HK: Video of dog being swung by tail in competition horrifies animal groups

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

 

Video of dog being swung by tail in competition horrifies animal groups

Joyce Man

Jun 04, 2008

 

A YouTube video of a man swinging a dog by its

tail at a Hong Kong dog show has raised uproar

among local animal rights groups.

 

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals, the Society for Abandoned Animals,

Animals Asia and Lamma Animal Protection condemned it as abuse yesterday.

 

" I would expect that the risks of such handling

would include pain and discomfort, potential

dislocation of the coccygeal [tail] vertebrae and

nerve damage, especially if the dog wriggled or

tried to pull away when being handled like this, "

Animals Asia senior veterinary surgeon Heather

Bacon said. " I would absolutely not endorse a dog

being handled in this manner. "

 

The groups separately are drafting letters of

complaint. Lamma Animal Protection's Sheila

McClelland is asking dog kennel groups around the

world whether they consider the practice acceptable.

 

On May 31, a YouTube user, cyrusmaguire, uploaded

a clip of the man with his black-and-white

American cocker spaniel at the 82nd All-Breed

Championship Dog Show, organised by the Hong Kong

Kowloon Kennel Association, held that day.

 

The clip shows the man picking up and swinging

the dog to and fro four times. Another man,

presumably a judge, does not react.

 

Animals Asia and the Lamma group believe the

judge then allowed the man to pass through to the

next category, for hunting dogs.

 

A spokeswoman for the kennel association said it

was a " very common practice " and asked

journalists to consult the SPCA and police to

determine whether the law had been violated

before questioning the practice. It could not identify the dog or owner.

 

It was unclear whether the act constituted a

breach of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Ordinance. Police referred a question on its

legality to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department last night.

 

The SPCA said the action technically was not

illegal, though it was " absolutely unacceptable " .

 

 

 

Media release

 

3 June 2008

 

Animals Asia concerned over treatment of spaniel at HK dog show

 

Animals Asia, which is currently rescuing dogs

from the Sichuan earthquake, is alarmed by the

treatment of a dog at a Hong Kong dog show on Saturday (May 31).

 

A video clip, which has been posted on You Tube,

shows the male owner of an American cocker

spaniel picking the dog up by the tail and neck

and rocking it back and forth. The film was taken

at the Hong Kong & Kowloon Kennel Association’s Dog Show in Kowloon Bay.

 

The clip can be viewed here:

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It is believed that instead of chastising the

owner, the judges passed the dog through to the

semi-final round of the Hunting Dog Group.

 

Animals Asia’s Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Dr

Heather Bacon, said the treatment of the dog was

completely unacceptable. “I would expect that the

risks of such handling would include pain and

discomfort, potential dislocation of the

coccygeal vertebrae and nerve damage, especially

if the dog wriggled or tried to pull away when

being handled like this,” Dr Bacon said. “I would

absolutely not endorse a dog being handled in this manner.”

 

Another of Animals Asia’s veterinary team, Dr Jen

O’Dywer, concurred. “Permanent nerve damage to

the tail can occur from such handling. This is

definitely not appropriate handling,” she said.

 

Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson, who

has spearheaded an emergency rescue of family

dogs in the earthquake-struck city of

Dujiangyiang, said she was horrified by the clip,

particularly as the owner was acting in full view

of the judges, who chose to ignore his behaviour.

 

“This poor dog was being treated like an

inanimate toy, not a sentient being with

feelings. The owner seemed to have no

understanding at all that animals have feelings.

How different to the treatment of dogs we have

seen over the past couple of weeks in Sichuan –

here people have lost almost everything – family

members, their homes, their livelihoods and yet

they care so deeply for their pet dogs,” Ms Robinson said.

 

Animals Asia is helping earthquake survivors by

taking their dogs for safe-keeping until their

families can look after them again. The Hong

Kong-headquartered charity has set up a receiving

station at a local vet clinic and a hotline for

pet owners to call – and survivors are lining up to hand over their pet dogs.

 

Animals Asia, which has a sanctuary in Chengdu

for moon bears rescued from cruel bile farms,

decided to act when it heard the authorities in

Dujiangyiang were implementing a cull of all dogs

because of fears they would spread disease. To

date, the Animals Asia team has rescued 105 dogs

and three cats, bringing them to Chengdu, some to

an animal shelter, others to its rescue centre for urgent medical attention.

 

Ms Robinson said the rescue of dogs and cats

would continue over the next few days.