Do they consider themselves decent human beings who are living their lives as they were intended to live them? Do they go to church? Pray? Convince themselves that God is on their side?

Such questions are futile because for most of us to try to navigate the pathways of uncensored cruelty is truly to travel into the heart of darkness--and our own hearts rebel. Here is a better question: Who are we if we don’t send our outrage across continents and oceans and demand answers?

We’re all accountable in this life for what we do. The men committing these atrocities may have managed to live lives with no conscience, but too many others know that a life with no conscience is a worthless one. The sad truth about this world is that there seems to be no limit to the cruelty that some people are capable of. It’s up to the rest of us to pledge never to be silent and never to look the other way.

As horrific as this story is--even if it is only a few “ruthless individuals” as the French Embassy has said--it’s important to recognize that people have not been silent. A small island in the vast Indian Ocean has felt the wrath of people around the globe, and has had to provide answers and explanations.

In its letter, the French Embassy adds: “The French minister for agriculture and fisheries, Dominique Bussereau, is fully aware of the international media and public outcry regarding this issue, and has written to the French National Assembly to emphasize that several measures have been taken to strengthen already exiting laws. Veterinarians have been directed to immediately report any suspicious wounds to authorities …” They went on to say, “The authorities on the island are closely monitoring the situation … All suspicions of such acts will be investigated, and animal protection organizations that have any specific information on these matters are strongly encouraged to inform French police authorities.”

Any act of cruelty is a window into evil and shouldn’t be ignored. There are people in this world who have deadened their hearts, who without hesitating inflict unbearable pain and suffering on others, especially those who have no voice. It’s up to the rest of us to call on our own hearts, to remember that our voices are loud and our spirits are powerful weapons against barbarism. It might be the best way to create a more peaceful world--one life (human or animal) at a time.

Davis, the daughter of Nancy and Ronald Reagan, is a writer based in Los Angeles.
© 2005 Newsweek, Inc.

◎TRUTH OR FICTION COM.

Dogs Were Used for Shark Bait by Fishermen on African Island-Truth!

Summary of the eRumor:  

A forwarded email warning that dogs are used as shark bait by fishermen on the island of Réunion that lies off the coast of Africa. 

According to a National Geographic article published October 19,2005, there were at least three cases discovered of dogs being used for shark bait on the island of Réunion.   The island is under French control and lies off the east coast of the African Continent. Click for article

The article said that Reha Hutin, the president of Paris based Foundation 30 Millions d'Amis (the Thirty Million Friends Foundation) sent a film crew to the small volcanic island to document claims that live animals were being used by fishermen to catch sharks. They discovered that stray dogs and cats on the island are viewed as vermin and the foundation plans to finance a sterilization program to reduce the population of strays.

This still video photograph was in the National Geographic article taken by Thirty Million Friends Foundation.  This dog managed to escape fishermen before it could be used as live bait and was lucky enough to be found and taken for medical attention. He is shown here as a veterinarian prepares to remove the hook from it's snout.   The operation was a success and the dog is now at home with its owners.

Fabienne Jouve  is a spokesperson for the French animal rights organization, Groupement de Réflexion et d'Action pour l'Animal (GRAAL). He noted that, "Lately, almost every week, one dog has been found with hooks on the island, not counting the cats found on the beaches partially eaten by the sharks." 

This barbaric act isn't just as simple as running a hook through the stray animals and tossing them over the side of their boats.  In order for the fishermen to entice the carnivorous predators off their coast they hook the dogs snouts and paws and let them bleed out for at least a day.

The article said that several animal rights activist groups have known about the inhumane practice of using live dogs for shark bait and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation has been fighting this for a decade.  Patti Davis, daughter of President Ronald Reagam wrote a web-exclusive commentary in Newsweek about this in October of 2005. The Friday Harbor, Washington based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has offered "a U.S. $1,000 reward to any Réunion police officer who arrests anyone using live dogs or cats as bait for sharks."

In September of 2005, the government of Réunion responded to the outcries by passing into law a bill that would make it illegal for fishing boats to carry any dogs or cats, alive or dead.  

Shortly after the law was enacted the article said "the first court case was held involving a person charged with using live dogs as bait. Authorities had found a seven-month-old puppy on John Claude Clain's property in July with three fishing hooks in its paws and snout."  This resulted in a 5000 euro fine  for Clain.

The article also said that "Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the United Kingdom and the Thirty Million Friends Foundation are asking animal lovers to sign a petition urging the French government to step up enforcement of laws against the use of live dogs as bait."  

updated 02/16/09

Article

◆French Islander and Mexican fishermen using live dogs and kittens as shark bait

http://slumz.boxden.com/f5/sep-13-french-islander-mexican-fishermen-using-live-dogs-kittens-shark-bait-1814972/

Islanders on the French controlled Reunion Island have been using live dogs as shark bait.

The Sun claims that “a six-month-old labrador pup was recently found alive with a huge double hook through its snout – like the dog above – and another through a leg.”It is also claimed that local fisherman have also been using kittens!

Reunion Island is an overseas départements of France and an official region of France, giving it the same status as a province or state in other countries. 

Currently the penalty is only 2 years and a little over$5,000 USD that is far too little for such a heinous crime. We urge that you raise the penalty to 10 years in prison with NO parole and a fine of $100,000. As well as offering a reward of $10,000 for turning in the offenders, which will come from the fines collected.This will hopefully act as a deterrent and will stop these horrendous acts against innocent animals FOREVER. Please do the right thing and help us stop these people. 

Posted: June 18, 2009

◆French Islanders using live dogs as shark bait

http://www.inquisitr.com/26597/french-islanders-using-live-dogs-as-shark-bait/

◆Dogs used as shark bait on the French Island of Reunion

http://www.examiner.com/article/dogs-used-as-shark-bait-on-the-french-island-of-reunion

◆Are dogs a shark's favorite meal?

http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/marine-life/shark-favorite-meal1.htm

◆Dogs Used as Shark Bait on French Island 2005National geographic http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1019_051019_dogs_sharks.html

  

PLEASE SIGN TO PETITION!!!

★A petition from the campaign to

Stop dogs being used as bait for Sharks in France

https://www.causes.com/campaigns/6609-stop-dogs-being-used-as-bait-for-sharks-in-france?recruiter_id=187065534&utm_campaign=own_timeline&utm_medium=wall&utm_source=fb

★Stop the horrific use of stray animals as shark bait

http://www.change.org/petitions/stray-animals-used-as-shark-bait-stop-the-horrific-use-of-stray-animals-as-shark-bait

★We are against dogs being used as shark bait

http://www.petitiononline.com/13by3/petition.html

★Stop anyone using puppies and kittens as shark and alligator bait

https://www.causes.com/actions/1679274-we-want-the-french-and-united-states-governments-to-stop-anyone-using-puppies-and-kittens-as-shark-and-alligator-bait-together-we-will-put?recruiter_id=137116391&utm_campaign=invite&utm_medium=wall&utm_source=fb

★stop live dogs and cats from being used as shark bait on the Réunion island
is on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/stop-live-dogs-and-cats-from-being-used-as-shark-bait-on-the-Réunion-island/327529684195

★Stop using dog as Shark bait 

https://www.causes.com/actions/1686971-petition-stop-the-use-of-sign-a-petition-against-stray-live-dogs-and-cats-being-used-as-shark-bait

This video is 8 years ago

All Published on Dec 9, 2012

This story is 8years ago.

All of us are dog and cat owners and were shocked to know the cruel acts of fisherman using live puppies and kittens as shark and alligator bait. French Islander, Mexican and American fishermen are using these poor animals as shark and alligator bait.  this has been verified by several large reporting agencies, spa, National Geographic, Snopes, and the list continues, The Sun claims that "a six-month-old labrador pup was recently found alive with a huge double hook through its snout , and another through a leg." the picture of the poor puppy showed the most disturbing animal cruelty we have ever witnessed in the modern societies.  NO living being should have to undergo this torture and insurmountable fear ;  being captured, have a hook gashed into their flesh and dragged by a boat struggling for their lives only to be torn apart by a shark.  How could someone do this?  Thishorrendous act should never have happened, it defies every single moral and ethical conduct, on top of defying local and international laws including the Divine law by humans and brought mankind to a great shame due to the outrageous cruelty towards defenseless creatures.   Now, we are all facing a ferocious battle to bring this illegal act to an end. We must put  efforts together to push civic societies, NGOs, governments’ agencies to enact more efficient laws to tackle the issue as well as harsher jail sentences and hefty fines, with a reasonably generous cash rewards for anyone reports such criminal activities,  and also to shelter abandoned animals such dogs and cats. Being left neglected in the streets can only feed the greed of these fishermen otherwise, humanity will be facing the most shameful step back ever. It is everyone’s responsibility and not just one single entity or institution’s duty to shed light on cruelty towards these poor animals.

We have been working hard to find an animal rights group that will help stop this horrific abuse to innocent animals.

The NY SPCA has some of the best animal cruelty laws in the world, it offers assistance opening animal cruelty investigations , helps individuals find information, advocate against abuse, connects them with nearby shelters , and  offers a "Cruelty Crime Stopper" reward for tips that help lead to convictions. It also provides emergency care and help nurse abused animals back to health . But to prosecute these cases , it costs a lot of money for each case. Let's work together and try to raise more money to end this unhuman act forever. We've fixed this campaign at $10 000 but the goal is to raise enough money to stop this shocking barbaric practice forever . If we can, let's raise more money! all the money donated here will go to the NY SPCA's animal cruelty division to stop this horrific crime and insure that animal abusers pay for their heinous act . 

THANK YOU!!! From Keiko Olds