PAWS Response to Crush Videos made viral in 2013
(scroll down for updates)
Letter of Request for an Investigation on the Animal Crush Video circulating in social media sites.
[UPDATE - October 3, 2013]
We have sent a Letter of Request to BAI-AWD for an Investigation on the Animal Crush Video circulating in social media sites.
We are trying to our best to gather more information as to whether this video is the same one in a previously filed case, or a new one. If it is the latter, we implore the source of this video to please step forward and provide the necessary information so we can immediately file a case against the perpetrators of this horrific act.
We have, so far, responded to 80+ calls and at least 400 emails (and still counting) from concerned citizens reporting about the video post. Our undermanned office consisting of three people are doing their best to keep up with the onslaught of calls, texts, emails, comments, and tweets.
We would like to plead to the netizens: please refrain from flooding our emails, FB posts, twitter and phones with the same report--we assure you that we are working hard on this issue, and tending to all calls, messages and reports take time away from the volunteers and staff who are trying to juggle this case and managing the shelter and responding to other urgent Animal Welfare matters (rescues, legal assistance, medical assistance etc).
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have personal and accurate knowledge as to the identities, source and whereabouts of the people behind this video.
People may also report this to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) - Animal Welfare Division; the government body in charge of implementing the Animal Welfare Act (926-1522; Office of the Director 926-6833 / 928-2429)
Thank you.
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Our previous post regarding the crush video on facebook was deleted by Facebook. To repost:
We have been receiving numerous reports on a video circulating on Facebook regarding an small puppy being crushed to death by three unidentified women.
This is categorically called a Crush Video; a pornographic material that caters to a horrible, twisted audience.It is a shame that such barbaric and twisted act of cruelty has been made into a moneymaking scheme by fellow Filipinos.
We are, as with everybody who has seen the post, enraged that this is happening in our own country—and that it is happening at all. We have, so far, responded to 50+ calls and at least 150 emails (and counting) from concerned citizens reporting about the video post. Our undermanned office consisting of three people are doing their best to keep up with the onslaught of calls, texts, emails, comments, and tweets.
Please note that a criminal case has already been filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against crush video makers. This video may be the subject of the case filed by PETA, and may have just resurfaced in the Social Media networks.
We were recently in touch with the PETA office; they too are receiving several reports on the video and are also trying to locate the source of the post, and if it is indeed an old video.
We implore the source of this video to please step forward and provide us with an affidavit so we can file the necessary criminal charges against the perpetrators and bring justice to their innocent victims. Without an affidavit or witness coming forward, we also need the names and addresses of the people in the said video, this will be another horrifying instance of Animal Cruelty which will not see its day in court--and this is not something that anyone wants forgotten.
People may also report this to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) - Animal Welfare Division; the government body in charge of implementing the Animal Welfare Act (926-1522; Office of the Director 926-6833 / 928-2429)
Thank you.
We have sent a Letter of Request to BAI-AWD for an Investigation on the Animal Crush Video circulating in social media sites.
We are trying to our best to gather more information as to whether this video is the same one in a previously filed case, or a new one. If it is the latter, we implore the source of this video to please step forward and provide the necessary information so we can immediately file a case against the perpetrators of this horrific act.
We have, so far, responded to 80+ calls and at least 400 emails (and still counting) from concerned citizens reporting about the video post. Our undermanned office consisting of three people are doing their best to keep up with the onslaught of calls, texts, emails, comments, and tweets.
We would like to plead to the netizens: please refrain from flooding our emails, FB posts, twitter and phones with the same report--we assure you that we are working hard on this issue, and tending to all calls, messages and reports take time away from the volunteers and staff who are trying to juggle this case and managing the shelter and responding to other urgent Animal Welfare matters (rescues, legal assistance, medical assistance etc).
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have personal and accurate knowledge as to the identities, source and whereabouts of the people behind this video.
People may also report this to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) - Animal Welfare Division; the government body in charge of implementing the Animal Welfare Act (926-1522; Office of the Director 926-6833 / 928-2429)
Thank you.
------------------------
Our previous post regarding the crush video on facebook was deleted by Facebook. To repost:
We have been receiving numerous reports on a video circulating on Facebook regarding an small puppy being crushed to death by three unidentified women.
This is categorically called a Crush Video; a pornographic material that caters to a horrible, twisted audience.It is a shame that such barbaric and twisted act of cruelty has been made into a moneymaking scheme by fellow Filipinos.
We are, as with everybody who has seen the post, enraged that this is happening in our own country—and that it is happening at all. We have, so far, responded to 50+ calls and at least 150 emails (and counting) from concerned citizens reporting about the video post. Our undermanned office consisting of three people are doing their best to keep up with the onslaught of calls, texts, emails, comments, and tweets.
Please note that a criminal case has already been filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against crush video makers. This video may be the subject of the case filed by PETA, and may have just resurfaced in the Social Media networks.
We were recently in touch with the PETA office; they too are receiving several reports on the video and are also trying to locate the source of the post, and if it is indeed an old video.
We implore the source of this video to please step forward and provide us with an affidavit so we can file the necessary criminal charges against the perpetrators and bring justice to their innocent victims. Without an affidavit or witness coming forward, we also need the names and addresses of the people in the said video, this will be another horrifying instance of Animal Cruelty which will not see its day in court--and this is not something that anyone wants forgotten.
People may also report this to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) - Animal Welfare Division; the government body in charge of implementing the Animal Welfare Act (926-1522; Office of the Director 926-6833 / 928-2429)
Thank you.
UPDATE 2013:
The investigation of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on the crush videos in 2011 led to the arrest of the people behind this cruel act. PETA filed a criminal case against them. The couple behind the crush videos have been in jail since August 2012. We were in touch with the PETA office as soon as the reports started coming in, and they too were receiving several reports on the video and they were trying to locate the source of the post. PETA confirmed that the video currently circulating is an old video from 2-4 years ago and it may have just resurfaced in Social Media networks. You may contact PETA ASIA PACIFIC (email: [email protected]) directly for specific updates.
UPDATE 2015:
PETA Asia Pacific Statement: In July 2011, a year-long confidential investigation by PETA Asia and the Philippines National Bureau of Investigations resulted in multiple cruelty-to-animals charges against and the arrest of a couple allegedly responsible for maintaining a website selling “crush” videos—including the said video (woman burning dog) you mentioned. In September 2014, a Philippine court found Vicente and Dorma Ridon—who have been in jail since June 2012—guilty of child abuse, animal welfare crimes, human trafficking, and wildlife-protection crimes for forcing girls to torture and kill puppies, rabbits, and other animals in “fetish” videos. The Ridons were sentenced to life in prison and fined more than 9 million pesos. To read more about this issue, please go to http://blog.PETAAsiaPacific.com/companion-animals/breaking-news-makers-cruel-crush-video-sentenced-details. You may contact PETA ASIA PACIFIC (email: [email protected]) directly for specific updates.
Related links:
http://www2.peta.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=109794.0&printer_friendly=1
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/381329/news/nation/couple-in-animal-abuse-videos-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-peta
Related links:
http://www2.peta.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=109794.0&printer_friendly=1
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/381329/news/nation/couple-in-animal-abuse-videos-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-peta
