General Chat

Yesterday on our local news, there was footage of video taken at a bullring in Spain. A 'man' was goading a bull with a red cloth, and as the bull came towards him, this 'brave' soul went out of the bullring. However, nearby there was a donkey - in the ring - which, it transpired, was blindfolded. It was being held by another 'man', though I didn't see the rest of the footage. Someone in Devon has recently returned from Spain and witnessed this, and is so disgusted that he/she sent the video footage to the TV company, to broadcast what the Spanish are doing. Why, oh why do they practise such cruelty? :-((

I heard about this on the radio on Wednesday. The Donkey Sanctuary in Dorset is taking legal action. Apparently it's illegal -even in Spain. maggie

Thank you, Maggie. I'm glad they're taking legal action. Needless to say, I hope the Sanctuary wins. I make no apologies for saying that if humans are so willing to do that, they should take the place of the donkey. :-((

I visited the Donkey Sanctuary last week and it's a wonderful place - I hope they win.

Hi Glenys, I am not surprised by this barbaric behaviour, Spain has a long way to go with animal welfare. What I can tell you is that there are alot of people trying to stop this cruelty. I have to say that if it wasnt for tourists going to bull fights it would become a distant horrific memory much quicker,unfortunatly there are lots of tourists,Brits Included who go to these barbaric events:-(( It is slowly becoming banned there are a few places that it is banned already Barcelona has been the first city to ban it. All of my Spanish friends are against this, they do so much to educate their fellow Spaniards, I think it will be banned all over eventually.

why was the woman there? to see the Bullfight obviously, so seeing a donkey blindfolded shocked her but seeing a bull tortured isent a problem to her! Double standard there somewhere,dont you think? I can not think of a reason why there would be a donkey there,its just disgraceful, but I do find it odd about this woman being there,unless it was for animal rights,was it do you know?

Roxanne..I went to Callella in 1963 and as a young tourist I went to see a ' bullfight '....I have no idea why I did not expect to see that which I did but my wife and I left and agreed that we would not wish to see that again.... I was in Spain...it was their country and no-one forced me to go so I had no reason to complain....but I was told on leaving that the poor in the town recieved the meat free...perhaps a sop to try and justify it. I am not sure from your posting whether or not it is just the donkey item or bullfighting in general that is now considered to be cruel....but my dislike of the whole businees has never left me. As a resident perhaps you could let me know..is it just the tourists that keep the thing going and do the Spanish in general also disaprove..? If it is anything like here the wishes of the general public seem to count for nothing to the government

Have lived here 18 years - never been to a bullfight and do not want to. However, what is equally cruel is the bull running that occurs in nearly all village fiestas. Young bulls are allowed to run through the streets, being prodded and poked by sticks. You sometimes see the bulls getting the better of things and injuring the people who are tormenting them. The village where I live is near the sea and one of the fiestas have bull running in the port area. A semicircle of stands are set up next to the quayside - and the purpose of the exercise is to taunt the bulls into falling into the sea - where they are rescued by people in boats, promptly brought ashore again, so that they can go through it all again. This is supported by the tourist and locals alike. Its cruel and should be stopped.

Hi Colin, I can understand your curiosity,thats why alot go in the first place,most like yourself are sickened by the event and never go again(I have never been to one),which is good. I think the thread is to bring awareness to both issues bull fighting and the donkey, Im sure Glenys will correct me if Im wrong. Colin, In answer to your question, Bullfighting has a very long history In Spain as far back as 711AD which is a long time.but now its just outdated and cruel,. its mainly the older generation that follow it,younger people are becoming more aware of animal rights and the need for reform. Catalonia has banned Bullfighting which Includes Barcelona, Im very optimistic that it will be banned,I have faith in the yiunger generations to get it stopped.

Hello Elaine, It is my belief that people who come to this country accepting our hospitality and way of life should not then try and change things to match their beliefs which are contrary to ours ( not a subject for this thread ) But if I go to live in Spain and feel as I do about the cruelty how can I then object to bullfighting if the Spanish people accept it as normal and still retain integrity.

Thanks Roxanne.. you have made me a lot happier with the information that the younger generation seem to have a different attitude to bullfighting... and that it is the Spanish people that may be responsible for its consignment to history where it belongs Cheers Colin

That is utterly disgusting, that poor little donkey, such lovely creatures, I hate bull fighting, Caz xxxxx

Colin, I cannot see any reason why I cannot have an opinion that bullfighting is cruel, even though I am living in Spain where it is considered in some areas to be a ´sport´. If I was actively fighting against the sport then I would accept your comments - I am not - it is just my personal opinion. I think you will also find that a lot of the Spanish are now against this so called sport and, as has been mentioned in some of the threads on here, certain regions are now banning it.

Sorry Elaine.....I was not meant to be expressing an opinion about anyone.....in fact I was trying to express how I feel using language that might make it clear that it was not in anyway an opinion on the views of others...if it looks like a judgement about you or your posting then I have failed.. My beliefs are that no man should try and tell another how to live his life I have re read my posting to you and can see what you mean Hope this clears the misunderstanding Cheers Colin

Colin - no problem - a misunderstanding on my part of your original posting !! No hard feelings!!

If You want to help campaign against cruelty In Spain here is a link http://www*faace*co*uk/index*htm replace stars with dots.

hi Colin, Ive just read your reply to Elaine about that we should accept the countries culture and not try to change things. Im afraid where Cruelty Is concerned I have to disagree, I live In spain and I love the country,I am 100% integrated in their rich culture, cruelty is not part of their culture,its a backward way of life that needs changing, if foreigners can do that, then great:-))

Yes Rox, good question about the tourist. I didn't hear the beginning of the report, so I assume it was a tourist. Equally, it might have been filmed undercover after a tip-off, but the bit I heard was about someone having returned from Spain etc etc. Elaine, I've heard about that 'sport' as well. Also involving donkies is a ritual where, in some villages in Spain, the heaviest man in the village gets to ride the oldest(?) donkey in a procession. I could go on, but it makes me so angry about the sheer cruelty in the name of entertainment or religious processions. I agree Roxanne, about the tourists. I cannot believe the Brits sometimes, let alone other countries, after all that's in the media about this sort of thing.

hi Glenys, I just found it odd about the tourist. I really hate the fiesta here, It all seems to revolve around ancient catholic rituals:-(( If this religion you can stick it! They do seem stuck in a time warp here with this, its just not civilised. what I find so odd is that Spain is so advanced in other areas,they put England to shame on other Issues. Rox x