Buzz
We often hear about death threats directed at humans, but have you ever thought about the animals that get threatened? What could drive someone to threaten an animal?
There are various reasons behind these threats. In some cases, the animals simply found themselves in the wrong situation. In others, their owners might have caused the trouble. And then, of course, there are just some people who are outright unhinged.
10. Sombra
Sombra is a German shepherd working as a sniffer dog with the Colombian police. Known for her skill in detecting concealed drugs and narcotics, she was previously stationed at seaports. However, after receiving death threats, the police decided to transfer her to an airport for safety.
The death threat came from the Urabenos gang, the most formidable drug cartel in Colombia. Led by Dairo Antonio Usuga (also known as Otoniel), who remains Colombia's most wanted criminal, the cartel offered a 200 million peso ($70,000) bounty for anyone who killed the dog.
Otoniel made the threats after Sombra uncovered 10 tons of drugs linked to his cartel. She discovered 5.3 tons of drugs just before they could be shipped out from Turbo, a coastal town in Colombia notorious for being a transit point for drugs headed to the United States via speedboats and submarines.
Sombra also found another four tons hidden inside car parts meant for export. To ensure her safety, the police relocated her to the airport and increased security around her.
9. Matisse
Jules O'Dwyer and her dog Matisse won the 2015 edition of Britain’s Got Talent. Together, they secured the £250,000 grand prize after a final performance in which Jules portrayed a policewoman chasing a mischievous dog who had stolen a sausage.
Matisse played the role of the naughty dog, performing various tricks, such as walking across two tightropes in an escape act. The performance won over many viewers, who voted for Jules. However, after their victory, Jules admitted that the tightrope act, the most stunning moment of the show, was actually performed by another of her dogs, Chase, who had been switched mid-act.
This revelation upset many viewers, as they had believed that Matisse had completed the entire trick. Even the judges had been unaware and thought Matisse had walked the tightrope. Jules explained that while Matisse could perform the trick, he had a fear of heights, which led her to use Chase instead. Unfortunately, her explanation did little to soothe the upset audience.
8. Trouble
Trouble was the name of a white Maltese dog belonging to the late American billionaire Leona Helmsley. Trouble found herself in a real predicament after her owner's passing, as she began receiving death threats. The reason? Trouble inherited $12 million in Helmsley's will.
In fact, several of Helmsley’s close relatives received much less, and two of her grandchildren were left with nothing. Trouble lived in luxury on the 46th floor of the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel in New York. Her meals were specially prepared by chefs, and a significant amount of money was spent on her care each year.
Trouble’s caretakers received 24 death threats targeting the dog. To ensure her safety, they arranged for private security and booked her flights under an alias. Eventually, Trouble adopted a more low-key lifestyle, opting for regular dog food instead of her previous gourmet meals.
7. Octopus Paul
Octopus Paul gained worldwide fame for his remarkable ability to predict the winners of seven matches during the 2010 World Cup. Before each match, Paul was presented with two boxes, each containing a mussel and decorated with the flag of one of the competing nations.
The winner was determined by whichever box Paul chose to eat from. Paul made accurate predictions, including correctly forecasting Spain's victory in the finals. However, his predictions didn’t sit well with some fans. He made enemies, particularly among countries he picked to lose, including Argentina and his home country of Germany.
After predicting that Argentina would lose to Germany, Paul was bombarded with death threats. Furious Argentine fans flooded social media with threats to cook and eat him, and one Argentine newspaper even published a recipe for preparing octopus.
The German fans were no kinder when Paul predicted Germany’s defeat by Spain. Like the Argentines, they threatened to kill and eat Paul, with some suggesting he should be fried, barbecued, or turned into a salad.
6. Conduit
Racehorse Conduit became the target of death threats before his participation in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July 2009. The threat came from Andrew Rodgerson, who was concerned that Conduit might win the race, which would have left him in debt.
Rodgerson had been paid to place bets for others but had forgotten to place a wager on the race involving Conduit. If Conduit won, Rodgerson would owe £50,000. To prevent this, he sent a text message to Peter Reynolds, the general manager of the Ballymacoll stud farm that owned Conduit, threatening to kill the horse if it wasn’t withdrawn from the race.
Rodgerson followed up with an email, claiming that Reynolds was not taking his threat seriously. Meanwhile, Reynolds alerted the police to the dangerous message, and Rodgerson was quickly arrested, as he had used his personal phone and computer to send the text and email.
Conduit emerged victorious in the race, while Rodgerson was handed a 34-week jail sentence, which was suspended for two years. He explained that he had sent the threatening messages because he believed his bettor “friends” were dangerous individuals who might seek revenge if they realized he had failed to place their bets.
5. Punxsutawney Phil
Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog famed for his weather predictions. He resides in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and every year on February 2, during Groundhog Day, he forecasts whether winter will continue for six more weeks or if an early spring is ahead. If he sees his shadow when he emerges from his burrow, it means six more weeks of winter. If not, an early spring is expected.
Phil's age has been the subject of debate. He is said to have been born in 1887, making him 131 years old in 2018. However, this claim is likely false since groundhogs in captivity typically live for about 10 years. It is believed that the current Phil is part of a long line of groundhogs who have shared the name. Regardless, Phil has an accuracy rate of 39 percent, meaning he is wrong more often than he is right.
Some individuals likely didn’t realize the extent of their actions when they sent death threats to Phil after his incorrect weather prediction. Most of these threats appeared on social media after Phil forecasted six more weeks of winter in 2014, leaving those expecting an early spring angry and frustrated.
This wasn’t the first time Phil had been threatened by humans. In 2013, Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser charged Phil for his erroneous forecasts and sternly reminded the poor groundhog that in Ohio, deliberately incorrect weather predictions could lead to a death sentence.
4. Wiarton Willie
Wiarton Willie is another groundhog believed to have the ability to predict the weather. Similar to Phil, Willie predicts six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow on Groundhog Day. If the sky is cloudy, an early spring is expected. Willie passed away from natural causes at the age of 13 in 2017, and he was succeeded by another groundhog who had been his understudy.
In 1996, Willie became the target of death threats when he incorrectly predicted an early spring. Some individuals were so enraged that they made phone calls and sent letters to Willie's handler, Sam Brouwer, threatening the life of the poor groundhog. As a result, Willie was quickly placed in protective custody.
3. Mystic Marcus
Mystic Marcus is a micro pig residing on a farm in Heage, Derbyshire, Britain. He has gained fame for his ability to predict the outcomes of major events such as World Cup matches. He accurately predicted the winners of the 2014 World Cup, the Wimbledon men’s tennis finals, as well as Britain's departure from the European Union and Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 US presidential election.
During the 2018 World Cup, Marcus was presented with 32 apples, each marked with the flag of a competing country. He ate four apples, which were said to represent the four nations predicted to reach the semifinals. The flags of Argentina, Belgium, Nigeria, and Uruguay were on the apples. Unfortunately, Marcus was wrong, as only Belgium made it to the semifinals.
Marcus also made predictions for some World Cup matches, including the semifinal between England and Croatia. The pig believed that England would defeat Croatia and advance to the finals. This match was of great importance to England, as it was their first opportunity to reach that stage in 30 years, and their closest chance of winning the World Cup again since their only victory in 1966.
British fans were devastated when their team lost to Croatia. In their frustration, many directed death threats at the psychic pig who had falsely fueled their optimism. Some even suggested Marcus should be killed and transformed into sausage or bacon.
2. Unnamed Dogs
The dogs belonging to a resident of Marian, Queensland, Australia, became the targets of death threats due to their excessive barking. The anonymous threat was delivered in a letter placed in the owner's mailbox. The writer expressed anger over the dogs barking at him whenever he walked by.
The author presented the letter as though speaking for the entire local community. The police interviewed several neighbors, most of whom condemned the idea of issuing death threats to dogs simply for barking excessively. Authorities reminded residents that animal cruelty could lead to a three-year prison sentence and encouraged anyone with information about the letter’s author to come forward.
1. Loki
Some people went so far as to suggest that Loki might not make it through the night. Others openly called for the dog's death. One person debated whether to use guns or knives to kill the dog, with another chiming in that knives would be preferable since they lacked firearms. These enraged fans attempted to make the hashtag #DieLoki viral, but their efforts ultimately failed.
Loki likely became the target of these threats because of his role in reconciling Liam and Danielle. The couple had previously broken up but seemed to have worked things out before purchasing the dog. Some fans, clearly opposed to their reunion, redirected their frustration towards the dog.
