This is video I shot of a dog fight at Territory de Zaguates in Costa Rica that resulted in a staff member being bit yesterday.
There was nothing special about yesterday. Yesterday was exactly like it is every day at Territoria. This is how they manage the dogs. Staff think the dog fights are normal. This is the care the dogs receive. Volunteers think it’s just gonna happen that some dogs aren’t going to get enough food.
This is not normal. This is inhumane. I’m not the first—and I won’t be the last—to share it. In June CRHoy posted about animal abuse allegations at Territoria: http://qcostarica.com/territorio-de-zaguates-under-fire-for-alleged-animal-abuse/
When the Founder of Territorio Saumet responded to questions about how the dog fights are broken up by saying, "What’s the bad thing we’re doing?”, he confirms what’s normal at Territorio. Yanking dogs off of each other, tossing dogs in the air, whipping them with leashes to get the pack under control is how it’s done.
Here's how staff handles dog fights--another video I shot yesterday at Territorio de Zaguates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyPG9r6D7dg&feature=youtu.be
From the outside, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Saumet is managing an awful situation he creates. By having large packs of loose dogs, Saumet is creating the pressure-cooker situation that leads to dog fights. The large pack of dogs is in a constant state of arousal that can’t be managed. Not with screaming. Not with leash-whips. It’s a virtuous cycle—the constant management of the pack fuels the pressure.
The dogs aren’t the only ones that pay the price. A staff member got bit trying to break up a fight. Uncomfortable tourists looked away. My daughter hid-out in the car with headphones to block out the stress.
I spoke with visitors who described the fights as awful but who trusted Territorio to know what they were doing, deferring to the experts while their hearts twisted. One visitor commented that it was better than being left for dead on the street. That gave me pause. But I’m willing to bet that dogs have died at Territoria because of they way the dogs are being kept.
