Unspeakable Cruelty

[binidj]

Seen on Woodbrook's journal:

I'd heard about dogs being used as live shark bait but wasn't sure if it was true. Now the RSPCA have got hold of the story and investigated it, so it seems it is.

Please sign the petition.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=sharkbait

Comments

[quintus.livejournal.com]

Now, some people say that paramilitary death-squads aren't the answer... me? I say they're just not asking the right question.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/sharkbait.asp

Snopes seem to think that if it is going on, that it's not as widespread as the media claim. Given that the RSPCA aren't offering any evidence other than the same photo, I'm not sure I'm willing to believe it yet.

[curlwomble.livejournal.com]

I've just lokoed at the RSPCA site and two things make me deeply suspicious: first the dog doesn't look like it's very distressed by having a hook through its nose. The person holding its head is using a very gentle grip. Second, if you want to catch a shark, the hook has to end up in its mouth, which doesn't seem likely with the hook placed so on the dog (a medium-sized mongrel, from the picture; far more likely that the shark will pull the dog clean off the hook at first bite-and-thrash. To be honest, dead, bloody dog chunks would be better bait than a whole beast, and easier to manage on board a boat.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Pretty much the points that Snopes made - they've got it listed as 'unsubstantiated' rather than 'false' for those (and some other) reasons.