That dogs die in the street is a cruel fact of the Third World. It is now also the subject of a worldwide furore over an artistic stunt.
An attempt by an artist in Latin America to dramatise the act of canine death has become an internet sensation after tens of thousands of animal lover protested. But without real world substantiation, it appears that millions have fallen for a hoax.
The dog, named Natividad (Nativity) was video taped in a Nicaraguan art gallery, tied to the wall, beset by mange and supposedly dying from starvation. When the video was posted on YouTube, the artist Guillermo Vargas, also known as Habacuc, was subject to death threats posted on the internet.
"If I ever meet you I will kill you, and not the way they did with that dog," said one outraged contributor.The artist claims he had received dozens of death threats. Websites, blogs and newspapers all reported what appeared to be a stunningly callous exhibition. To serve his point, the Costa Rican artist had scattered dog biscuits just beyond the reach of the rope.
The installation, titled "Eres Lo Que Lees" (You Are What You Read) was booked to last three hours. The manic depravities of the Nicaraguan street were further represented by a recording of a band playing the Sandinista anthem backwards.
Habacuc was also reported to have set fire to 175 pieces of crack cocaine in a giant incense burner.
"I was physically sick after hearing what this sub-human did - not even animals do this to their weak - they kill them outright to save them the pain of suffering," wrote Liz Day on baltimoresun.com.
"History shows that humans who torture animals usually go the next step. Most serial killers who torture their victims have a history of animal sick cruelty - FACT."
A brewing storm became a howling rage when the 32-year-old said the dog had died, just as it would have done in the streets of Managua.
"If you publicly display one of these starving creatures, such as the case with Nativity, it creates a backlash that brings out a big of hypocrisy in all of us," he was quoted as saying on one blog. "Nativity was a very sick creature and would have died in the streets anyway."
But all was not as it seemed, it appeared. The gallery said the dog had not died on the premises but slipped its leash after a day. Gallery director Juanita Bermudez said the dog was treated well by the artist.
She said: "It was untied all the time except for the three hours the exhibition lasted and it was fed regularly with dog food, which Habacuc himself brought in." More than two million people signed an online petition demanding Habacuc be banned from the world's premier art events. The animal rights group, Peta, said the exhibition and resulting row had served a purpose.
"We're currently investigating the incident," its website said. "This whole thing does provide an insight into human nature that will be worth considering once we're able to look at the big picture: If we can muster up this degree of outrage about one incident of animal suffering, why are we any less horrified by the billions upon billions of similar or worse cases of abuse that we can personally help to prevent?"
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