Animal Cruelty on the Internet

SAFE was approached last week to help convince an online photo database site to remove a collection of images involving a young cat being burnt alive. No sooner had SAFE director Anthony Terry made a complaint to Photobucket.com had they agreed to remove the offending images. So why did they refuse the first time?

Photobucket.com initially received a complaint from Lisa, an animal-advocate who expressed her disgust after discovering the images on the site. She demanded that they remove the images. They refused, claiming the owner was an advocate against abuse, which made the images acceptable. Lisa was not convinced since she had already explained to them why she felt that argument wasn't valid, so felt they hadn't taken her request seriously. Lisa's sister, a SAFE supporter, contacted SAFE seeking our support. SAFE's director reviewed the images and immediately wrote to Photobucket.com:

Dear Sir/Madam

It has come to our attention that your site is hosting images that clearly depict a kitten being burnt alive. These are deeply disturbing images that would have caused excruciating pain to this animal.

We regard this matter to be very serious. It is also of concern that your site offers no warning that there is graphic content nor is there any description to put this collection of images into context. I did not need to be an authorised user to view this image and could have easily been a 12-year-old child searching for cat images.

SAFE is New Zealand's second largest animal advocacy organisation which has spent over 75 years trying to prevent animal abuse. We have a zero tolerance of animal abuse and spend considerable time and resources advocating humane education and compassion towards animals within schools and in the public arena.

It is our belief that this page, hosted by your company, actually perpetuates extreme violence towards animals. You may be interested to know that this scene would constitute a direct violation of animal welfare legislation in most western countries. By allowing to show this act of aggravated animal cruelty your company is at risk of being accused of promoting an illegal, let alone despicable act.

I have noted correspondence between your support team and a concerned member of the public where you have refused to remove this image, as you feel this was posted in an effort to highlight animal abuse. Based on my experience as an animal rights campaigner for almost 20 years I reject this position. If anything, it merely instils into those already with a tendency to be abusive towards animals to be inspired to emulate such an extreme act of animal abuse.

I am sure this is not your intention therefore I respectfully ask that you review your decision and withdraw this image immediately. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Terry
Director

SAFE wishes to commend Lisa for taking the initiative and making a complaint that in turn got SAFE involved.

Dealing with animal abuse on the internet

The internet has become a tremendous source of information, however it is also rife with disturbing visual material depicting heinous acts of unlawful abuse and atrocities. These include physical abuse, rape, murder, bestiality, torture and other obscene acts.

Images of animal cruelty on the internet are widespread and serious. Often they are being promoted by the perpetrators themselves or by those who enjoy promoting animal abuse. Footage of animal abuse on the internet, not aimed at trying to stop abuse, is often loaded for no other purpose than to incite and upset others. Several hoax websites (bonsai kitten, starving dog in exhibition) have appeared in recent years which depict animal cruelty but typically do not actually involve the harming of animals. Both types of material are harmful because they can potentially encourage and trivialise animal cruelty.

If you discover a website containing video or photographic material that involves animal cruelty, take these steps:

1) Copy and paste the internet address (url) of the offending website. Record the time and date that you viewed the page.

2) Download or save a copy of the offensive material to your computer as evidence. This maybe required to assist in the event authorities are able to prosecute.

• Downloading videos: Videos from most sites can easily be downloaded by entering the url in Video Downloader.
  
• Downloading images: For PC users, right-click on the picture so that a menu appears. For Mac users, press and hold down the mouse button + control to see the menu. Choose "Save image" or "Save picture" option. Give the file a name and save it to your desktop.

3) Notify SAFE. Email safe@safe.org.nz including the url details.

4) Don't post the url details to friends, mailing lists or forums. Many well-intentioned people email the offensive material to their contact list in an effort to get the site removed. Ultimately, mass emails only increase the number of visitors to a website, encouraging the site's creator.

5) If the offensive material is on a site that allows you to flag it for removal, or if you are able to make a complaint, do so, but only after you have followed the steps outlined above.