A Dog's Life By David Cheok On ExposureRoom

David Cheok

A Dog's Life

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A sad story that needs to be told about dogs in Brunei.

Comments

Carlos Oropeza

September 07, 2008 02:46 PM

I admire your compassion for our animal friends.....

Willem Van den Broeck

September 07, 2008 03:13 PM

David,

Why do people poison dogs in your country?

Sorry if I missed it in the film, but i couldn't watch until the end. It's just to sad.

David Cheok

September 07, 2008 04:01 PM

Two possible reasons:

1) We live in a Islamic country and in Islam, dogs are considered unclean and should not be touched. However, parents and teachers seem to teach their children that dogs are the equivalent of the devil and should be frowned upon and tortured. Recently, some kid was apparently attacked by stray dogs. I am also a muslim but a convert and not one who grew up as one. Hence my feelings towards dogs is not the same. I understand how pre-modern times would specify teachings such as the avoidance of these scavengers as during those times, they would scavenge in the rubbish and municipal waste of society to survive (like pigs living dirty) however today is quite different. Most dogs are pets and we do not have much dead and decaying matter for these animal to scavenge upon spreading disease. Yet, unfortunately, the outlook is still the same. To make matters worst, some are taught that a dog's life is worth nothing hence their utter disrespect for another life.

2) Dogs bark and chase strangers from our homes. Its possible that foreign workers who walk past our homes feel threatened. Those that understand a dog's behaviour would ignore them and the dogs will just tire and walk away. Those that don't feel the dogs are impeding on their turf (alpha male syndrome) and feel that they should eliminate the threat.

Either way, its hard to say. The only thing I am certain of is that those that did this have no respect for a dog's life. They have killed all four of the dogs that were living under my roof within a span of 3 weeks.

Shiv Kumar

September 07, 2008 05:31 PM

David,

This is just too sad. I understand your reasoning but could it not just be more spite/jealously and nothing whatsoever to do with beliefs?

In the US one could go to jail for not feeding a dog properly or abusing a dog (or any animal for that matter). I couldn't appreciate that until saw this video.

Peg Futrell

September 07, 2008 05:40 PM

Sorry, David, I cannot watch due to the title. I cannot stand to see any animals, whether wild or pet, abused, misused. I'm sorry that you lost your pets.

David Cheok

September 07, 2008 11:28 PM

Shiv,

Unfortunately, this is religiously influenced. Dogs here are simply very low down on the priority level because of the way that 'concept' of our religion was taught to people.

Peg,

Thanks.