Animal cruelty and tradition
Working animals suffer greatly through ignorance and cruelty and archaic traditions. At SPANA we work tirelessly through our dedicated veterinary centers and our mobiles clinics to put a stop to animals suffering throughout Africa and the Middle East.
Examples of widely used practices
Firing
Firing is laying a hot iron on an inflamed area of the animal. People believe that this will reduce the swelling and pain. In reality, it causes open wounds.
Applying battery acid on wounds
Owners believe this will dry out the wound and speed up the healing process. But this method actually prevents the healing process and causes agonising pain.
Beating to steer an animal
Because of poverty animal owners often cannot afford to buy a harness for their animal. So, to steer them when they are pulling carts, they strike them with sticks on the sides of their heads and body. This is not only painful but can also cause nasty wounds and abscesses.
In Mauritania SPANA has been able to introduce free head collars to thousands of animals. This video shows the success of this campaign.
Slitting nostrils
This tradition is most commonly used in Tunisia. People believe that by slitting the nostril of a donkey, horse or mule the animal will be able to breath better and so work harder. This is not the case. It causes great pain and in some cases infections.
How can we stop these practices?
We provide a wide range of free veterinary services across Africa and the Middle East so we can treat working animals with injuries inflicted from curelty. This is vital but only provides a short term solution.
To stamp out animal cruelty and suffering for good, we need to get to the core of the issue and provoke change.
With our established education programmes we are able to change the beliefs and attitudes of thousands of children and animal owners every day. For example in Mali we provide a MOT for animals
Why are old-fashioned traditions still in use?
Most of the time it is poverty, ignorance and cultural traditions that lead to animals suffering.
In many of the countries where we work, vets are few and far between. And if they are available, their fees are often unaffordable to poor families. So traditional practices continue to be used, many of which cause severe pain to animals.
Also, in many families children are given the task of tending the animals. They learn their job from parents or older brothers and sisters. Instructions are passed from generation to generation, often becoming muddled or distorted along the way. This means that knowledge of animal husbandry is not only limited, but often inaccurate as well.
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