Starving Dog Used In Art Exhibit

I have received over the past month or so several emails about a starving dog being used in an art exhibit.  I got links to the petition.  I was asked to sign it.  Every time I got the link it was difficult to read the petition, mainly due to the lack of information saying what exactly happened at this exhibit.  I don't speak nor read Spanish and that caused even more of a problem in reading the petition page.  I even used a translator and copy and pasted into it, but it still didn't seem to explain the complexity and the horror of the event it was protesting.

Today I got a link to a myspace blog that had a video of the exhibit, which you can view here:

I was horrified.  I did more research.  One source that I often check when I get lots of emails about something is www.snopes.com.  They routinely check out things going around on the internet and determine if they are hoaxes, scams or true.  Their website listed this case as "undetermined".  Not undetermined if the event happened, just undetermined if the dog starved to death during the exhibit.  Here is the link to their account of this circulating email: Starving Dog Art.

I googled the artist's name, Guillermo Vargas Habacuc, and the art exhibit for hours off and on this week trying to find out something that said this person or the gallery had been charged with animal abuse.  Or something telling me this didn't happen.  I had hoped that possibly they tied up the dog for quick photos and then took it to a vet.  That was the least horrific thing I could connect to this story.  I found tons of information, and yes, he did have children catch the dog and he did leave it as it looks in the picture.  Artists and exhibitors sometimes try to shock us, to make us talk.  Apparently the artist wanted to make a point that people would walk by and not care, but people did care and asked that the dog be released, to be fed and given water.  The artist apparently refused. 

I searched and could not find one major news story on this event.  I found lots and lots of outrage, videos protesting it, and even blogs totally dedicated to making sure the artist does not repeat this exhibit.

I found where the artist at first stated the dog did not die, and then another place where he was quoted as saying the dog would have died anyway.

If the dog died - it says a lot about every single person that was involved in this event, the artist to the person taking tickets.  From the government to the person that approved this exhibit.  But how horrifying that there was a panel of judges that awarded him for this event.

The dog should have been taken to a vet.  Yes, the dog was starving, but being tied where it could not search for food or water is condemning it to death.  Empathy for this dog requires that you consider its feelings, physical and emotional.  Being a dog trainer, being a dog lover, being a dog rescuer, being a human being this kills heart. 

Here is a link to the petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/13031953/petition-sign.html

Here is another video with more written detail:

Here is a link to a blog devoted to keeping this artist aware that what he did was horrific: Habacuc Blog

On a daily basis in my job I receive lots of email and calls of dogs that need homes.  Dogs that have been abused that need help.  Dogs that are misunderstood that need someone to help them.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming.  My husband, Brad, said people will call the person they think most likely to help when in need.  So, if no one asks you for help, then you must not be someone that is thought of as being a giver.  When asked, do you give?  In this case, all you have to give is a minute to sign a petition.  To log this into your head and into your heart.  I don't care that the artist wanted to stir up things.  When the dog was caught he should have saved it as well.  Keep this dog's face in your head today and do one thing, just one thing to help an animal that you do not own.  Either with money or your time, or both.  Do something.  Please.  I once said in a post about a rescue I had named Ruby, that it is most important that when a situation arises and your help is needed that though you could have easily have said no, you said yes.  Try doing that.  It will make all the difference in the world, and make the world different.

Till later, woofs.