A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "It has not been determined that he did strike the man.
"He broke up the interaction with the monkeys and pictures show him waving his stick around.
"We cannot confirm, however, whether he struck the man."
Reports said the queen's husband Prince Philip, her second son Prince Andrew and Prince William, second in line to the throne, were also eye witnesses to the alleged incident .
Barry Hugill, spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports, added: "Monkeys involved in disputes tend to show a complete disregard for the welfare of humans.
"He has set a truly sickening example."
Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid, added: "It is an offence to cause a human unnecessary suffering.
"Hitting a human is a pathetic, cowardly and vicious act -- it would appear he has had a royal tantrum."
Photo courtesy of Kitty
News report kinda courtesy of Ben
Monday, December 29, 2008
Confucius say: Never trust monkey with agenda
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
10 comments:
Yesterday an unruly gang of California sea lions busted down a chain link fence on the CG Pier in Monterey. They pile up against the fence while basking until finally the combined weight brings it down. Then of course they move into the parking lot. Some years the sea lions are so bad here they actually block traffic on the streets by the harbor. Anyway the fire department came out with hoses. And I noticed a Coast Guard guy with a Magrath prod. (Not that I have ever seen a n electric prod -- just what I imagine a Magrath prod to look like.) Pretty quickly the sea lions vacated and the end of the pier is closed until the fence can be repaired. Anyway, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of reaction teh whole scene would have gotten in the UK -- where I'm sure that turning a firehose on a sea lion would be described as criminally cruel.
Ben,
I guess it would depend on whether they based their thoughts on that one incident or a history of incidences.
Wade
It may depend on how "cute" or how "magnificent" the animal was! You can do pretty much what you want to a rat or flea!! But if it is a "nice" animal, then you get no leeway, you could be considered mean if you tell your own dog off for biting people!
Don,
I think it is dependent on "how" you tell your dog off, more so then whether he is cute. The same standard is in place for human discipline. You can discipline a child, using your personal philosophy to quide. There is also a point where it becomes "child abuse" and the authorities step in, regardless of your personal philosophy. Those individuals are shunned or required to receive counseling, not held up as a standard of excellence or made "Father/Mother of the Year" because they were nice or popular.
Wade
Sea lions are "cute" right up until they lunge at you and you start to think "bear with flippers." Could worse, like a leopard seal "bear with flippers and a body count."
Sure Wade, I agree with that, but you understand where I'm coming from? Often people's perception of a situation is based on what they would think of a human in that position, and not considering the fact that animals ain't people! And yeah I know what you're saying Ben about bears with flippers, I got baled up by a couple of Cape fur seal bulls on more than one occasion, and I didn't enjoy it too much!!
Don,
Yes I knew where you were coming from and I do agree. Did you understand where I was coming from in that abuse has to be clearly defined in the animal profession, as it is undefined in the public eye. There can be no grey areas, and it can't be dependent on whether it is a knowledgeable friend/associate or a un-knowledgeable enemy committing the offense/atrocity. It has to be the same definition for everybody.
I applaud mightily associations like the Elephant Managers, Arabian Horse Association etc. for the efforts at a clear uniform definition. The Arabian Association doesn't tell you not to use a whip or how to use it. They do tell you, not to bring the horse in the ring with a welt and sweaty and wild eyed, or you will be disqualified. On the off chance it might not be clear to some, all halter horses are required to stand quietly in a holding pen for 15 minutes, under the watchful eye of a ring steward to make sure it is crystal clear. An upside since the rule was initiated, the public has a different perspective of the animal they were seeing in the ring, and have started buying the industry's product again.
I had a numbnuts(defined as anybody passing judgment without all the facts) reporter/animal lover question the use of a lash whip with tigers as being abusive. I told her, "no, it depends on the qualifications of who is using it, and for what purpose." I turned called Farah(sitting on her seat), threw the lash and "cracked" her soundly on the hip. She chuffed at me, and I walked over and petted her. I turned back to the numbnuts, and out of the corner of my eye saw Farah looking at something behind her seat. Without a word I wheeled, threw the lash and "cracked" her soundly on the hip. It knocked her off her seat where she stood snarling at me. Same force of the throw and crack. I asked the numbnuts, "why were there two different reactions to the same action. She of course had no clue. "Because", as I went on to explain, "the first time I called her name, her attention was on me, and she thanked me for the heads up/or leg squeeze meaning I might ask you to move. The second time, because she was not paying attention/ignoring me, and I did not give her a heads up/or leg squeeze meaning I might ask you to move, but instead drove the spur into her ribs, it startled/scared her and in human terms so you understand better, pissed her off."
The numbnuts countered with, "how terrible you cut her on the body" in reference to the 2 six inch marks on her hips. I called Farah to me, and brushed my hand down her hips, and the "cuts" disappeared. I explained to numbnuts that the lash pushed the hair against the nape causing it to rise, and given the density of the hair coat, it didn't come close to skin. Numbnuts said, "if I drag my fingers across my cats back, against the nape, I can make 4 of those marks." Bingo. Numbnuts got it. Got it so well that she donated the 50.00 to World Wildlife Fund(Mary Ann Howell was the 378th donor in the name of captive animals,thank you again Mary Ann), which was the agreement for me spending a moment of my time with her. Farah, bless her heart, just stood there with a look that said, "what the hell was that all about?" LOL She will never understand, but that is why I am the Trainer, and she was the Trainee. Compassion and understanding give me that edge.
Wade
Wade, that's a really interesting insight into working cats for someone like me who has never done so. That anecdote also demonstrates nicely just how easy it can be to educate individuals: if they WANT to be educated! We find time and again that ignorant people who have a problem with what we do can often be shown that we are not ogres, if only we can find time to engage them. However, there are many people who do not want to be engaged in serious conversation as they have already made up their minds!And I include some animal trainers in this group!
Oh and PS Happy New Year !!
Don,
All those things suggest at an industry that desperately needed to be regulated.
Wade
Post a Comment