Day: May 5, 2025

General News, pets, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

Not very recent, but heartwarming all the same .. Friar Bigotón

https://www.thedodo.com/monastery-adopts-friar-dog-2303203254.html

Published on March 6, 2017 at 5:14 PM

Little Dog Is Welcomed As Monastery’s Cutest New Friar

“All of the brothers love him very much.”

In Catholic tradition, St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals — so perhaps it’s only fitting that one of the newest followers to join his order is quite literally a dog.

The Franciscan monastery of Cochabamba, Bolivia, recently announced that a furry pup, named Carmelo, had joined its sacred fold, where he quickly distinguished himself as its cutest member.

In honor of his new position, the dog even earned a more formal title: Friar Bigotón (that’s Spanish for “mustache”).

He also got a tiny Franciscan habit to wear around his new home.

Prior to being adopted, Friar Bigotón lived as a stray. But now, as the monastery’s resident pet, things couldn’t be better.

“His life is all about playing and running,” Jorge Fernandez, a fellow friar, told The Dodo. “Here, all of the brothers love him very much. He is a creature of God.”

Apparently, running and playing aren’t the dog’s only duties.

“[Here’s] Brother Carmelo preaching to the fish,” wrote Franciscan Kasper Mariusz Kaproń, who first posted these adorable photos online.

Most importantly, though, Friar Bigotón’s biggest role is in helping other pups like him.

Carmelo’s adoption was made possible by a local animal rescue group, Proyecto Narices Frías (Cold Nose Project), which hopes his story will serve as an inspiration for more monasteries to open their doors to needy pets.

Image credits: Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm

“If only all the churches of our country adopt a dog and care for him like Friar Bigotón,” the group wrote in a post on Facebook, “we are sure that the parishioners would follow his example.”

(The Franciscan Order, founded by S. Francis of Assisi, to this day, takes a keen interest in environmental issues – attends the COP Climate Change Conferences – and animal welfare, in accordance with the teachings of their founder)

China Cat Torture, General News, pets, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

THE LINK: Animal Abuse and Violence/Murder of Humans

The link has been established many times, with serial killers especially, who started with animals in their youth, and later migrated to people. We, and others working on the “Cat Torture” issue have warned against the perpetrators in China and elsewhere (as this material is spread globally via Social Media) eventually performing that same migration. Obviously, that does not mean the animal abuse is negligible so long as it stays there. Far from it. On the contrary – as, it has been said many times before, that the more helpless a creature, and so a victim, is, the more deserving it is of compassion. There can be no more helpless party, in a human society, that largely denies them any rights and/or equal consideration in respect to freedom from pain and suffering, than an animal.

One such example, which I remember well – as I have seen the material (meaning: videos) at the time – concerning a now 42-year old native of Canada, is one “Luca Rocco Magnotta”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Jun_Lin#Perpetrator

He came to fame, if that’s the phrase for what he did, when he murdered and dismembered his boyfriend in 2012. He was eventually apprehended in Berlin, and is currently imprisoned, for life. What I remember him best for, though, is …

.. which, in 2019, was the subject of a “True Crime Miniseries”, called, “Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer“

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_F**k_with_Cats:_Hunting_an_Internet_Killer

This is but one of many, who started out on animals, and later tortured/killed Humans.

There are two publications on the issue that are worth reading:

“The Link: Cruelty to Animals and Violence Towards People“

https://www.animallaw.info/article/link-cruelty-animals-and-violence-towards-people

The Link_Cruelty to Animals and Violence Towards PeopleDownload

and

“Animal Cruelty, Pet Abuse & Violence: The Missed Dangerous Connection“

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329457813_Animal_cruelty_pet_abuse_violence_the_missed_dangerous_connection

Animalcrueltypetabuseviolence2018Download

It cannot be stressed often enough that the nice guy next door carrying the little old ladies’ shopping upstairs might be a raving pervert, spending his time torturing animals, and hatching plans to do same to people. Not all of them are as obvious as this one last year ..

General News, pets, Uncategorized

(UK – Somerset) Investigation after dead cat found in bin bag

BBC News, West of England

An owner reportedly left a heavily-pregnant cat to die in a bin bag, an animal rescue centre has said.

Bosses at Little Paws Rescue, based in Clevedon, North Somerset, said an investigation has been launched after one of the “most horrific” incidents they have had to deal with.

They were called on Sunday after a member of the public found the dead cat on a popular walking route, called the 100 steps, in Hanham, South Gloucestershire.

Imogen Scofield, from Little Paws Rescue, said “heartbreakingly” the calico cat tried to claw her way out of the bag and went into labour after being dumped.

But due to the circumstances, none of the kittens survived, the animal charity said.

Ms Scofield continued: “It is the most upsetting thing we’ve had to witness, this poor cat didn’t deserve to suffer like she did.

“There is help out there and they could have contacted a rescue [centre] like ourselves who would have helped.”

Ms Scofield also confirmed the charity is asking people who live near the 100 steps to bring forward any CCTV from Sunday.

“The authorities are involved too, but we will do all we can to find out who did this,” she added.

PETITION

They Abandoned a Pregnant Cat in a Trash Bag. Then, She Went Into Labour.

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/913/260/083/

A heart-wrenching and unimaginable act of cruelty has recently come to light in Hanham, South Gloucestershire. A heavily pregnant calico cat was abandoned in a plastic bin bag, left to die alone and in agony. Tragically, the cat went into labor before she passed, but none of her kittens survived. This poor animal suffered a horrific and unnecessary death – one that could have been easily avoided if the owner had sought the help and support that is readily available.

Sign this petition to urge local authorities to investigate this heartless act and to begin a public education campaign to inform the community about the options available to those with unwanted pets.

According to the organisation called to the scene, the cat attempted to claw her way out of the bag, desperate for life and a chance for her kittens. Sadly, her cries went unheard, and the kittens, who could have been saved, perished along with her.

This tragedy underscores the need for better public awareness. There are shelters and organizations that provide assistance to those in need, and no animal should ever suffer because of a lack of knowledge about these resources.

We need to ensure that people understand that they have options. No one should feel so desperate that they resort to abandoning a pet in this inhumane way. Sign this petition today to make sure that no more animals have to suffer like this again!