Live Dogs And Cats Used As Shark Bait

[mazza]

Too late to edit, just to add

and to claim the reward money put forward by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

 

[Seraphina]

OK, lets get it straight; I am not saying that there has never been anybody who would try to use live dog or cat as a shark bait, I am saying I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE SINGLE PHOTO SUPPORTING THIS CLAIM. As this practice is so ridiculously impractical and in effective, it is very unlikely to be widespread.

I have seen pics of pups tangled up in fishing line and with little hooks in their feet, I have seen picture of a wet dead dog, and pitifully skinny mangy dog with wound on backside.

The dog with the large hook through his upper lip (the only photo showing a hook possibly large enough to catch a shark, is a sporting hook) has supposedly freed himself from the fishing line, and swam to the shore. Anybody who believes that would believe in anything. The fishing line used to catch sharks is more like a steel cable and I would imagine the shark fishing is done some distance off shore. There is no way a dog with this hook through his lip could break even normal fine fishing line, however his lip would tear the moment he would hit the water.

 

[BeeJay]

A KC press release. It appears that Caroline Kisko has not had the pleasure of meeting Seraphina.

>The Kennel Club has been appalled by the recent press reports featuring the use of live dogs and cats as shark bait on the French controlled island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.

The Kennel Club has already written to the Société Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club) to voice its concerns and is now calling for concerned animal lovers to do all they can to ensure this barbaric practice is stopped as quickly as possible to ease the suffering of these companion animals.

The Kennel Club recommends:

1. Everyone support and sign the RSPCA's petition online at www.rspca.org.uk

2. Everyone bring pressure to bear on the French Government by contacting:

French Minister for Agriculture:

M Dominique Bussereau

Ministére de L'Agriculture

78 Rue de Varenne

75349 Paris

FRANCE

And copy this letter to:

The French Minister for Overseas Territories:

M FranÇois Baroin

Ministre de L'Outre-Mer

27 Rue Oudinot

75358 Paris

FRANCE

3. Everyone write to their local MP to urge them to write a similar letter to the responsible minister in France on behalf of the UK Government. Details of your local MP can be found at www.upmystreet.com

The Kennel Club has also written a suggested form of words (in both English and French) for readers to use when writing their letters, which is available below. If you can use your own words then this is even more effective and if you can write in French then better still!

Said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary; "Any animal lover, on learning of this monstrous practice will surely want to do all they can to convince the French authorities that there is no place for this type of cruelty in a civilised society. Please do take the time and trouble to get involved with this campaign."

Suggested form of words to the French Minister:

English

Dear Madame Bussereau/ Monsieur Baroin

I am writing to you to encourage the French Government to take strong action against the shark fishermen who use live dogs and cats as bait on the island of Réunion.

Whilst I appreciate animal welfare legislation may be difficult to enforce on the island of Réunion, where this abhorrent practice is embedded in the island's culture, I strongly believe all efforts should be taken to ensure that it is totally abolished.

I feel sure that it would be possible to identify the fisherman who fish for sharks and organise proper controls on the boats as it is essential to take action against these individuals who cause unimaginable cruelty to dogs and cats.

I would urge that you listen to the weight of protest growing with regard to this issue and take the appropriate action.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

French

Madame Bussereau/ Monsieur Baroin

Je vous écris pour encourager le gouvernement français à engager les mesures les plus fermes à l'encontre des pêcheurs de requins qui utilisent des chats et des chiens comme appâts sur l'Île de la Réunion.

Même si je comprends que la législation de protection des animaux puisse être difficile à faire appliquer sur l'île de la Réunion, où cette pratique révoltante s'inscrit dans la culture locale, j'estime que tous les efforts possibles devront être engagés en vue de son abolition totale.

Il ne fait aucun doute à mon sens qu'il doit être possible d'identifier les pêcheurs de requins et d'organiser un contrôle adéquat des bateaux, car il est essentiel d'engager des poursuites contre les individus qui font preuve d'une cruauté aussi inimaginable envers les chats et les chiens.

Je vous conjure de porter attention aux voix de protestation qui s'élèvent de plus en plus fort sur cette question et d'engager les mesures idoines.

Dans l'attente de votre réponse, je vous prie d'agréer l'expression de ma considération distinguée.

Form of words for local MP:

When writing to your local politician:

a.. Enclose a copy of the Kennel Club press release for their information, (as they may not be aware of this issue already).

b.. Use the form of words suggested above

c.. Re-affirm that you are writing to them in the hope that they will pass your letter on to the Minister responsible in France (details of whom are provided in the press release).

 

[BeeJay]

Here is the address that you may wish to use Seraphina so that you can inform the KC that they are wrong and that you know that it's not happening.

KENNEL CLUB CALL TO ACTION

PLEASE HELP STOP DOGS BEING USED AS SHARK BAIT

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