A TRAGIC EXAMPLE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY

[jenni_blog]

My favourite football team in Colombia, Junior of Barranquilla, had a mascot, an owl who inhabited the stadium and would be caught by the cameras flying around and sitting on the pitch during matches, not unlike the Benfica eagle, Vitoria, in Lisbon. Last Sunday during a match, when Junior was playing a team called Pereira, a player on the opposition team, Luis Moreno, kicked the owl after it had been struck by the ball. A man from an animal rescue team was in the process of coming onto the pitch to pick up the injured bird before it was kicked. Play had been halted so the bird could be helped. Then this horrible thing happened. I don't have enough words...I am an animal lover. I cannot abide any kind of cruelty shown towards animals or children, those who rely on us to help them, not hurt them. The owl was expected to recover, having suffered a leg fracture, but yesterday went into shock and died. I went to bed last night devastated and in tears.



MAY HE REST IN PEACE. I WILL MISS SEEING HIM FLYING AROUND THE STADIUM.

Some photos:













ARTICLES ABOUT THE INCIDENT:

Link to articles on the Barranquilla Owl.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/14626-soccer-player-assaults-barranquilla-teams-mascot-owl.html

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/videos/66019/moronic-footballer-kicks-owl-when-its-down-video.html

http://en.terra.com/latin-in-america/news/panamanian_soccer_player_who_kicked_an_owl_could_go_to_jail/hof13775

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/14676-owl-kicking-soccer-player-says-he-received-death-threats.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/02/owl-colombia-luis-moreno-dies

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/latinamerica/story/Mascot-owl-dies-after-being-kicked-off-pitch

Comments

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

It makes me sad!

How stupid can a human be? Kicking an injured animal is cruel!
The guy wanted to hit Junior right into the heart! (but I guess he was thinking NOTHING)

I hope the moron will go to jail!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

There is a good chance the moron will be punished severely for what he did. If he had left the bird alone it most likely would have recovered. People cannot go around doing these stupid, senseless acts! :(

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

I have read about the fine: two matchdays he has to rest and he has to pay 500$.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

It's a ridiculous punishment! Hardly punishment at all! But look at what happened when Javier Flores shot that fan and he died...the same thing...he was suspended for longer but he had to only pay a fine of a few hundred dollars! It's crazy! :(

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

When I have read what he has to pay I thought about how much they are getting there for playing football! It has to be very less money!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I think that is true...I was thinking the same thing. The Colombian players are hardly earning over $100,000.00 per week like the guys in the EPL. Hugo Rodallega must think he is in heaven. :(

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

Imagine the clubs are not able to pay the players.
I'm sure the players get more money than the 'normal' workers....

It's hard to imagine....

[sophiamoon.livejournal.com]

Such thoughtless cruelty.

Sad, really.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

It's terrible. I hate to see things like this. :(

[kiwirazzi.livejournal.com]

What a total moron!! Kicking a helpless animal is NOT cool in the very least. I hope someone will kick that idiot as well. *fumes*

Poor owl. I love owls, they're such beautiful creatures. RIP.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

It's awful. I felt sick to my stomach. :(

I think the guy will be punished for sure.

Me too...owls are lovely birds. Once we had a baby owl living in our garage...it must have flown in and was too scared to come out. Eventually, though, it did fly off after a couple of weeks. :)

[wildmopdogs.livejournal.com]

omg this is so sad!
I haven't wanted to watch the videos because it's so horrible :(
It's ridiculous! :( Poor owl!! The federation should do something about this!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

The video was shocking for me when I saw it. I burst into tears right away and was crying when I went to bed. :(

I do believe the player will be suspended for 3 matches and fined a few hundred dollars. :(

[pikku-enkeli88.livejournal.com]

It's horrible. That guy should have his foot amputated!

But he probably won't even be punished. He'll probably have to pay a fine and that's it!! Fucking unfair!!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

It's totally awful. :(

The player who kicked the poor little thing has only been fined a few hundred dollars and is suspended for 3 matches, I think. :(