After living here for a few years you get used to the fact that unless you want everyone hating you,thinking your very strange,or even worse getting attacked you have to be able to shut your eyes to some of the worst of human towards animal behavior... I would say also that some things are improving, look at Green Hill being closed.
However its still pretty reasonable to say that should you be someone that has any feelings regarding animal care be it wild animals or domestic pets Italy will sorely try your spirits..
Am prompted to write this due to an article that i have just read about a fire in the Assergi area near L'Aquila, animals were dowsed in petrol and then set on fire to start a forest fire..
" Da quanto si è appreso, il criminale ha utilizzato un metodo crudele per appiccare il fuoco: ha imbevuto di benzina un malcapitato animale, un gatto o più probabilmente un coniglio, gli ha dato fuoco vivo e lo ha lanciato nella boscaglia, lì dove le fiamme si sarebbero propagate"
I hear ya'.
My wife and I are frequently saddened when we see how some of our neighbors, especially non-Italians, treat their dogs. What's even more sad is that when we ask our Italian friends about how to deal with the situation they all say the same thing.
Under no circumstances say anything because if you do, your own two dogs, which we keep in our large fenced-in garden area, will be immediately poisoned by the people you report to the authorities .............................. sigh.
Bob
America seems like a dream to me now.
like you say its sad, and there are people all over the world that have brain disturbances regarding how to treat animals,women,and children.. so its not only Italians,... but the levels here if you come from a more balanced background sort of leave you a bit stunned... as you say there is little to be done in terms of protesting an act of violence.. because you just bring down the risk on your own family.. cowards way out ???? most probably but better to be a live coward
Going Green Translations
Why did I read this thread?! Now I am raging. I'm the type of person who CANNOT pass a hurt, sick or otherwise upset animal without trying to help it/take it in. Animal cruelty bothers me so much so that about three months ago I started phasing meat out of my diet and I'm pretty much vegetarian now.
What type of mentality does it take for a person to douse an animal in gasoline and throw it? I can't even come up with the words. Near my ex-boyfriend's house in the mountains of Reggio Emilia, there was a family who kept this beautiful white dog outside, perpetually in chains. When I asked him about it, he would explain that the family would shrug and say "it's a dog."
Animals are more than that--I would rather sleep outside in the cold than make my cats suffer.
lol, if I see them sleeping all cuddled up and warm on my bed, I'll take my pillow and go sleep on the couch not to bother them.
A few months ago, I went on a date with a guy and we spoke about his dog (a beautiful golden retriever). I found out he kept her always outside and never let her in the house. I didn't call him back.
Need Italian <> English translations? http://www.translationgirl.com
Read all about my adventures
http://www.iheartreggio.blogspot.com
The treatment of animals is what prompted me to become vegan - I ask though why should the suffering of a dog or cat be more awful than that of the animals slaughtered every day for what we eat, or the calves torn from their mothers so their milk can go to humans. I am focused on living a cruelty free life as much as I possibly can.
You can't do today's job with yesterday's methods and be in business tomorrow.
http://www.damienofarrell.com
So happy to hear there are other vegetarians on the forum, I have been one most of my life.
I will never ignore witnessing cruelty toward animals.
Try here
http://www.enpa.it/
or here
http://milan.angloinfo.com/information/31/animals.asp
please do not be silent !
Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve. - Napoleon Hill
i published the story because i was so shocked at what people can do.. heres another story that was just brought to my notice, not cruel, a story of courage and instinct that to my mind at least displays why most of us in this world respect animals, even if we do not go to the lengths of some of the people commenting.. sorry it has nothing to do with Italy or life here.. but sometimes you need to have your faith in nature restored
http://www.dogheirs.com/larne/posts/1677-heroic-mother-dog-saves-her-puppies-from-blazing-house-fire
Going Green Translations
Italy certainly isn't alone in this sort of behavior. It happens all over the world, including the U.S. The treatment of cattle, chickens and pigs, etc.,here in the U.S. was the main reason I became a vegetarian. If you haven't seen the movie Food,Inc, I recommend that if you can stomach it, you watch it.
When I was in Ukraine with the Peace Corps I saw how they treated their cats and dogs as well, and in addition to leaving them out in sub-zero weather, they don't really have any legitimate veterinarians so there are packs of dogs and cats everywhere. It was so heartbreaking to see. I rescued a kitten there and brought him back to the U.S. with me and I used to feed the dogs that were running the streets with my extra food, but I barely made any difference. It was the best I could do though.
The more you delve into the mistreatment of animals, the more you release how animals are exploited on a daily basis. If it is a subject that interests you, I suggest watching Earthlings – it changed my life forever.
You can't do today's job with yesterday's methods and be in business tomorrow.
http://www.damienofarrell.com
I will indeed check out the film suggestion.
I am consuming fewer and fewer animal products as well, at first inspired by my own health concerns, but the cruelty factor is now the driver for me. I saw the documentary Forks over Knives and highly recommend it.
Forks over Knives is great! Another one to watch is Got Milk! Check out this site too!
You can't do today's job with yesterday's methods and be in business tomorrow.
http://www.damienofarrell.com
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