Throughout history, animals have been exploited for entertainment, often with little regard for their well-being. While modern society increasingly recognizes animal cruelty, many past practices considered amusing are now viewed as horrific. Even today, some individuals find entertainment in harming animals.
Cat Burning
In medieval Europe, cats were associated with evil, leading to the cruel practice of cat burning. In Paris, dozens of cats (and sometimes a fox) were burned alive on a pyre on the eve of Saint John’s day, attended by the king, who would even hold a feast afterward.
In England, during a festival celebrating Elizabeth I’s coronation, an effigy of Pope Innocent XI was paraded through London with live cats caged inside. When the effigy was set ablaze, the screeching cats were said to represent the Devil’s whispers.
The Cave of Dogs
The Phlegraean Fields in Italy featured the Cave of Dogs, where tourists conducted a cruel “experiment.” The cave emitted carbon dioxide, which settled at the bottom, making it impossible for short animals to breathe. Tourists would force a dog’s head into the gas until it suffocated, then revive it in the nearby lake. Mark Twain sarcastically mentioned wanting to kill a dog this way, but humorously claimed he forgot to bring one.
Cock-throwing
In England, “cock-throwing” involved tying a chicken to a pillar and hurling sticks at it. This event was usually held on Shrove Tuesday, when social restrictions were loosened for laborers.
Participants paid a fee to throw sticks. A killing blow meant they kept the carcass, while other hits led to the chicken being strung up for continued torment. The person who knocked the chicken off its perch, or caught it, won the fowl.
The Bear Gardens
During Shakespeare’s time, the Bear Gardens rivaled his theater. Animals, such as bears, were pitted against dogs in a bloodsport favored even by Elizabeth I. King James I also used animals from his private collection for baiting events.
Bears were tied to a pole in a pit and attacked by dogs, with fights often stopped after several dogs died. Other animals, like a chimpanzee riding a horse, were also used, with spectators enjoying the spectacle of animals being hurt.
Goose Pulling
Goose pulling, a European bloodsport from the 17th century, involved stringing up a live goose by its legs. Riders on horseback would race beneath it, attempting to pull its head off. Oil was applied to the goose’s neck to make it harder to grab.
Even when popular, goose pulling was criticized as barbaric. Modified versions today use dead geese killed humanely, though they still face opposition from animal rights activists.
Geek Show
The original meaning of “geek” referred to a “fool.” Geek shows were carnival acts from the late 1800s where a performer acted like a wild person, chasing animals and biting their heads off. These acts were degrading to the performers, often substance abusers paid with alcohol or narcotics.
Famous geeks, like Eeka, incorporated snake charming into their acts. The geek show declined as animal rights awareness grew.
Cannibal Holocaust
The movie Cannibal Holocaust sparked controversy, leading to animal cruelty and murder charges against its director. While the murder charges were dropped, the director was fined for animal cruelty due to real onscreen animal deaths.
A turtle was killed, and a monkey’s death was filmed twice. The director claimed the animals were eaten by the cast and crew, but authorities still condemned the killings.
Kots Kaal Pato
Kots Kaal Pato, a festival in Citilcum, Mexico, involved filling pinatas with live animals and beating them to death. Children would round up animals like iguanas and opossums, put them in pinatas, and beat them with sticks. Escaping animals were trampled.
Other cruelties included hanging ducks by their feet and racing to tear off their heads. Animal rights activists successfully lobbied for the festival to end, and now no live animals are harmed.
Badger Baiting
Badger baiting involves sending a dog into a badger burrow to kill or capture it. Even if both survive, they often suffer severe injuries. Outlawed in 1835, badger baiting still persists.
Today, baiters use dogs to find badgers and dig into their burrows. Some even breed dogs specifically for badger fighting, leading to jail time for those caught in undercover operations.
Animal Crush Porn
Animal crush pornography is a disturbing form of fetish pornography where individuals derive sexual pleasure from watching women torture animals to death. Animals are subjected to horrifically cruel acts, including crushing kittens, boiling, blowtorching, and disemboweling.
This pornography thrives on the dark web due to its illegality. Some women in the videos are victims of trafficking, forced to commit these acts under threat.
Reflecting on these horrific uses of animals for entertainment underscores how far we’ve come in recognizing animal rights. Share your thoughts and feelings about these disturbing practices in the comments below.
