Animal Group Condemns Ethiopia Over Dog Poison Plan
Date: 10-Sep-07
Country: ETHIOPIA
Still using the ancient Julian calendar, the Horn of Africa
nation enters its new Millennium on Sept. 12 with a huge concert
expected to draw hundreds of thousands of partygoers.
Residents of the capital Addis Ababa have been asked to hit
the streets with their brooms for a spot of cleaning in the
run-up. Last week, the highland city's 90,000 beggars were
targeted with a council directive that banned begging.
Authorities have asked residents to lock up their dogs in
the lead-up to the Millennium, warning that any strays would be
dealt with by the city council.
"Ethiopia might be preparing to mark the third millennium,
but this massive dog-poisoning plan is something right out of
the Dark Ages", said Ingrid Newkirk, of US-based People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
PETA accused the authorities of planning to use as bait meat
laced with strychnine -- a powerful poison that causes intense
pain and severe convulsions before death by asphyxiation.
The group said the plan may lead to the unintentional and
agonising deaths of countless other animals feeding on poisoned
dog carcasses, and offered to assist in "humane euthanasia".
