D for Dog - Dog Products, Services, Articles, Funnies, News, Events, Forum
 
   
Contact Us
  Site Map
  Link To Us/Media
 
 
you are here
  Home
D for Dog Visitor Pages - Dog discussion board, photo gallery, k9 shrine, stories, jokes, funnies, dog links, lost and found listings and reunited schemes, wanted dog items, items for sale, free listings of dog services including grooming, dog walking, trainers, behaviourists, pet friendly places to visit
  Dog Forum
  Photo Gallery
  K9 Shrine
  Funnies & Poems
  Lost Dogs
  Wanted/For Sale
  Dog Services
D for Dog Shopping – purchase dog products including rubber dog toys, frisbee, tennis balls, grooming sprays and shampoo, photo gifts, add your photo to a mug, jigsaw, t-shirt, mousemat, necklace, bracelet, review dog food, treats, read reviews or purchase dog books, software, games, videos, buy art at our online gallery from Dog Art House and by Sally Mitchell
  Online Store
D for Dog Information - living with a deaf dog, hand signals, sign language to use with your deaf dog, useful links and books, dog training, reward based, basic training, events, news and special articles, national dog events, local shows, dog event calendar
  Dog Rescue List
  Ask The Vet
  Dog Food
  Deaf Dogs
  Dog Health & Tips
  Events & News
  Dog Charities
 
 
Dogs used as Shark Bait
There won’t be many of us who haven’t heard about this by now. Originally published by The Sun newspaper in October 2005, the basics of the story are as follows.

Dogs used as Shark Bait - image that accompanied most of the reports

The story - live dogs (and cats) were being impaled on large fish hooks and dragged behind boats or left overnight in the ocean as shark bait by fisherman on Réunion Island (a French-controlled territory in the Indian Ocean).

The image - photograph of a purported "bait dog" with a large hook through its muzzle.
Lets point out first of all that this story has it’s sceptics.

The story - sceptics of the article put forward theories that range from media and animal rights groups falling for a hoax to a deliberate disinformation campaign by activists who seek to end the slaughter of sharks.

The image - the photo that has generally accompanied the story and is displayed above, remains a subject of debate. Is it evidence of a cruel shark-fishing practice on Réunion Island, or is it a wholly unrelated photograph that has been either mistakenly or purposefully misused?

Certainly, one of the biggest questions seems to concern whether any fisherman would use live dog bait as a practical method of shark fishing. Questions such as 'would dogs even make good shark bait' and 'would a hook through the snout hold for more than a few minutes' have all be raised.

Regardless of the whys and wherefores, a recent statement by the French Embassy did acknowledge the practice and mentioned the recent prosecution of an amateur fisherman on that island over animal cruelty charges associated with those described.

Earlier this month the first court case was held involving a person charged with using live dogs as bait. Authorities found a 7 month old puppy on John Claude Clain's property in July with three fishing hooks in its paws and snout. Clain was found guilty of animal cruelty and fined 5,000 euros. The amateur fisherman denied the claim, stating that the dog had been injured by a trap he had set to protect his hens.

However, the French Embassy state that the practice is not as widespread or tolerated as recent reports have made it seem.
 

Press Office, Embassy of France:


“We too denounce the barbaric practices you refer to. Such acts are obviously illegal and will not be tolerated on French territory.”

“The practice of using live dogs or cats as shark bait is in fact exceptional and isolated. It was never widespread nor traditional, but introduced by ruthless individuals, and has been strictly banned for decades now.”

“The authorities [on Reunion 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.”

“The French minister for agriculture and fisheries, Dominique Bussereau, is fully aware of the 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 existing laws.”
As animal lovers, we want such news stories to be untrue. Unfortunately though, even the most appalled and the most sceptical have to concede that there does seem to be some truth to the claim, even if the practice is not as widespread or tolerated as recent news stories implied.

Regardless of whether hordes of fishermen are baiting live dogs or just a select few, regardless of whether the pictured dog has really been prepared as shark bait, and regardless of whether baiting live dogs is even a feasible way to catch sharks, this practice may not have reached the attention of so many if it hadn’t been for these recent news stories.

This is certainly the view held by Stephanie Roche of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, an animal-welfare group in Paris. The Bardot organization has been fighting the practice for a decade. “This is the first time Réunion politicians have reacted strongly and swiftly to stop it” Roche said.

Animal rights groups such as the RSPCA have taken up the cause of putting a stop to the barbaric practice and urged animal lovers to sign petitions urging the French government to step up enforcement of laws against the use of live dogs as bait. The RSPCA petition is now closed and will be presented to the French Embassy shortly.

Even if this barbaric act is only carried out by a few “ruthless individuals” as the French Embassy claim, it is important to recognize that people have not been silent. A small island in the Indian Ocean has had to provide answers to concerned people all over the world.
More Events and News
 
 
 
Add D for Dog to your favourites   Subscribe - Join the D for Dog mailing list      
Woof Woof - Welcome to D for Dog