We don’t know if there’s a direct link between the amount of rage people direct towards animals lately and the war, but you be the judge.
Let’s be clear. Abuse is abuse, whether it be considered “light” or “severe”, and the violent atmosphere that has spread across the country due to the war is not justification for any kind of abuse.
Lately we’ve been getting more and more complaints about severe animal abuse.
The more “sophisticated” abusers video themselves as they torment animals and post the videos proudly online. Others are caught in security cameras.
Here is a partial overview of the severe abuse cases we took in only recently:
In Haifa – a young kitten will never play again. A man named Eitan Margolis, resident of Tirat HaCarmel, killed a kitten by slamming him forcefully onto the pavement. The suspect was caught on security camera located nearby. Suspect was arrested by the police and brought to court in Hadera. The judge stated this was a severe case of cruelty and violence.
In Jerusalem – the poor cat will never meow again. A 17-year-old from Giv’at Ze’ev posted a video of himself (taken by his friends) throwing a kitten from a fifth-floor balcony down to the busy road. We learned this was not the first time he did such a thing. Suspect was arrested and released to home arrest. As if the documented abuse wasn’t enough, the suspect’s father threatened activists who were going to protest outside his house. He posted on Facebook, saying if they knock on his door, he’ll come out “armed and pissed”. In another comment, this same man, who identified as the suspect’s father, “promised” to teach his son to throw stones at cats “because of your behavior” (referring to other Facebook commenters).
In Baka El Garbiya – Kimbo the sweet dog will never wag his tail again. Kimbo was a happy and beloved dog, until he was shot to death near his home by a man in a car suspected to belong to the Shomron Veterinary Services. We don’t know why. Our legal department has filed a complaint with the police and has addressed relevant authorities.
In Natanya- Aimy the dog will never suffer abuse again as her owner has been arrested. Aimy was rescued from her abusive owner in a joint operation of the central district police, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Natanya Veterinary Services. Her body was covered in burn marks, lacerations and severe injuries to her limbs, as well as bruising the suggest ongoing abuse. Aimy is now being taking care of at our clinic.
InTzfira – a sweet kitten, searching for food inside a dumpster, had to flee for his life when a Bney Akiva student decided to pour the boiling contents of an instant noodle cup over him “as a joke”. Our legal department has filed a complaint with the police.
In Tzfat – sweet dog Avici isn’t eating or playing, he is depressed as a result of an alleged rape that happened a week ago. The suspect, a man in his forties, who has previously been convicted of similar crimes, was arrested by the police for raping Avici, a 7-year-old mixed Belgian Shepherd. The suspect was seen on security camera luring the dog, who was in the yard, to come with him. He led the dog to his home where he apparently, did the deed. The dog’s owner went outside to fetch his dog, found the front gate open and the dog missing. He then checked the security footage and was shocked to see the suspect playing with his dog, petting him, opening the gate and feeding him snacks, before taking the dog. The suspect was arrested, and we will continue to follow the case.
