Animals have always been a part of people’s lives. It’s either because of their company, or the use of the products they provide, animals are a big part of our everyday lives.
March 3rd has been established by UNO as the world wildlife day. However, animals’ abuse, wild and not, has been noted on a large scale worldwide, and especially in Greece there has been an increase in such incidents in the last few years. Along with these, the questions of what is ethical and legal have been increased, as in the case of zoos, and the interest of people has been triggered to find answers to such questions.
Animals’ abuse, according to article 16 of the law of Greece, is the “torture, mistreatment of any animal species, as well as any act of violence against animals, such as poisoning, hanging, suffocation, burning, crushing, decapitation, amputation, captivity etc”. Of course, beyond active abuse, there is also the phenomenon of passive abuse, which includes situations where the animal remains uneaten or without any accommodation in prolonged or permanent chaining etc. Passive abuse, in a wider meaning, could be illegal hunting, which entails the disappearance of thousands of species of the animal kingdom, but also the threat of the future disappearance of many more. The provocation of damage or torture for economic profit (racehorses in racecourse betting, dog races, dog fights, cockfights, execution of animals for nourishment or for their fur) is also considered animal abuse.” The latter is a critical issue these days as many animal species are used by food and clothing industries, as well as by zoos for entertainment and by laboratories for experiments. A classic case is the use of mice or rabbits for testing various beauty products on them. Even the poison bait that is well known to everyone, the poisoning of an animal, is nothing but another quick way for people who consider animals undesirable to execute stray animals, and the cases are increasing in our neighborhoods.
In our country, last year, the matter of animal abuse gained huge popularity and caused a stir, due to certain incidents that took place and got out in the light of publicity. Some of these are the abused little donkey in Zitsa, the cat that got kicked out of a tavern in Rethymno and the doggie that got crawled by a car on the asphalt of Chania. What caused particular impression was the fact that only in the first semester of 2022 there have been 1.924 complaints from carriers, private individuals and services for animal abuse, according to data from the website Report Animal Abuse Greece and Hellenic Police. In no way do these data imprint the full picture of this tragic situation that prevails though, since many people do not proceed with formal complaints.
The case of zoos is the most complicated and composite. In theory, these zoos are presented as life rafts, due to the everyday threat of animals in wildlife by humans’ uncontrolled behavior. On the other hand, even inside these “protection” places, there have been noted worldwide many cases of violence. The execution of the chimpanzee that escaped from the Attica Zoological Park caused huge frustration and affliction all over Greece. In countries of South America and Mexico, extreme cases have been observed, even animal murders with purpose the consumption of them as food (execution of goats of the Zoological Park of Mexico). Whether zoos are in reality a form of protection and maintenance of the fauna or a prison that captures it is a matter of modern debate.
We can safely say that animal abuse is a result of humans’ violent behavior. Many researchers try to outline the profile of the perpetrators, which ends up being characterized by 4 main elements. Aggression, impulsiveness, low emotional intelligence and above all, control of power. It is no secret that people who engage in this kind of abuse are also connected to other illegal activities, but also the violence of children or other people (e.g. domestic abuse). People with abusive behavior tend through their violent acts to control anything they know will not be able to resist- in this case an animal- since they are unable to control their environment. In conclusion, the abuse of animals is often an outburst of humans, while for many it is entertainment.
Greek legislation provides for the protection mainly of companion animals (dogs, cats), even though these are not the only ones that are abused, since in many villages “productive” animals are also exploited in the wrong way (donkeys in Santorini, cows, chickens etc). In addition, the law predicts that the complaint is also made voluntarily, but it would be good to have some evidence, such as a video or a photo, in order to substantiate our words. New legislation recently introduced predicts for prison terms of up to 10 years and fines of up to 50,000€ for those who torture, execute or mistreat pets.
The average number of complaints that the organization DOG’s VOICE receives daily is 50. Out of these, only 30% are accompanied by evidence (photos or videos), while not even two of them make it to the courtroom. This should prompt us not to fear retaliation or responsibility when we make a complaint, but rather wake us up to stop the vicious cycle of abuse and raise awareness of the issue. We also have at our disposal the five-digit number 10410 of the Hellenic Police, as well as many shelters and animal welfare associations for the protection of animals. The goal is to report abusive behavior, but also the general safety of animals. However, because numbers speak louder than words, in just the last 3,5 years this particular line has received over 14,000 complaints.
Last but not least, it is important to remember that as humans we have a duty to preserve and protect the flora and fauna of our planet, in order to perpetuate the enormous variety and diversity that it provides us with. If we notice abusive behavior we report it, we try not to support companies that exploit animals and it would be good to adopt rather than buy animals. In general, it is recommended to do your research, because what is legal is not necessarily ethical and not everything is always what it seems it is.
References:
1.ieidiseis, Γιώργος Πρωτοψάλτης (05/10/2022), διαδικτυακό περιοδικό, άρθρο
2.Monopoli.gr, Μαριάννα Κουρκούνη (06/11/2019), διαδικτυακό περιοδικό, άρθρο
