Buzz
For centuries, animals have been used both as food sources and for entertainment, with little regard for their suffering. The concept of animal cruelty is a relatively modern notion, and practices that were once considered acceptable forms of amusement are now seen as appalling. Even today, there are still individuals who find entertainment in the abuse of animals.
10. Cat Burning
In medieval Europe, cats were often linked to all sorts of malevolent forces. The act of burning 'witches' was considered acceptable, and since cats were believed to be associated with witches, burning them became a tradition in certain regions. In Paris, a pyre was built on the eve of Saint John’s day, where dozens of cats (and sometimes a fox, depending on the mood) were set ablaze. The king would even attend and host a feast after the gruesome spectacle.
Cats met tragic fates during many festivals in France, and while cat-burning rituals were less frequent in England, there were still occasions where felines were sacrificed. During the 119th anniversary of Elizabeth I's coronation, an effigy of Pope Innocent XI was paraded through London streets, with live cats trapped inside its belly. When the effigy was set on fire, the shrieking cats were believed to symbolize the Devil’s whispers to the Pope.
9. The Cave of Dogs
The Phlegraean Fields in Italy were once home to a bizarre 'experiment' for tourists. The Cave of Dogs, located near Lake Agnano, has an opening that slopes down into a fumarole releasing carbon dioxide due to the region’s volcanic activity. The gas accumulates in the lower parts of the cave, creating a suffocating environment for smaller animals. Tourists had been visiting the cave for centuries, with records from figures like Pliny the Elder, but it was more recent visitors like Mark Twain who documented the 'dog experiment' where tourists would stage a spectacle involving the carbon dioxide layer.
The so-called 'experiment' involved forcing a dog’s head into the carbon dioxide until it suffocated. The idea was that the dog would lose consciousness, and then the tourist would throw it into the cold lake to revive it. Mark Twain, known for his wit, mentioned he would take things a step further by holding the dog by its hind legs until it passed out, then reviving it in the lake before letting it die in the gas for a final act. Fortunately for the dogs, Twain's remark was simply sarcasm. After he claimed he would kill the dog, he lightened the mood by joking that he had forgotten to bring one.
8. Cock-throwing
In England, there was a tradition known as 'cock-throwing,' where a chicken was tied to a pillar or some other elevated structure, and participants would throw specially crafted sticks at it. This event was typically held on Shrove Tuesday, a time when social restrictions were relaxed, allowing even apprentices and laborers to engage in such crude forms of entertainment.
Sometimes cock-throwing was just for fun, but other times it involved a bit of gambling. Participants would pay an entry fee to throw sticks at the chicken. If they managed to strike a fatal blow, they could take the carcass home to cook. If they only injured the chicken, like breaking its legs, it would be hoisted up on a pole so the game could continue. If the chicken was knocked off its perch, the game would turn into a race to see who could catch it first. The victor would keep the cock.
7. The Bear Gardens
During Shakespeare’s era, one of the main rivals to his theater was the Bear Gardens, a venue dedicated to animal baiting, where animals like bears were placed in pits and attacked by other animals, usually dogs. This bloodsport was immensely popular, even drawing the attention of Queen Elizabeth I. King James I also hosted private baiting events, using animals like lions and polar bears from the royal collection.
Bears were typically chained to poles in a pit, where dogs would be set upon them. The bear’s task was to break free from its restraints and then fight off the dogs. Due to the high cost of acquiring and transporting bears, these contests would usually end once enough dogs had been killed. The surviving bear would live to fight another day, and some even gained a sort of fame from their battles.
Other animals were also used in these cruel spectacles, such as a chimpanzee riding a horse. Spectators enjoyed watching the chimpanzee cry out in distress when it was attacked. There was also a fondness for watching dogs attack bulls, as the bulls would toss them into the air with their horns, much to the crowd’s amusement.
6. Goose Pulling
Goose pulling was a brutal European bloodsport dating back to the 17th century. A goose would be suspended by its legs, and horseback riders would race underneath it, attempting to rip its head off. To make it more difficult, oil was smeared on the goose’s neck to prevent a solid grip. The goose, still alive, would desperately struggle to escape, making the task even more challenging for the riders.
Even during the height of goose pulling’s popularity, it was widely condemned as cruel. When the practice crossed the Atlantic to the US, it was still met with disapproval and eventually disappeared in most regions. Today, modified versions of the sport are held in some parts of Europe, where deceased geese are used, ethically euthanized by veterinarians. However, animal rights activists continue to protest these competitions.
5. Geek Show
The term 'geek' has evolved significantly from its original meaning, which was closer to 'fool.' Geek shows were a grotesque carnival act popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, where the 'geek' — typically a deranged or intoxicated performer — would chase animals around the stage and bite their heads off. The show was degrading to the performer, who was often an alcoholic or drug addict, compensated with alcohol or narcotics for their participation.
Some infamous geeks took their performances further, adding extra elements or exaggerating their 'wild' personas for the audience. Eeka, a famous female geek, was also a snake charmer and 'wild girl.' The geek show eventually lost popularity as awareness of animal rights grew, and the act of biting off animal heads became more disturbing than entertaining.
4. Cannibal Holocaust
One of the most controversial films ever made, *Cannibal Holocaust* led to the director facing charges of animal cruelty and murder. The murder charges were dismissed after the newspaper that had reported the on-screen deaths as real was found to be spreading false information. The director proved his innocence by bringing one of the alleged 'victims' to court. However, he was still fined for animal cruelty after it was confirmed that the on-screen animal deaths were genuine.
A large turtle was killed for the film, and a monkey’s brutal death was filmed twice — meaning two monkeys were killed. In defense, the director claimed that the animals were killed and later eaten by the actors and crew. Despite this justification, authorities condemned the deaths, declaring that the animals had been killed solely for the purpose of the film, and the director was found guilty of animal cruelty.
3. Animal Crush Porn
Animal crush pornography is a disturbing and grotesque fetish genre where individuals derive sexual pleasure from watching women in lingerie torture animals to death. Animals are subjected to various forms of extreme cruelty, including boiling alive, blowtorching, disemboweling, and stabbing them in the eyes. The genre’s name originates from an act of crushing kittens, though many other horrific acts are carried out as well.
This type of pornography is predominantly found on the dark web, as animal cruelty is illegal in most countries. While some of the women in these videos seem to partake willingly, others are actually victims themselves. In at least one instance, women featured in these videos were discovered to be trafficking victims, coerced into performing the torture under the threat of their own lives.
2. Badger Baiting
Badger baiting is a cruel practice that involves sending dogs into a badger's burrow, either natural or artificial, with the aim of capturing or killing the animal. Even if the animals survive, the injuries inflicted on them can be so severe that they require euthanasia. This form of entertainment was once common in the UK, but was outlawed in 1835 due to animal cruelty laws. Despite being banned, badger baiting has not disappeared and has even seen a resurgence in modern times.
Today, badger baiting typically occurs when a badger is found, either by the baiters or by a farmer who then calls them in to handle the animal. The baiters release their dogs to track down the badger, and once the dogs locate it, they dig into its burrow and attack. Modern badger baiting cases have led to numerous arrests, with some individuals even breeding dogs specifically for this purpose. Undercover operations targeting badger baiting have resulted in multiple convictions for animal cruelty.
1. Kots Kaal Pato
Kots Kaal Pato was a festival held in Citilcum, Yucatan, Mexico, where locals used to stuff live animals into pinatas and beat them to death. This brutal tradition was linked to a superstition associated with the rainy season. Children would capture creatures like iguanas or opossums, put them inside pinatas, and then strike them with sticks. If any animal managed to escape, it was tragically trampled by the crowd.
The festival also involved hanging a duck by its feet from a wooden frame and having participants compete to be the first to decapitate it. However, after animal rights activists raised objections, the local government of Izamal, in partnership with the Catholic Church, worked to bring an end to the cruelty. Today, the festival has been reformed, and no live animals are harmed during the festivities.
