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Shocking animal suffering and abuse in Ethiopia

Posted on by Elias Kifle

This video is one of the most shocking things I have seen in a long time. It is about animal suffering and abuse in Ethiopia. Our society should not allow this kind of suffering to go on any longer. Some people may ask why I should be concerned when people are suffering equally or more than the animals in Ethiopia. First, unlike people, these animals are completely helpless and have no voice to complain. Secondly, their suffering is a stain on our society. It degrades our moral value as a society. Please let us try to stop animal abuse in our country by educating each other. – Ayda Million

51 thoughts on “Shocking animal suffering and abuse in Ethiopia”

  2. Ayda:
    Is the ferenji narrating in this clip your fucker. He must be. What is the fuse here. That is our own way of life you loser, though the suffering of the animals is not accepted.

  3. Are you joking? In a country where helpless individuals/human beings are treated like animals how can one expect fair treatment for animals. In fact Woyane cares more for donkeys than what he calls “ADGIS” i.e Amharas

  4. Ayda, it makes me sick to think of the way we human beings are treated in our country than the animals you are talking animal. It seems that you didnot give a shit to abuse of human beings and rather more affliated to donkey and others. I will say shame on you and narator. Just think of the situation being in place and the situation is different from where you are now.

    laugh if it is funny

  5. Minale’s link horrified me than the one in Ethiopia. I am not saying the thing in Ethiopia should continue but it is the lesser of the two evils. God the image of animal abuse here in the US is indescribably agonizing.Is this vegetarian people’s conspiracy to take us into their wing or this is how we get milk and meat? I am considering vegetarianism for the first time.

  6. Ayda, I think you are lucky, thinking about right of animals! I wish Aleka Gebrehana were alive to read and see this, he would answer well. Ayda keldegna nesh, gin minim baynorenem moral yalshew neger arif new. We have to start moral education (ye Gebregeb temehirt). God bless you Ayda.

  8. I dread to watch zis video, because in this part of the world my species failed to comprehend the well being of itself, let alone its domestic helper. Oh how about its eviro. Ironically this super being picks his domestic helper to vilify itself. Now who is an animal here?
    Now why have I lost compassion towards so called intelligent animal? I think this behaviour mention by………

  10. Thank you Ayda for sheding light on the abuse of animals in Ethiopia. It does not only bring awareness on the matter, but also provokes interesting repercussions from the Ethiopian audience. I have the impression that many participants of this forum do not want to hear anything other than political rhetoric. I dearly appreciate their persistence and dedication to bring human right in the country we all love. But, I also appreciate those individuals who believe that they can participate in other developmental issues regardless of the political situation.
    It is shortsighted to think that we have to freeze everything else and fight only the crooks up in the ladder.
    To me, it is okay to have many fights at the same time as far as we agree on the common purpose.

    It really perplexes me when people suggest things like: if the West does it we can also do it; human rights comes first. It is dumb. Meles plays that kind of game. When once asked about the lengthy trial of the top leaders of Derg, he responded that even US is unable to conclude O.J.Simpson’s case.

    After all, who is to say that humans have the right to abuse animals? If you read Genesis, it says God created the animals first and then created man to have dominion over them. Animal abuse should not take place if we truly understand that the command puts us as “caretakers” of the earth, not abusers.

    So, I encouage Ayda to continue her endeavor to bring about change in the human-animal relationship in Ethiopia.

  11. Under weyane ethiopia will be left with dead human and animals. How about the live of ppl in Addis (piassa) have you ever see the way they live the number of beggers the number of street bussiness (all kind). Weyane is concerned only about his power grip nothing else. And infact serving of foreign interst too.

  12. Yes, it is sad to see animals suffering but it is also a stretch to make a big deal out of this where humans live under severe conditions. Actually, I amazed how this passed ELIAS’S desk.

  13. thanks ayda, for those of you who responded in such way, shame on you.didn’t you heard that when ppl gets starved in wollo and tigraye in 70s,they died with their animals besides them? it is because they love their animales they didn’t even want to kill them.
    but this tells you that at this time ppl coudn’t even help themselves let alone their animals. Ethiopians love animals but they have no choice.

  15. Ayda,

    Thank you very much for the info. You are one Ethiopian I have seen who talks about other topic rather than the usual hate politics. a civilized person treats his animals with respect i.e treat them right. Is it that difficult? The standard of education of those who were critisizing with out thinking what the writer wrote about are neadarthals. It is not only dogs, the abuse of any animal in Ethiopia is an acceptable. They beat the horses, the donkeys, the cats for no reason at all. They feel pain like any human being morons. If you don’t have respect for animals then better not call yourself civilized. Don’t hide behind the usual slogan that people are oppressed.

  16. Thank you Ayda for sheding light on the abuse of animals in Ethiopia. It does not only bring awareness on the matter, but also provokes interesting repercussions from the Ethiopian audience. I have the impression that many participants of this forum do not want to hear anything other than political rhetoric. I dearly appreciate their persistence and dedication to bring human right in the country we all love. But, I also appreciate those individuals who believe that they can participate in other developmental issues regardless of the political situation. It is shortsighted to think that we have to freeze everything else and fight only the crooks up in the ladder. To me, it is okay to have many fights at the same time as far as we agree on the common purpose.

    It really perplexes me when people suggest things like: if the West does it we can also do it; human rights comes first. It is dumb. Meles plays that kind of game. When once asked about the lengthy trial of the top leaders of Derg, he responded that even US is unable to conclude O.J.Simpson’s case.

    After all, who is to say that humans have the right to abuse animals? If you read Genesis, it says God created the animals first and then created man to have dominion over them. Animal abuse should not take place if we truly understand that the command puts us as “caretakers” of the earth, not abusers.

    So, I encouage Ayda to continue her endeavor to bring about change in the human-animal relationship in Ethiopia.

  17. Ayda,

    Thank you for bringing this sad story into light. Speaking our moral value I don’t know where it should start with us. Heart breaking. I saw these animals a bunch of them left sick and neglected south of Addis. What can you do? It was part of our culture to live with domestic animals and it is good. Often times the burden of the grief weighs more than you can carry. Look at those kids with out parents. They suffer too though different magnitude and nature. This is the routine. We should start now to educate us and our kids to see things differently. We might then find solutions for all our suffering.

  18. Some of the few constractive items posted in Ethiopian review website!!Who ever has bring these issue of animal abuse shall be commended and it is true we Ethiopian have deeply rooted thwarted out look about animalls and animal treatment.These shall be curbed with teaching and extensive awareness creation .These shall be followed by enforcing the existing rules and regulation(By the way do you know that there is a very civilazed laws and regulation in Ethiopian civil codes) and by introducing new laws and regulation.It can be done! It will be done things will be much much better soon ..As all the development works will be successfully accomplish making poverty history!!

  19. What is wrong with you people? For heaven’s sake, where is your human compassion? Why all the insults and abuse to a person, Ayda, who is rightfully bringing to our attention which sadly has come a trademark of Ethiopia [and Eritrea] beside hunger and destitute!

    While, I really don’t remember of this type of animal abuse when I was in Ethiopia many years ago, I can tell you this kind of cruel and inhumane treatment of domestic animals is more than common in Eritrea. One of the reason I hate venturing to the countryside in Eritrea is to avoid seeing the real abuse of these animals routinely exercised by the villagers who should have known better.

    I remember on one of my village walks, I saw a donkey whose hind leg was bent “Unnaturally” and carrying two cases of Coca-Cola bottles. Needles to say, the donkey was struggling the hilly trails at the constant beating of the owner (driver). I was so appalled by the heartless person, I begged him to be easy on the donkey with clearly broken leg. He told me to mind my business and kept on beating on the poor donkey even harder and more persistently. Go figure!

    In fact my concern is with the self centered western powers who do not say a word about the abuse of our animals [and, of course, human beings] when they are part and parcel of the suffering of our people by supporting regimes like the TPLF.

    Ignoring the suffering of our beast of burden does not help in any way the fact that our people are being equally abused. Let the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia join forces to liberate ourselves from our common enemy who is being supported by the west. In the mean time, we should never forget that the cause of humanity is not an exclusive right of humans and humans alone.

  21. Are you jocking, realy? Don’t you see childern, women, old men and women on the street with conditions not better than these animals?
    Oh, God may these misry end.

  22. First of:Who is the writer of this article?
    An individual from the West or Europe may be surprised looking at the the heavy loads on domestic animals like donkeys,horses or watching all abused animals in Ethiopia but the writer didn’t realize that how much human-beings are abused.How on earth a government that violates human rights will stand for animal justice?
    I recommend the writer to have a look at human right violation in Ethiopia
    Thanks.

  23. አይ አይዳ.
    የኢትዮጵያ ድሃ እኮ ጣር ላይ ነው ያለው!
    ትራክተር የለው ሎንችና..ጋሪ የለው ጋቢና
    አጠገቡ ያለውን አህያውን አሊያም ልጁን እየገረፈ ያ ለፍቶ ወይም ፈጭቶ ያዘጋጀውን ገበያ ማውጣት አለበት እኮ..አህያ ደግሞ አልሄድም ካለች አልሄድም ነው..እንዴት ይሁን? ፕሊስ ምናምን አታውቅ. ወይ በባትሪ አትሰራ.ግራ የገባ ነገር. አባቴ አንድ የሚጠቀምባትን አህያ አያችሁ ደግሞ?

  24. In order someone to have compassion on animals first he has to learn how to be compassionate on his fellow poor, unfortunate and neglected compatriots. I have been in Addis twice in my life time and I have seen men, women and children sleeping on the pavements. It’s heart wrenching situation. Tell me, what’s the difference between these human beings and the animals? Actually dogs are brought to our homes just to defend us from burglars. We don’t rear them out of love.

  25. What about the human being in Addis ABABA? ARE THEY TREATED LIKE A HUMAN BEING? They are treated worse than animals thanks, to Meles Zenawi the dictator.

  26. I admire this awareness effort. I have to say however, that human beings are said to be part of the animal kingdom, and street children in Addis Ababa sleep with dogs that roam the city. I hope nobody puts strychnine(sp?)in the food that the street children share with dogs.

  27. የደላው ሰው ሙቅ ያኝካል አለ ያገሬ ሰው!!!

    አሁን እስቲ የሚወራ ችግር ጠፍቶ ነው?

    “በጉ” አለ ተራኪው “በጉ የፊት እግሮቹ ወደ ላይ ተነስቶ ከሰውየው እኩል እንዲሄድ ተገደደ” እናትዬ ስንት ስው የሞተብን አለን እሺ? አሁን በዚህ እንድናዝን ነው? ነው ወይስ ቀልድ ነው?

  29. My dear,

    People in the West are rich enough to take care of animals. These Westerners care less about Ethiopian human abuse and suffering rather than animals. I wonder if they save their lives first before animals if they go through the same human suffering created by Western and TPLF and Weyane.

  30. How come, they[westerners]are not corresponding to this abuse to maybe Ethiopians are also living in hell? Of course they did not say one thing about the TPLF/Weyane but keep on blaming the people!

  31. I beleive some education on how to treat the animals humanely will be helpful. I have seen in my own eyes donkeys being overloaded until they collapse. A while back in Awassa I was riding on a horse drawn carriage (Feres Gari) and saw the driver hitting the horse to move faster on the wound on the shaulder. I felt the pain to my bones as if it was happening to me and asked the driver why he had to do that. He said to me animals don’t feel pain like we humans do. So it is due to ignorance if not all, some people treat animals inhumanely.

  32. come on people! u don’t care about people who r starved n u care about donkeys? give me a break! care about the children, the women, who r not educated. give them a chace to be educated and safe. think about people first. think people!

  33. I am not an animal rights activists, nor do I believe that animals are immune from being used to fulfill human purposes. The raw nature law of competition for survival has been rightly summed up by Herbert Spencer’s phrase “survival of the fittest.”

    But why is everybody uncomfortable with the notion of fighting all wrongs at the same time as far as there are self-initiated volunteers like Ayda who want to invest their time in issues that we often neglect? What is wrong if we spread our resources and tackle social injustices in tandum with environmental and energy issues, animal abuses, etc? Why do we incline to forcefully squeeze everybody into our way of thinking? In his freedom movement, Gandhi was not only pursuing civil disobedience, but also building self-sufficient communities and revitalizing traditional technologies simultaneously. He well understood that freedom fight is not political alone. That is why he once said “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

    Similarly, there are a zillion of Ethiopian environmentalists, ecologists, medical doctors, social anthropologists, veterinarians, engineers and geologists scattered around the countryside chipping in to the development of the country. What they are doing may not directly relate to the political movement and poverty prevention that this forum understandably preaches, but they are preparing and multiplying the pillars of sustainable growth. What is wrong if these people weigh doing less in the explicit fight against Zenawi? We should never forget that two decades of “[i]hulum neger wode tor ginbar[/i]” has caused an irreversible depletion and out-migration of the once rich Ethiopian wildlife. That happened because the issue of environment and animals was at the bottom of the pryramid of priorities of the regime. I am afraid we have not still liberated ourselves from the old belief that percieves the relationship between humans and animals as a one way road. Let’s stop that kind of nonsense and prevent the habitat destruction by at least encouraging Ayda.

    As far as I am concerned, I do not think she is planning to plant PETCO in Addis Ababa, nor does she attempt to establish PETA in Ethiopia. She is just asking everybody to be aware of the beating and abusing of animals and do the least possible to reverse the course. Cheers

  35. Human rights, animal rights, natural rights, legal rights, women rights, property rights, national rights are relatives. Respect for human rights is paramount. Other rights are equally important.
    Recognizing the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, whereas disregard and contempt for human rights results in barbarous acts which outrages the conscience of humankind. The peoples fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of the human person promotes social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, understanding of these rights and freedoms.
    And, If this were true in Ethiopia: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

    Without occurrences like this:

    Human rights report 2008:

    “c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
    Although the constitution and law prohibit the use of torture and mistreatment, there were numerous credible reports that security officials tortured, beat, or mistreated detainees. Opposition political party leaders reported frequent and systematic abuse and intimidation of their supporters by police and regional militias, particularly in the months leading up to the local and by-elections held during the year (see section 3). In Makelawi, the central police investigation headquarters in Addis Ababa, police investigators reportedly commonly used physical abuse to extract confessions.”

    Today people’s focus is more on the prevention of human rights abuses. Pal talks, news, current events topics are mostly on urgent human rights abuse preventions. I hope after the urgent human rights issues, the good people will address animal rights by bringing to front traditional laws.

  36. Who was it? Is it Selamta? Who wrote before me? Look! Madam ou Monsieur. Didn’t what is his name Gandhi rode on an animal back when he traveled with his followers? Will that make him anti-animal right? Tell me any country who never used animals for one thing or other. At least you should praise God that we don’t eat donkeys. I suggest you change your criticizing to those countries who have everything but still use animals for researches, rides, hunting and so on. I don’t think Ethiopian poor deserve this. It is an insult. I am sure you know that poor doesn’t get a satisfaction of having a sick or wounded animal. You know he has no money to buy medicine for himself let alone for his donkey. It is survival 101. Instead of blaming the poor, go to Ethiopia and give the poor or send some money to buy a car or to rent it so they can take their goods to market. I am 100% sure that you will get a satisfaction of saving one donkey. what did the person above me said “yedelaw Ice cream yagnkal”?

    wuro

  37. Wuro,

    Thank you for the piece of personal advice. I was, however, saddened to learn that you belittle the capacity of your nation. For your information, there’s always been animal clinic in many parts of Ethiopia that provide free medicines and vaccines. Also, The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in Debre Zeit recruits highly qualified medical doctors and provides sanctuaries for abused animals. Last but not least, we have the Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology that was named after Ethiopian scientist Prof. Aklilu Lemma. He is not only survived by his children, but also by the Livelihood Award he received after dicovering Endod that led to the development of anti-schistosome vaccines. This would not have been possible without the use of animal models. Today, numerous organizations are mushrooming around the field of animal welfare, such as; Homless Animals Protection Society, Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation, Society of Animal Welfare, The Donkey Sanctuary, Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, etc.

    Selam lante Yihun

  38. Wuro,

    Abuse and use are two diammetrically opposite words. Nobody is against the use of animals. Did Gandhi ride an animal? I know that Jesus entered jerusalem on a donkey. I also know that Gandhi once said “you can judge a nation by the way they treat their women and their animals.”

  39. How can one vindicate thre idea that animals should be abused, because human beings are being abused too ? This is totally fallacious argument. The abuse of animals is one thing and the abuse of human beings is another story. Are we trying to release our frustration by abusing our animals? Woyane is abusing us and we are abusing our animals ..what a funny thing. We became a nations of coward and whinners …full of talk..”lejoro yeshaget chuhet” or”gunch alfa kirkir” ..
    shame on us!!

  40. Ok selamta. you didn’t answer my question. What I hate is the bura kereyu ala alarm setter. Did you say the capacity of my nation?? So what are you saying? I am sure you are not accusing the poor for not getting alternative.
    The poor is trying to survive in what he has left with? The nation you were talking about must be arat kilo and the surrounding areas. Well, where I live, there isn’t animal hospital near by. I know the poor uses herbal medicine. sometimes it works sometimes not. The “cause” is not bad but you are part of the “cause” by bringing shame to the nation. Using western media to bring Ethiopia’s name for the thing you said can be easily done as to teach the people how to take the horse to the clinic and get free medication is left on the air. May be you live far away to learn from your grandparents how Ethiopians love their animals. Give the poor some from the stimulus package thing you received and let them show you how to care for animals more. Now “wochegud” sir, abuse or use? all I say to you is there is no small or big abuse. You ride a horse, you cross the line. period. There is no animal who willingly give you its back for you to ride. you know “ligwam” it start with that. That is why I need to see a “ligwam” on some of you when it comes to blaming the poor. I am afraid I may start another “cause”. What is “ligwam” made of? You guys are a joke. Let the west ridicule anything we do. Atleast they have a good “cause”. lets help the poor. Maferia hula! I didn’t mean it. I just want to use the word of my neighbor “bale ahiyaw”

    yenantew wuro negn.

  42. Wuro,

    I know rural Ethiopia better than Addis and can walk you through each and every facility that few courageous people are establishing in the midest of small towns and villages. To me, Addis Abeba stinks.

    I am wondering why you persistently glue animal abuse and poverty together. Awareness of human abuse could be achieved without compromising the livelyhood of people and without any input from the anti-ethiopian government. We have witnessed this back in the days. My other provocative argument is that poor people make mistakes as we all do.

    I do not also understand why you continously narrow the avenue of discussion and make it personal? If you are interested to know more about me I will happily let you know.

    Here are the problems I have with your position: You think that every problem is caused by the Government and we can not do anything without uprooting it first. You also think that anybody who hints about the positive developments in Ethiopia is Woyane or far from the reality. I disagree.

    Have a great day

  43. What is personal in my writing? You have a big problem.
    Now your new “cause” will be “Addis Abeba stinks”. Go to a psychiatrist. What I have a problem with are not the people who work day and night to improve the well being of the poor. I have a problem with your stinky way of portraying any thing Ethiopian. Did I say a thing about the Government? If you ask me, I don’t like them. What you are doing here is worst. “min yalew zilay aychilim” alu. What kind of mistakes will poor people do except trying to survive. Put ligwam if you are Ethiopian and help. If you are western born qimitil Buzz-off.

    Good luck with your next project(cause)

    maferia hula!

  44. Wuro,

    I finally realized that I am wasting my time. But let me share with you a Chinese proverb before I go: “A man’s conversation is the mirror of his thoughts.” We have the Amharic and Oromiffa equivalent to it but I will leave that part for you since you claim to be the man on the ground.

    selamta

  45. I am saddened to read many people’s negative attitude toward animal welfare. Being concerned about the welfare of animals does not mean disregarding human rights. Besides, the animals being horribly abused in Ethiopia are totally innocent. If you don’t care about the most innocent among us, how can you properly care about other human beings? We can/should care for all, animals and humans.

  46. To all those who blame the west for Africa’s problems.
    Africans should be ashamed for blaming the west for all their problems. All the charity and philanthropic organizations are from the west. Human abuse in africa is rampant in all its forms, child rape, rape, murders etc. Did the westerners tell you to behave like this? Accept responsibility and try to solve your problems.

  49. keeping animals rightest is behavior of modernized people!also ,i am newly elected chair man of animal welfare club in jimma university i need more information about this issue & other supports.i am also veterinary student thank you !i love animals

  50. If they whip/beat their donkey until it has cuts/wounds, they should be whipped the same amount of times. If they poison dogs, I’ll poison their children in front of them. I’ll throw them into pits, put their disgusting offspring (humans) babies in bags and throw them into rivers. I’ll tie them up and throw them to hyena’s. I’ll drag people along the ground. I’ll lock the people up on chains one foot long. I’ll slaughter babies and humans after transporting them long distances in uncomfortable and cramped conditions. The people in Ethipia who don’t care for animals should suffer, and the die a prolonged death. They don’t deserve life if they mistreat their animals. There are to many anyway, so they should kill their human babies and then die themselves.

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