Once again we are confronted with a stomach-turning video. F.R. from Anoia, Reggio Calabria, posts a video on Facebook in which he plainly and criminally amuses himself by atrociously mistreating a little goat, biting her regardless of her screams of terror and pain.
The scene, filmed by an accomplice, is terrible and provokes anger, dismay and disgust. We are not posting the video because we are opposed to sharing footage of gratuitous and utterly senseless violence. A man biting a little goat with force, who is plainly frightened and in pain: the whole thing gleefully filmed and published on social media.
The poor little goat, bleating in terror, at one point is left almost hanging in mid-air between the jaws of her tormentor, who is visibly pleased with himself.
The individual, R.F., an idle 38-year-old resident in Anoia, Reggio Calabria, with a police record for threats and violence against a public official, was immediately identified and is now facing a number of formal reports.
The Carabinieri from the Cinquefrondi (Reggio Calabria) station — whom we thank for the speed of their response — immediately intervened, assisted by several units of zoophile officers. Through very swift investigations, the officers succeeded in quickly tracking down the man shown in the footage and bringing him to the barracks.
The Carabinieri, accompanied by veterinarians from the Reggio Calabria provincial health authority, then carried out an administrative and health inspection at the stable in Anoia used by the man — perhaps it is his, in any case he was using it, and perhaps he was slaughtering those animals there too.
During the inspection, "nine sheep and goats, four pigs and five dogs" were found, but without the traceability required to ensure health monitoring.
The animals were consequently placed under preventive health seizure, pending further measures by the Asp, and administrative fines totalling several thousand euros were also issued.
In addition to the penalties already imposed, the butcher will now have to answer to the criminal charge of animal cruelty, which carries a sentence of between 3 and 18 months' imprisonment and a fine ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 euros. On his Facebook profile, the cover photo shows him throwing a pig into the air, perhaps in a wrestling move against that defenceless little creature.
The association Gaia Animali & Ambiente Onlus, through Gaia Lex Calabria lawyers Rossella Nigro and Annunziata Morello, and Aic Adottami in Calabria Onlus are filing a formal report with the competent authorities against this individual and any other persons responsible. Not even in the face of scenes such as these will we give up on restoring legality so that all sentient beings are respected.