British stars speak out against dog-meat trade's cruelty: Thailand

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SOOPSIP
British stars speak out against dog-meat trade's cruelty
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Soi Dog Foundation has some of the biggest stars in Britain speaking out against the dog-meat trade in a video that starts with a warning about its "distressing" content.

Dame Judi Dench, Ricky Gervais and two of the stars of the international-hit series "Downton Abbey" - Laura Carmichael and Phyllis Logan - give voice to the "I Never Knew" campaign in the moving (and, yes, distressing) three-minute video that drives home what you probably didn't want to know. But of course you should know.

"I didn't know that these innocent creatures are crammed into cages so brutally that their bones almost break, so tightly that they can't move, and that they're trapped like this for the smuggled journey, which can take days," declaims Dench, the acclaimed star of stage and screen. Meanwhile you see footage of a truck loaded with dogs presumably on its way to the slaughter grounds.

"Many of them are stolen pets," explains Gervais, the comedian turned actor who hosted the Oscars a couple of years back. A lot of the pooches don't make it, of course, crushed, suffocated or dying of hunger and thirst along the way.

We've all winced at Western jokes about dog meat being on the menu in Thailand, knowing it's only eaten in far-flung places on the Northeast frontier, or else the mutts are scooped up for Vietnamese consumption. So we don't do anything about it. The Soi Dog Foundation wants us to do something.

"I didn't know about this unimaginable cruelty, and neither does the majority of people in Thailand," says Gervais. He notes that many of the dogs do get rescued and that shelters exist for them in the Northeast, but the government offers no funding, so the money can only come through donations to SoiDog.org.

The foundation has initiated a petition asking the government to halt the dog-meat trade and so far it's drawn 423,000 signatures. Head to the website and add your name - and you might also like to adopt a rescued pooch while you're there.

To see the video, go to YouTube and punch "gerA3kWXEz4" or "luSggyByBMQ" into the search line.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/British-stars-speak-out-against-dog-meat-trades-cr-30246525.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-30

[Puyai]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Puyai

[bruceybonus]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

It's one of the worst parts of living here! I like to walk and ride a bike. You do that at your own peril!

I think it is one of the main reasons why Thai people never walk or do any exercise

The govt needs to cull lots of these mangy dogs and give the streets back to the people.

As I sit here now I can hear 2/3 barking and snarling outside!

[RustBucket]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Strangely that is what I was thinking. They are a menace in my soi.

But yet again another damning indictment of Thailand negativity.

Good luck 'luring' your high end 'quality' tourists TAT. The only thing coming out of Thailand now on a regular basis is reasons not to come here.

[bruceybonus]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Strangely that is what I was thinking. They are a menace in my soi.

But yet again another damning indictment of Thailand negativity.

Good luck 'luring' your high end 'quality' tourists TAT. The only thing coming out of Thailand now on a regular basis is reasons not to come here.

Thailand is getting absolutely hammered in the UK

[BSJ]

Soi dogs are indeed a major problem in a lot of areas. So catching and selling them for dog meat is an idea that should be encouraged.

[Bluespunk]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Yes, they are a menace and need controlling somehow.

However, it's the way the animals are treated, the excessive cruelty, that is the issue.

There are ways of doing things that do not involve the foul way these animals are treated.

[noitom]

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If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Strangely that is what I was thinking. They are a menace in my soi.

But yet again another damning indictment of Thailand negativity.

Good luck 'luring' your high end 'quality' tourists TAT. The only thing coming out of Thailand now on a regular basis is reasons not to come here.

Thailand is getting absolutely hammered in the UK

And rightly they should.

[fatfather]

Can't understand why they concentrate on dogs. Have they ever seen how pigs are treated during transport? Coming to Thailand to save the soi dogs and celebrate the success with a nice pork dish. Strange.

Fatfather

[bruceybonus]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Yes, they are a menace and need controlling somehow.

However, it's the way the animals are treated, the excessive cruelty, that is the issue.

There are ways of doing things that do not involve the foul way these animals are treated.

There needs to be a nationwide culling of the dogs and then a system put in place where stray dogs are taken off the streets. However, much like the West, people need to be held personally responsible for looking after their dogs.

Most dogs that go into rescues in USA/UK end up being euthanised anyway!

[bruceybonus]

There needs to be a nationwide culling of the dogs and then a system put in place where stray dogs are taken off the streets. However, much like the West, people need to be held personally responsible for looking after their dogs.

Most dogs that go into rescues in USA/UK end up being euthanised anyway!

[ezzra]

In a country where fox and other wild animals and birds hunting is a major sport, should look at it's

self first before criticize any one else, people who live in glass houses.....

[Bluespunk]

In a country where fox and other wild animals and birds hunting is a major sport, should look at it's

self first before criticize any one else, people who live in glass houses.....

Fox hunting is illegal as a sport in the UK. Cruelty concerns led to it being banned. Thankfully.

[mrtoad]

There is a massive dog problem, and I think a humane cull nationwide would be a good thing. Not so sure about sending them up north for eating, but really the dog problem is bad and it is a health and safety issue.

[Bluespunk]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Yes, they are a menace and need controlling somehow.

However, it's the way the animals are treated, the excessive cruelty, that is the issue.

There are ways of doing things that do not involve the foul way these animals are treated.

There needs to be a nationwide culling of the dogs and then a system put in place where stray dogs are taken off the streets. However, much like the West, people need to be held personally responsible for looking after their dogs.

Most dogs that go into rescues in USA/UK end up being euthanised anyway!

Yes, but without the unnecessary suffering and cruelty that is the focus of the OP.

[JeremyBowskill]

Seriously, with all the problems in the world celebs get together to help with this???? Hardly Bob Geldof's live aid is it, could think of thousands of things that need the media attention more than this.

[LuckyLew]

Anyone standing up for the cows and the chickens?

or is it ok to eat a chicken burger or a hamburger?

IMO just people looking to get their name in print

[harrycallahan]

Animals can die without suffering. Not impressed by the views above, hope the dogs keep you mmiserable.

[arthurwait]

I hate Ricky Gervais.

[namdocmai]

She forgot to mention that they torture the dogs before fillet them so the meat tastes sweeter.

[jacko45k]

If they lived in a soi with 30+ soi dogs they'd be singing a different tune.

Yes, they are a menace and need controlling somehow.

However, it's the way the animals are treated, the excessive cruelty, that is the issue.

There are ways of doing things that do not involve the foul way these animals are treated.

Of course, I fume when I am disturbed by the fighting dogs.... but this cruelty is shameful.

The issue needs to be addressed at the root level. Street dogs need to be controlled.

[Neeranam]

Who cares and what the hell is Downtown Abbey?

Would anyone in Britain care if Nok Noi and Thongchai Mcintyre made a video about the treatment of rabbitsin the UK?

[meatboy]

Soi dogs are indeed a major problem in a lot of areas. So catching and selling them for dog meat is an idea that should be encouraged.

not if you knew how they die.

me being a dog lover i am not against putting them to sleep humanely because most of them have a life of misery anyway.

one thing that also needs to be made law is,all dogs must wear a collar and any owners who dont abide by this oops i am getting carried away.

i have heard so much B.S.over the past 30yrs or more that is against their religion to put a dog to sleep but its ok.to do any thing else they wish.

[aussieinthailand]

Animals can die without suffering. Not impressed by the views above, hope the dogs keep you mmiserable.

I worked in an abattoir back in OZ and I know that there is a better way to slaughter animals in a far more humane way.

There also needs to be a concerted effort made to go around to villages and de-sex dogs free of charge.

One thing about the video I disagree with is the claim that most Thai's don't know about this practice, wrong! they do know but most don't care. and there's money to be made.

[Neeranam]

Animals can die without suffering. Not impressed by the views above, hope the dogs keep you mmiserable.

I worked in an abattoir back in OZ and I know that there is a better way to slaughter animals in a far more humane way.

There also needs to be a concerted effort made to go around to villages and de-sex dogs free of charge.

One thing about the video I disagree with is the claim that most Thai's don't know about this practice, wrong! they do know but most don't care. and there's money to be made.

There is NO humane way to slaughter animals for eating.

Ever wondered why meditation is so much easier when one is a vegetarian?

[yellowboat]

Saw them transport dogs in plastic bags over the Thai border into Cambodia. It was horrific.

What needs to happen, which will NEVER happen in a place like Thailand, is dogs and cats need to be registered. Registration fees should differ greatly between neutered / spay'd pets and those that are not. Sadly the rest will need to be culled.

During my time in Thailand, I took my dog on numerous walks and had little trouble with stays. What areas are strays the worst ?

[englishoak]

Just another bad day in Thailands image

[Chairman Of The Board]

Animals can die without suffering. Not impressed by the views above, hope the dogs keep you mmiserable.

I worked in an abattoir back in OZ and I know that there is a better way to slaughter animals in a far more humane way.

There also needs to be a concerted effort made to go around to villages and de-sex dogs free of charge.

One thing about the video I disagree with is the claim that most Thai's don't know about this practice, wrong! they do know but most don't care. and there's money to be made.

There is NO humane way to slaughter animals for eating.

Ever wondered why meditation is so much easier when one is a vegetarian?

Is that because the aroma of frying bacon makes it impossible to concentrate on anything?

[visionchaser45]

People eat meat. Some people eat dog meat. Why is it that people that are always going on about tolerance seem determined to force the world to adopt their ways? Next thing, they'll be going after the French for eating rabbits.

[godden]

The wife keeps saying we need a Vietnam family to move in on our soi.