Please help us stop sales of 'internet goats' !!!

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

Can we ask 5 minutes of your time to send a mail opposing the online sales

of goats for slaughter or sacrifice in Nepal?

 

In Nepal the arrival of online shopping has led to bizar phenomenon. Every

year during Dasain, Nepal's largest festival, consumers can order a life

goat to be send to relatives or friends as a Dasain gift. In a country

where Government and Army pay for mass-sacrifice of young (water)buffaloes

and goats during Dasain to appease goddess Durga, these goats are either

sacrificed in one of the many goddess temples across the country, or at

home during Dasain rituals. If the goats escape sacrifice, they are

slaughtered by a neigbour butcher, in the open, using knives to cut the

head or throat. The service is especially popular with expat Nepalis,

wanting to send a special gift home.

 

The largest online-goat seller is Thamel.com. " Our mission is not to

promote these wonderful animals and educate the world about their

usefullness and gentle nature but offer a link for Nepalis abroad to send a

special Dasain gift home " , says Rajkesh Lal Joshi, owner of the site.

 

Check how the deal is being done by visiting

http://www.thamelmall.com/thamelgift/

As you can see on the pics the goats are not exactly in a festive mood...

 

Please send a mail to Thamel.com expressing your concern about the

online-sales of goats during Dasain. Here is a draft letter:

 

" Dear Thamel.com management,

 

I am extremely concerned about your new venture - selling goats online as

Dasain gifts. I feel animals should not be sold through the internet, as it

promotes cruelty to animals and most probably sacrifice. In order to meet

the enormous market demand of the Kathmandu Valley during Dasain, the goats

generally travel over great distances, many of them all the way from Tibet

or India. The conditions during transport are generally substandard, with

goats walking for weeks to reach their destination. The goats face a cruel

death, as in Nepal (where there are no slaughterhouses) they are either

slaughtered by local butchers, in the open, using knives, or sacrificed in

one of the goddess temples or during ceremonies at home.

 

As someone concerned about both animal and human welfare I urge you to

promote a violence-free festival, and to stop the online sales of goats

immediately. This will greatly improve the image of your company and thus

promote business in the long run.

 

Name & address "

 

The email address is : info

Please cc to friendsofspcan

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Lucia de Vries

Friends of SPCAN (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Nepal)