Animal rights activists voice concern on stray dog killings in Bahrain

Manama : The public has reacted shockingly with disgust and anger against the killing of three innocent dogs in Sitra on Tuesday.

Well-known animal activist Fathiya Al Bastaki and other members of ‘Bahrain Strays’ found the three dogs in a disastrous state. Two of the canines were slashed and beaten to death while the third one was burnt alive.

The activist confirmed that there are about 50 dogs that the Bahrain Strays members feed in Sitra and the three dogs were found in an industrial area in front of a local warehouse.

“There are many such incidents occurring in the area repeatedly. During last Ramadan, some of the villagers chased some dogs on cars and killed them,” said Al Bastaki, “The husky pup that was killed was brought here four months ago by one of our members, but I strongly suggest to avoid relocating these dogs as they tend to get lost easily, face accidents and eventually starve.”

On the matter of the crime and its prevention, she said, “We have confirmed that these crimes were committed by a group of young boys as one of the Indian watchmen at the warehouse witnessed a young boy taking the husky away. I asked the watchmen why they did not take pictures or videos of the boys, but they nervously told me that they felt threatened by the boys.”

“These dogs do not disturb anyone and they aren’t anywhere near residential areas. These killings will keep happening and what we really need right now is to have a shelter for these dogs. If young boys are disturbed enough to slash these animals mercilessly with knives and burn them alive, who’s to say that they can’t do it to people? We are completely unsafe in this society with such menacing people living amongst us.

“First and foremost, the country needs to provide us a safe shelter for these animals. We can’t change people and all we can hope for is to significantly strengthen educational values nurturing empathy and caring for animals.”

Meanwhile, university student Reem Isa remarked that the criminals should be put in jail.

“It is beyond my human understanding to see someone capable of doing something like this. I can’t put myself in such a situation even if it meant the price of my own life,” she said.

“I say put those criminals in jail. I don’t care if in their opinion or society’s opinion that it’s ‘just a dog,’ it’s a life that’s been taken off from this earth. I say chain those murderous people behind bars so they don’t hurt any other creature ever. Families who allow this to happen with their consent or without are still families that lack any sort of communication with their children. If you are capable to communicate with a child about immoral actions and teaching them to have mercy on the weaker forms of lives, a different view of life will grow into these children and enhance their level of consideration towards their surroundings,” added Isa.

Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance employee Ayah Mohammed said she was shocked to find the graphic images of the stray dogs in Bahrain Strays Facebook page.

“I was so upset that I cried my eyes out and all I can think of is that a life is a life and we can start by helping these stray animals. Now what is going on is that there are uneducated, animal-hating people who are out there committing crimes. What I think is that at a young age, if these people can stab, trample, burn alive and torture poor defenceless, abandoned, and homeless animals without feeling any sort of remorse, what will they be capable of in the future? I don’t feel any sort of pity for them; no matter how uneducated they might be… because to commit something like this would mean that these people do not have a moral compass. Assuming that they are “attacked” by the stray dogs, there are many ways to go about it instead of stabbing and killing them! It is beyond ridiculous!” she added.

Student and artist Zahra Saleh also had a similar opinion. “Doing such things to harmless creatures is horrible and heartbreaking. Lack of education and family values are the reasons as parents’ mentalities are the core that either shape the children into an animal lover or an animal hater,” said Saleh.

“We need to raise money for a land to build a big shelter for the strays to prevent them from getting harmed as well as providing awareness in schools about animal love. We need strict laws about animal killing. Putting the criminals in jail or even paying a huge fine that goes to help in buying food for the strays and their medical treatment is necessary,” she added.

Social media users have also expressed their outrage after seeing the graphic images of the dogs.

Bahrain Strays member Dolor Estanislao said that the saddest thing is that there is no animal rights law in the country. 

“Animal haters repeat these attacks because they don’t care and they know that the authorities are weak in implementing laws that prevent killing of stray animals. Even though the animal rights law does not come into force, the authorities must hunt down these criminals and give necessary punishment. I hope and pray that the government authorities will not ignore this,” she added.

Another Bahrain Strays member, Rengin Maklai, raised a petition in change.org calling for implementation of animal protection rights and calling for the strict punishment for these attackers. Maklai told DT News that she is offering BD100 to the person who finds the perpetrators.