By Morgan Adderley
Tribune Staff Reporter
madderley@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Humane Society is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the man who filmed and encouraged a dog to kill a smaller dog.
The video went viral on social media late last week. The three-minute, two-second-long clip shows the larger white dog, which appeared to be a pit bull, viciously attacking and biting the neck of the smaller, brown potcake-type dog and dragging it into the sea, while the smaller dog screams and yelps.
The man filming the video praises the attack and claims that this is not the first dogfight the pit bull has won.
The footage begins with the man appearing to call the dog ‘Shawn”.
“Kill Shawn, kill boy,” he says.
The attacking dog methodically attacks his victim and every 30 seconds or so the man can be heard encouraging him on.
“Kill boy, kill, Kill boy,” he says. Eventually: “Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.”
At the end the dog stands over the lifeless body of his victim which he has dragged out of the sea to lay on a rock.
The dog can clearly be seen wearing a black collar with silver studs.
“Good boy, good boy. He kill that one, he kill that one,” says the man off camera. “That’s four under the belt. ‘Cause yesterday that was the third one, yeah. And today a fourth one.”
Kim Aranha, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, said the reward of up to $3,000 is due to the collective efforts of close to 100 people. She said people donated anywhere from $20 to $300 to assist.
She told The Tribune yesterday: “It’s interesting because when we do anything, the Humane Society usually gets a bunch of people saying ‘y’all don’t care about humans, hey.’
“But this time everybody seems to be disgusted and upset by this information. But the police say they are investigating.”
Mrs Aranha decried the video and the impact it has on the reputation of pit bulls and pit bull owners in the country, who have been trying to change the negative associations people have with the animals.
The video also sparked outrage on Facebook.
One user commented: “There are laws on our books against animal cruelty, etc, and unless the perpetrator is severely penalised, this type of behaviour will undoubtedly be repeated. “Slap-on-the-wrist penalties are inefficient and insulting. The lack of value of any animal life graduates towards human life. This incident may seem unimportant to some or even to many, but this has a direct impact on the killing that is happening in our country right now.
“Life is not valued that is why it is so easily taken. Waiting to see what action the authorities will take.”
Another wrote: “I love my pitties I really do but it’s (people) like him who train theirs to be so vicious and give the whole breed a bad name.”
A third person posted: “This is the reason why I stop carrying my dogs (in) public places ‘cause idiots is train these dogs to attack and kill other people dogs.”
Training or owning any animal for fighting is prohibited under the Animal Protection and Control Act. Under that law, anyone found guilty of such an offence could face a fine of $1,000 to $20,000 or a prison term not exceeding six months, or both.
Comments
John 6 years, 7 months ago
You would think The Tribune would do better with heir headlines after a relatively quiet and peaceful, religious holiday weekend. But a screaming headline, "Help catch killer..." would lead many to believe there was a brutal murder over the weekend. Then to continue with the headlined story on page three and with the ''Help catch killer ...' repeated. More than overkill, pun intended. Virtually, in proportion, this dog killing got more newspaper coverage than four successful and peaceful days of Carifta. And like the young people say, 'The Tribune' suggin for someone to get kill aye?"
DDK 6 years, 7 months ago
The headline is very clear and concise. "Help Catch Killer Pit Bull’s Owner". This is the way it appears on-line. See no problem there. I am very glad they are going after the dog's monster owner.
John 6 years, 7 months ago
Actually it would be the dog in peril. He would,most likely be euthanized if he is found to be a danger to other animals. But the Chinese openly buy cats and not for pets either.
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 7 months ago
He IS. A danger to other animals. He's been taught to KILL. He's also a danger to his owner.
GypsySoul 6 years, 7 months ago
That's unfortunately true John, so hopefully if that comes to pass and pleas to vindicate the dog to attempt rehabilitation fall short, the owner will be held accountable for that loss of life as well. As for the Chinese buying cats....please file your complaint with Police Authority to investigate and prosecute....or, place your next food order at that establishment....
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 7 months ago
Unfortunately this dog has been taught to kill. There's no unteaching that. And that instinct isn't automatically restricted to dogs. They can't let his current owner keep him, so that means a new unfamiliar owner. Maybe give him to Ceasar Milan.
watcher 6 years, 7 months ago
@ John - "Help catch killer pitbull's owner", together with a picture of the logo/emblem of the Bahamas Humane Society, can leave no reasonably intelligent person in any doubt as to what the story is about. There is no ambiguity whatsoever.
John 6 years, 7 months ago
The Bahamas humane society's logo is no where on the front page Of the newspaper..so you are reasonably misinformed or intentionally misleading or maybe The Tribune is catering to two different audiences with different intentions?
GypsySoul 6 years, 7 months ago
The article begins with "The Bahamas Humane Society" ... your point is?
sheeprunner12 6 years, 7 months ago
Maybe this is one of the local drug dealers - who keep these dogs to protect their assets.
John 6 years, 7 months ago
You just proved my point...You and your clan.,K has nothing good to say about The Bahamas or its people..but guess what...read the tea leaves..there is something you should really know.
UserOne 6 years, 7 months ago
Wow. When do you ever have anything positive to say, John?
ohdrap4 6 years, 7 months ago
only when he talks about webshop owners, his superheroes
hrysippus 6 years, 7 months ago
The Society's offer of three large Gs, . . . . ... ... For info leading to the killer's seize, . . . . .. . This might be more than the fine he get, . . . . .. From a court official whom I'm willing to bet, . . . . .. Sees turning a dog into a vicious beast, . . . . .... . Or hammering a head for a turtle feast, . . . .. .. As minor infractions of our civil law, . . . . ..... Deserving a fine and nothing more, . . . . . .... When the case is over, animals don't vote, . . . .. . And animal suffering not worthy of note, . . . . ... None of our governments have enacted the law, . . . .... That would keep these poor creatures from suffering more, . . ..... .. . Ghandi once said that to best judge a nation, . . . . ... .. "The welfare of animals, what is their station".
John 6 years, 7 months ago
There is some really good news in the making for the Bahamas Tourism Market...details to follow.
GypsySoul 6 years, 7 months ago
Yep, this has international attention......
ohdrap4 6 years, 7 months ago
John:
This headline hit a nerve, did it not?
John 6 years, 7 months ago
Yes it reminds me of Cowboys and Indians @ohdrap4
John 6 years, 7 months ago
And who were forerunners of drug dealers? Rum Runners, of course! And still they work with fire to get their products in front of every Black audience. What is apicket fence in the suburbs, and where did it came from? (Proper English ya kno)
sheeprunner12 6 years, 7 months ago
Wonder who up the reward money??????? ........... and who is presumed to be the pitbull owner???? ......... White money for a black criminal???????? ........... smh
GypsySoul 6 years, 7 months ago
Yeah, run with that SR......isn't it you who presumed?
John 6 years, 7 months ago
Shooting at YouTube headquarters in CA. Upwards of 8 victims. Shooter is confirmed a female. Not confirmed is she was killed.
John 6 years, 7 months ago
She may have died from a self inflicted wound
John 6 years, 7 months ago
A young Black Boy is standing in his grandma ‘s backyard with a cellphone and is shot 22 times. Police assumed he had a gun but never found one. A young White boy armed with an assault rifle enters a school and shoots dead 17 of his classmates. He is ‘captured ‘ by police, sedated and taken into custody where his attorneys are fighting to have him avoid the death penalty. Now This a female mass shooting.
John 6 years, 7 months ago
And there’s even no confirmation that the pit bull or it’s owne is even in tThe Bahamas. In fact the video may not even be real.
hrysippus 6 years, 7 months ago
The real question is, is John real? or is he a Russian troll working for Putin and seeking to sow discord on every front to weaken democracy in out beloved Commonwealth of The Bahamas?
juju 6 years, 7 months ago
Sheeprunner... why does everything have to be racial with you? An example should be made of this pit bull owner. I’m guessing that animal cruelty occurs too often,but never quite makes it to social media as this did.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 7 months ago
Who is speaking out when black boys die daily? But if a turtle or dog is harmed, the 10 percent make much ado....... why?
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