|
Cat stomped to death in film draws outrage
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-03 08:41
Cyber sadists have figured out a way to profit from cruelty to small
creatures, and animal rights activists say it's high time China enacts tough
laws to stamp out such abuse.
Several Websites have cropped up recently offering videos and still photos of
dogs, cats, rabbits and toads being stomped to death by a sexy woman wearing
stockings and high heels.
Woman in sexy
clothes caresses a kitten's fur along a riverbank.
[sohu] |
Then she puts the small kitten on
the ground. [sohu] |
She stomps on
the head of the kitten with her high-heeled shoes and crushes it into
death at last. [sohu] |
These images are usually linked with more typical sadomasochistic fare
consisting of a female in stiletto heels tramping on the chest of a man.
A Shanghai Daily investigation turned up several such sites, offering "Gts,''
which stands for "great women, small men" and "Crush'' products.
Animal "snuff" videos were posted on these sites for sale at 15 yuan
(US$1.87) each. There were bulletin boards for fetish fans, who could even join
a group called the International Crushing Association.
At least one of the sites was reportedly registered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Province.
Several disturbing videos were offered for free. It was impossible to tell
where they were made, and while Shanghai Daily could not confirm that animals
were actually being killed in the videos, the content appeared to be authentic.
In one, a scantily clad woman with Chinese features posed with a small kitten
along a riverbank, at first gently caressing the animal's fur. She then began
stomping on the kitten with her high-heeled shoes, crushing its body and head
and leaving it in a lifeless, bloody heap.
One Website, www.crushworld.net, was shut down after a Chinese newspaper
contacted it to complain, and animal lovers left numerous angry messages on some
of the other Crush sites.
At least one of the sellers, however, was unrepentant.
"These movies are not nasty; I don't think they're illegal," a man surnamed
Han who markets the videos online told the Shanghai Morning Post.
Han said he offers dozens of different videos and has sold hundreds of discs
to people from all over the country since he started the business two years ago.
"All the videos I sell show beauties dressed in sexy clothes crushing a small
animal to death," he said. "They are selling very well."
Zhang Haiyin, director of the Shanghai Mental Consultation Center, said the
people who buy these products are disturbed individuals who may take pleasure in
seeing another living creature suffer because they can't achieve their own life
goals.
"These people are most likely those who can't realize their own dreams."
Animal rights activists care little about the motivation behind the videos.
They just want the cruelty stopped.
He Yong, a spokesman for the Beijing office of the International Fund for
Animal Welfare, said these videos point up the need for laws preventing cruelty
to animals. China's present legislation is too vague to be much good, critics
say.
"Our group hasn't looked into the source of these videos, but for the sake of
these animals and for humans as well China needs laws to protect small creatures
from harm," He said.
"Those who are heartless enough to harm animals may also be potential threats
to the people around them."
|
