For The Sake of Art?

A few nights ago, I received a chain email from a friend. Like with all other chain emails, I had the same reaction: roll my eyes and hit 'delete.' However, this particular subject title caught my eye. I opened the email, only to read the horrifying news about how a sick, so-called artist who was attempting to redo a past exhibit:

In 2007, the 'artist' Guillermo Vargas Habacuc, took a dog from the street, tied him to a rope in an art gallery, and starved him to death. For several days, the 'artist' and the visitors of the exhibition have watched emotionless the shameful 'masterpiece' based on the dog's agony, until eventually he died.

Now anyone who knows me can tell you how much I heart dogs. I can pretty much name any breed of dog just by seeing it (though, the new hybrids tend to throw me off with their silly names). To see pictures of an emaciated dog exhibited as "art" was too much for me to even believe. Luckily, about 2 million other animal lovers signed the online petition, too, and this madness "for the sake of art" was put to a stop:

After pressure from WSPA, the Honduras AHPRA and the public, the Biennial organizers have agreed not only to make AHPRA official observers but also to include new competition rules that prohibit the abuse of animals. While we are satisfied that no-one will be able to abuse animals in the name of art during this forthcoming exhibition, stronger laws need to be in place that prohibit animal cruelty. WSPA and member society UCC are currently supporting a campaign, led by the Commission for Natural Resources and Environment of the Nicaraguan Assembly, calling for legislation to protect animals in Nicaragua. (wspa.com)

This is just one battle won. Everyday, there are millions of animals around the world treated cruelly for the sake of art or whatever sick pleasure. So if you have a heart, sign the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare.