Bardot protests dog hunt
2007-04-19 21:38
Pristina - Former French film star and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has appealed to the mayor of Kosovo's capital Pristina to call off a planned hunt for stray dogs.
"Kosovo has survived a lot of dramas in the previous years, but by no means should that justify a barbarian act to eradicate the most loyal and best friend of man," said Bardot in a letter to Mayor Ismet Beqiri.
Officials at Pristina City Hall confirmed the local government was planning to invite hunters to shoot stray dogs in a bid to reduce the number of the animals on the streets.
A similar operation was conducted earlier this year in the Kosovo town of Mitrovica, about 40km north of Pristina.
Bardot's letters said: "The use of force against the feeble is a cowardly act.
"I beg you to intervene in favour of a ceasefire."
"The dog population could be controlled and limited in sterilisation campaigns.
"It is urgent to put an end to this killing in the open and solve the problem of abandoned dogs with more dignity."
Bardot, 72, founded her wildlife foundation 20 years ago.