What! Dog shows at ICS! That would have never happened when I was there, back back in the day. Interesting story, thanks!

Come on now, whatever they say about why dogs should be saved while millions of people go hungry and die of it, and also die of disease and crime committed by there own government and what have you. The simple realty is, it is not only a luxury, but also a crime to spend so much money on a lavish day like you referred to at the Addis Ababa's International Community School. I say it is a crime because of a very simple fact, it just shows the human decadence when it comes to prioritising the small resources we have in saving the lives of not only human beings, but also...yes animals. It is a fact that a dog in the west is richer than a human being in Africa, since in average the west spends five times more the per capita income of an African on there dogs. Ok let's accept this as a necessary evil, but to see the same type of decadence in Ethiopia is not only sad but also depressing.

Please don't get me wrong, I am not saying the dogs of Ethiopia are not worth saving..... but what has happened to our moral sensibility? Did we ever have any? What do these words mean? Do they refer to a term very rarely employed these days, Conscience? A conscience to do not only with our own acts but to do with our shared responsibility in the act of others? is all this dead? Look at Ethiopia. A lot of people killed, many more tortured and thousands of people detained without charge for over six month, with no legal representation or due process, technically detained forever. It is not only tolerated but hardly thought about by the so called "International community". Good luck to you and everyone who reads this in developing a little conscience, otherwise we are doomed.

Glad for the "event organizer" for noticing that there are peoples who need our care.

ohhhh how they care!!!!!!!!

Do they have anything called "PRIORITY" in their dictionary??

I knew such an activity would only end up in ICS and not the equivalent school I attended. To the serious part, the idea is great but it feels a bit odd, doesn't it? But it’s encouraging to know that someone is trying to face the problem, with a solution at hand I might add! Now let's hear the politicians in the Diaspora screaming that this news is nonsense!
Tazabeo

I knew such an activity would only end up in ICS and not the equivalent school I attended. To the serious part, the idea is great but it feels a bit odd, doesn't it? But it’s encouraging to know that someone is trying to face the problem, with a solution at hand I might add! Now let's hear the politicians in the Diaspora screaming that this news is nonsense!
Tazabeo

It is you and people like you who are trying to put up a good face while the country is under seige. Yes you are right , We are holding you accuntable for being inhuman and ignorant. We are holding for being a fence sitter. What is worest...you are a journalist ...disgusting...Yes your blog is full of garbedge...

please do not get me wrong, I am not saying why mention some social activities in Ethiopia...I am not saying it is taboo to mention Memo and Langano....no no no...we have to talk about this things and it is good.....but there is one thing which is called time and place...let me ask you is it time to talk about memo girls, dog show...and other bla bla bla Langano, is it?

What do you think we the majority Ethiopians are worried about right now....What is your understanding of the current situation...do you hear suffering, do you feel tension, do you observe human right abuse.... do we matter to you at all...

Helooo....wake up..reading about a dog show while peole are dying is the same like reading about the king Haileselasie lion health while six million people were starving.It is a crime.

Have I helped you to see why most people are mad to read about dog show....do you understand the mentality of freedom starving Ethiopians...for that matter do you now about Ethiopians restistance to any form of colonialism....

Dear friend either you are with the evil or agianst it there is no middel way. Let us hear from you now or...history will gudge you...no more Ethiopia and Ethiopians will serve you as an Entertainment host.

Ethiopia need peace and stablity and the true friends of Ethiopia are busy trying to bring a solution. But people like you may wake up when the fire of ethinocenterism and lawless government knocks their door....wait wait wait by that time of course you will fly to London...and report the massacare...

Listen listen listen to me damn it ...I do not support this and that party...I do not know whether the jailed leaders will be good for Ethiopia....but what I am asking is justice freedom and democracy. Join the strugle or shut up. we do not need a dog show news at the middest of misery.

I know you wont post this.

finally the truth shall set you free.

Excellent post.. "the capital's current animal control policy - leaving poisoned bits of meat lying around in the street." That sounds so true!

A bit off topic, but after perusing your blog, I can't help but rant about the use of "ferengi" and "ferengis". I've always found it supremely annoying. "ferenj" or "ferenjoch" would make sense. What's up with the "i" suffix? Is it supposed to make it plural? So then why add another "s" on top of it? Even when writing or speaking in english, you could just say e.g. "all these ferenj", it sounds better and is more accurate.

There's nothing worse than gratuitous exoticism, which happens to be wrong, and that's what the "i" suffix seems like to me. It just sounds vaguely Arabic, Italian, foreign, exotic, whatever, so people just throw it in.

It's like when English speakers say "coup de grah" instead of "coup de grace" in french, where the "s" sound is actually supposed to be pronounced. To the non-French speaker it sounds vaguely more French to make the "ce" silent but it's not -- it's really wrong and horrible!

Or -- typical hollywood thing -- say two Nazis are talking to each other, and both are played by American actors. In the story they are of course supposed to be talking in German, but they sound like "Vee vill do zat und zis, ja" etc. which is ridiculous. Either make them actually speak in German and subtitle it in English, or just make them speak English in a natural appropriate accent within that language (e.g. tone, social class etc.). Why translate something, and then add a phoney accent on top of it, as if that will untranslate it and make it more authentic sounding.

End of rant about this totally minor point.

Great blog, keep it up.

I was surprised on the wide coverages on the two cheetahs,now you guys got some on the dogs ,it is all good but don't forget the human sufferings.

Andrew:

It looks like our good friend Anthony Mitchell will be remembered in Ethiopia for that stupid cheetah story. The story of the hungry Somalis never got as much attention as Anthony's cheetahs.

And now just when we thought you were more sensible than the other journalists, you wrote about another stupid pet story. Sure, it is your web-site and you can write whatever you want. But how about sensibility? There are some stupid topics that just look ridiculous.

Peace........

why so much noise on the journalist who just wrote what he had seen??

If you have to be furious look at the doirs not on the lookers and journalists!!!!!

peace to you all

My mother in law, may God rest her soul, once said after visiting us for a few months in the U.S, "If we could only have the right that dogs have in the U.S. for human beings in Ethiopia." I thought I should write about her view of dogs rights in the U.S. as compared to human rights in Ethiopia since we are talking about dogs.

Huh, I guess the expulsion threat really works?

This just amazing. How arrogant! How insensitive!

Well, I don't want to be the one to tell you but Andrew is recovering from the insult he suffered when Mr. Meles kiked out his countryman out of Ethiopia after what Andrew bowed all this time for the TPLF. You People should understand when a Ferenj try to play the game. Soon he will come to his senses. I bet he is so mad he is on transition of becoming a sensles reporter.

Good buy andrew
and good luck

Welcome to the What's Up spoiled people.
Get your act together guy, while sensible people have to live on gunpoint, the What's Up en Hash House Harriers (gogo go home) and hanging around ferenji, you might catch a dollar, people are acting like "Ich habt das nich gewust", and you are making do not want to loose your license kind of journalism.

Ha! Dog Show!

It does not surprise me much. People have different values; some value human beings; other like the snobs in this schools and their colleagues value dogs more than humans. in any case, who cares about the poor in Ethiopia ( the poor treated by its own government less than a dog). I don't expect the "bull ferengis and idiot ethiopian snobs" to think any better.

God bless them.

Only at ICS can this happen.

Where else can people who walk among people sleeping on the street, worry about the dogs.

Rabies, ahh...it is killing millions, more than malaria and malnutrition.

I have a better idea, get some of your left over clothings and dress the beautiful street kids. Raise money for them, they are the real "dogs" in our society.

Sambo, I think you lack the reason behind the post, and missed out on the sarcasm. You may have also noticed that the posts Andrew makes on this site are not his official news story submissions to the news agency he works for, more of a sideline thing.

As for the dog show, I am not surprised that it happened at ICS. Folks at that school got out of touch with reality some decade or two ago.

Nice story.

FYI-there is an animal protection group started by a ferenji in Gondar-see gondarllinks web page to find it. They save and treat mostly work animals, and some of the pictures of the animals are heart-breaking.

In a very poor country such as ours, both people and animals suffer.

I know when i go home to Ethiopia, I do wince at how some animals-especially donkeys-are treated.

Safiya

Tony wasn't kicked out for cheeta story.

hey, just noticed that comment by nemo about re-translating translations was totally great. I thought about, but never articulated it, so if u can keep this in mind for future blogs, u could start the end of such heinous grammatical errors. Second, i think theres nothing wrong with dog shows or other non-human centered activities (although i guess, we're still at the center of it)....but such a conciousness for animals can only lead to more responsibility, and spread or inspire responsibility in other areas. It is like parents who tell their kids to only study medicine or engineering, well what about the whole range of topics this world offers, life is just not interesting without diversity, and the sooner it is appreciated the more respect ppl will have for one another. Hopefully mr. anrews will continue such coverage and not focus on solely on events that cover the power struggle. I appreciate this blog....and if there are others like it, can someone please point them out?

I really fail to see what some of the posters are getting hot under the collar about Andrew writing about an animal charity.

Why does supporting an animal charity automatically mean you hold animal life at a higher value than human life? Are the posters claiming that before you help animals every single injustice against people needs to be dealt with?

What about the fact that preventing stray - and disease ridden - cats and dogs breeding and filling the streets generally tends to be good for society.

Let's get this into some kind of perspective. Over the past few months Andrew has written time and time again about the problems of child nutrition. He can hardly be accused of being the kind of animal nut who has a collection of china dogs on his mantelpiece!

People seem to forget that this website is not about an Ethiopian politics and related stories only. This website is a private individual's personal weblog. He has no responsibility to write about stories that only some would like to read about. Why do people come to this website and complain about their country's problems on this website? why don't the complainers and blamers create their own weblog and have a forum for their kinds ? Andrew is not the problem. You the complainers are the problem. Solve your own problems.

this is insane. i can’t help to comment on the comments.

So why are some people so quick to criticize? The guy made it clear...

"Now, I know what you're thinking. Typical ferengis lavishing attention on their pets while the humans around them suffer in one of the poorest countries in the world'

What more do you want?

ethiopians who have the time and resources to read and comment on blogs are by definition privileged. and as a privileged person, what did you do to help your starving country men and women?

Some people can't even be good readers. Andy is telling you about what he saw and you should be thankful for his effort to bring you the info to your monitor. OR are trying to twist his arm to write only about topics that fill your lazy ego. Well, it doesn't work that way and if you don't like his topic you can just skip it and wait for your turn.

If you don't wanna touch politics, Ethiopia has a range of other "issues" such as disussed on Ethiopundit. Try it, might make you feel more human for a change.

Dear all
First of all I would like to thank Andrew for writing good articles of all subjects. And for being and involved and caring journalist to all creatures of god.
I think it is irrelevant to attack any attempt for animal welfare charity event through humane suffering and I say this from a few reasons:
1. 99% OF THE WORLD'S MONEY AND 99% OF donations to Ethiopia are concentrated on humane problems. Don't get me wrong I think it is important and I am all for it but let us be proportional when we say that people are deprived because of a charity event for animals.
2. Yes, people are suffering but animals are in pain too. As for dogs and cats specifically they were brought and genetically created by people to be and live in the humane community and now we are responsible for their fate.
3. We must understand that neglecting one problem for the favor of other problems will just increase the problems that are left aside. For example you can't take care of one of your children just because he has more problems and difficulties and than neglect the other children. Because that will just create new or bigger problems with the other children. It is the same with animals and humans. You can put humane in higher priority but you must leave some thing to solve other issues too. (And I think that 99% is the highest you can go...)
3. neglecting the wild life has created the reality of no wild life in Ethiopia and as consequence very little tourism. Poisoning dogs puts the whole community in jeopardy because it penetrates our water system, it endangers children in the streets and in many times it is carried by birds in to people’s privet compounds. Also killing the dogs does not solve nor the stray dog problem nor rabies. 3 people in Addis die every month from rabies and unless we treat these problems it will become as common as malaria. Most poor people cannot afford to get vaccinated for rabies and by neglecting this problem we are leaving them to a very cruel death. Vaccinating people against rabies is unrealistic because you will have to renew it every year and it is 10 times more expensive than vaccination for dogs.
But if we do vaccinate dogs than like in India for example we can lower the rabies cases in to 0 in only a couple of years.

Now again proportions: There is one organization for homeless animals in Ethiopia.....How many organizations for people???

So let’s not make a fuss about nothing! The dog show was a fun event for people to enjoy in these troubled times and the money raised will serve for the best of both people and homeless animals since it is going to be used by the Homeless Animals Protection Society / HAPS for two things which are the biggest agenda of the organization:
1. Rabies prevention
2. Animal Birth control which means less stray animals on the streets.

This is a good cause and important to both people and animals so why choose reasons to be angry. There is a lot of cruelty and difficulty in the world and in Ethiopia, so why fight something that is meant to do good???

Encouraging people to be responsible and caring is good for the society as a whole.

I am asking all people who wrote against the event to rethink their words. Obviously you are caring people that care about the future of Ethiopia and I am sure that having rabies as common as malaria is not the bright future you plan for Ethiopia.

Yes Humane problems are high priority I myself work with homeless animals but also with disabled children because there is much to do in this country so let everyone do something in each area and maybe then we will wake up to a better reality in Ethiopia.

I wish us all love health and peace
Enat

We have seen all the comments about the dog show hold in the International Community School at Addis Ababa in connection with different Social, Political and Economic issues of the country.

Though it exist that to comment in any issues raised by any one else, as we understood from most of the comments are given in connection with unrelated matters.

The main thing that makes our country an example of starvation, famine and poorness is this kind of comments.

It means when some one came out with a new idea every body starts to create unnecessary pressure and confusion with out even having a little bit of understanding to make sure that it will not go further.

When we have a look at the developing nations, we should understand that they reached this stage of development because of the devotion of each and every single person in his or her field of profession.

To come to the point: the main reason of establishment of Homeless Animals Protection Society in Ethiopia is due to the measures used to be taken to control the population of the homeless dogs such us poisoning or mass killing have never been a solution for several years,

And therefore the problems of the pet animals, the homeless animals them selves, the wild animals particularly the critically endangered Ethiopian wolf and even dying at this moment due to rabies , and the local community especially young children who never recognized a rabid dog got bitten and die before they reach any medical station.

This society is established making a detailed study on the issues to solve the above mentioned problems by the below mentioned main activities;

• Educating the community about the problems of animals and animal welfare,
• Controlling the population of homeless dogs through Trap Neuter Release /TNR/ method,
• Encouraging a healthy environment by vaccinating homeless dogs against rabies and other related diseases,

In addition to being kind to animals, it will contribute in saving the unnecessary expenses and man power that has been used to control the population of homeless dogs by killing,

Creating the job opportunity for the local community that will reduce the number of the Jobless which are repeatedly rose in most of the comments.

To sum up, in order to solve the problems related to starvation we all must work very hard as it is mentioned above.

Besides this at this moment local and international organizations are working to solve the problems of starvation.

If we all talk about the same thing we are going to keep on talking about even until the coming hundred years, but we think the best solution is to work very hard in each and every issues of every directions.

For more information please contact us.

Thanks!

---

Efrem Legese
Chair, HAPS Ethiopia

P.O. Box 2495
Bole Sub City, Kebele 14/15 House No 499
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Telephone: 251-011-654 47 56 / 011- 645 54 32
E-Mail: haps-eth@ethionet.et
Web: www.an-group.org/x_haps.htm

[HOMELESS ANIMALS PROTECTION SOCIETY is founded in October 29, 2001
to work through out the country to help the animals and solve the problem with the
help of ANIMAL PEOPLE, USA and it is the first of its kind in Ethiopia]

Andrew, your blog is great, keep up the good work. Your critics about this story are pathetic, thank god there are only a few.

I agree with everything Zera said. I loved the story on the animal show. It was so nice to read a good story about Ethiopia for a change.

To: andrewheavens@oddpost.com
From: Merritt Clifton
Subject: Thanks!

Dear Andrew:

Thank you for your sympathetic coverage of the Homeless Animal Protection Society of Ethiopia's recent dog show.

For 20 years I covered primarily human rights and agricultural issues around the world. Since 1988 I have covered animal protection full-time.

From the confluence of that experience, what I have seen is that how a society treats dogs tends to set the floor for how it treats humans.

If a dog cannot be starved, beaten, chained, or killed on a whim, then women, children, the unfortunately, minorities, and dissidents are all safe.

If anything can be done to a dog, human rights basically don't exist.

Accordingly, raising the floor for dogs tends to raise the status of everyone.

Cheers,

--
Merritt Clifton
Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE
P.O. Box 960
Clinton, WA 98236

Telephone: 360-579-2505
Fax: 360-579-2575
E-mail: anmlpepl@whidbey.com
Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations. We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year; for free sample, send address.]

I would like to thank the animal people in bole, without them, I think our country would not be able to developp, I would also like to thank ICS for the event, how appropriate.... A dog show! I am PUZZLED, maybe dog shows are signs of status...Zera, wouldnt it be better building a dog pound instead of a dog show, maybe you might beable to get snoop dogg to sponsor the whole thing.
Oh yeah, i would also like to reassure all Malaria, HIV, ect. That the focus in ethiopia has switched to dogs.
Also, i have heard that some street dogs in my neighborhood have started an uprising, stating that the ICS show was not constitutional.
Also, I hereby announce that in Menelik palace, a RAT race will be held in 2006, all rats are invited to present themselves. Let us take care about rats too.
This just in!!!!!!! We are hearing reports that donkeys have organised the Donkey liberation front. Donkeys have stated that they work harder, are being treated worse....What is happenening to the animal world...The UN should send buffalo soldiers to separates dogs, donkeys, and rats....A little urban peace of ' literature' to finish......this piece is by Dead prez, i think it s quite relevant to this topic....

"Once upon a time...
There was a very serious situation growing.
There was a farmer and a farmyard filled with
animals.
And this is the story of their times....

Old man Sammy had a farm.
Walked the land with the wife,
Most of the time shit was calm,
His whole life was maintained off the everyday labor,
from the mules in the field to the cattle in the stable,
This is how we kept food on this table (maxing)
You would have he was disabled by the way he be relaxing,
Acting like Mr. Magnificent,
But the animals were thinking something different,
The sentiment was tension in the barnyard,
Throughout the years they had been through mad drama ,
with the farmer, word is bond,
And they all came to one conclusion,
They argued there was no way they'd ever be free
If it was up to humans,
Therefore the only course left was revolution which was understandable,
And since the pigs promised to lead in the interest of all the animals,
They planned a full attack,
Under the leadership of Hannibal,
The fattest pig in the pack,
The next morning on the farm,
Everything was calm,
Just before dawn,
But before long,
The sun got so hot it made the farm seem electric
Now check it,
This is when that shit got hectic,
Directed by Hannibal, the animals attacked,
Old Sam was in a state of shock,
And fell up on his back,
And dropped his rifle,
Reaching in vain,
Each and every creature from the field at his throat,
Screaming "Kill, feel the pain."

After they ran the farmer off the farm
The pigs went around and called a meeting in the barn
Hannibal spoke for several hours
But when talks about his plans for power
That's when the conversation turned sour
He issued an offical ordinance to set
If not a pig from this day forth then you insubordinate
That's when the horses went buckwild
One of them shouted out
"You fraudulent pigs, we know your fucking style!"
Hannibal's face was flushed and pale
All the animals eyes full of disgust and betrayal
He felt the same way Sam felt
They took his tongue out of his mouth
And cut his body up for sale, for real
You better listen while you can
Its a very thin line between animal and man
When Hannibal crossed the line they all took a stand
What would have done?
Shook his hand?
This is the animal in man"

Dead prez, 2000, let's all get free, #14

Dear Dead Prez 2000
First of all being cynical is usually a way to avoid a serious discussion and also a way of putting things out of proportion.
I hardly think that doing the first ever charity event for animals in Ethiopia is changing the focus of things.
Also your suggestions about a shelter is unrealistic and will be a waste of public money. However a rabies vaccination and animal birth control for stray dogs and cats will solve this particular problem and prevent animals and also people from dying of rabies.

I would like to thank you for you lovely storey that can definitely teach people about how to treat each other. However the animals do not suffer from the same syndrome and usually live in peace with each other.

Love and peace
Enat

Wene dero kere...All we do is judge, blame and feel sorry about ourselves and expect everybody to do the same. How many here have done anything but beg for help. Do you participate in your community? Do you share waht you have and know? WE are the problem..let the dude write whatever he wants, if you don't like it just don't read. Period. Or start your own blog. Journalism is not only about saving ethiopians. I'm sure he has writen other articles related to our mysery. Let the man add some variety to his work. We expect foreigners to act in a certain way but let ourselves be our own slaves. No grounds for solidarity and unity. We should each have our own 250sqft nation and be our own bosses. Cause clearly all we do is bitch and do nothing. ewiiiiyyyy sinasazen...As if Bush would save us cause this guy wrote about us....Blame Meles for your problems and yourself for not solving them.

Peace

People who treat animals ethically, treat people in a like manner.

Compassion for animals translates to compassion for all living things. Let's hope that all the people of the world will start to benefit from this compassion. Even in my own country, people often fail to see the needs of our poor people, the needs of wildlife, and the importants of a clean and safe environment.

Nell Liquorman
www.KeepFleasOff.com
Crystal Beach Florida, USA

Dear critics, it's about time we realise that those mainly affected by poor animal welfare are poor people themselves. By promoting and practicing animal birth control and animal education you are indirectly helping marginalised people. Here are some examples of how: 1) You effectively assist in reducing the overpopulation of animals where they are not wanted 2) You assist in reducing rabies and other diseases such as scabies 3) You reduce animal bites and the exposion of animals to peope who are scared of them 4) You increase sanitation 5)You increase education for those people who likes animals and who wants to keep them (I have met many poor people in this category by the way) 5) You will make the environment safer for those living and working on streets (especially women and children) by taking away the need (and cost) for displaying poison as a method of animal reduction. There are more reasons but I think these are the most pertinent. To eradicate the problem of stray animals effectively and for our own benefit we need to adress this problem in a holistic way. Has anyone had to watch street cleaners in developing countries without any protection having to carrying away animal carcases such as dogs to be burnt? Well if you have you know it is an untainable situation that does not become better by us putting more poison in the streets I'm afraid. We're in this together with or without fur.
Best regards

Anneli Berggren

The owner of this Blog simply is a messanger in this case and i think people should shoot the message instead of the messanger. Besides, whoever has done this event, as a citizen, is free to do so. That was their initiative and resource. They put their time, creativity, resource and kindness where they have passion to. why should they be obliged to do what pleases others. They feel this is the right thing to do, then they did. Those who are outraged need to go back and do something about what they feel is right. And they will discover how complex, and difficult it is to even buy an Asprin from a drugstore, let alone organize to an event like this. People please cheer up. Our continents issue can not be solved by a simple reaction thrown at someone who exercises his freedom of expression. Our continents Socio-political spectrum is as complex as our cultures & traditions. we are chained down by them. We are absolutely tied down & bogged down. So, when indivdual citizens take intitiative and do some good, just give them high 5. The least we can do from afar is, praise those who do something to make a diffrence. whether towards animals or humans. Let us praise every effort. What do you say to those who are doing nothing, when they have the means, resources? So, let us stand on the lighter side!

dogs are no better than people...right? except that people create the miserable state in which we live. So, aaacctually Dogs are better.