by Rod Hughes

A Costa Rican artist found himself in hot water with the animal protection people in his home country after using a starving, sick street dog as part of an exposition in Managua, Nicaragua, in August. Guillermo “Habacuc” Vargas allegedly found the dog tied up on a street corner in a poor Nicaragua barrio and brought it to the showing.

He tied the dog, according to furious animal lovers, in a corner of the salon where it died after a day. Habacuc’s exhibition included a legend spelled out in dog food reading “You are what you read,” photos and an incense burner that burned an ounce of marijauna and 175 “rock’ of crack cocaine. In the background, according to reports, the Sandista national anthem played backwards.

According to the artist, his “art” was a tribute to Natividad Canda, a Nicaraguan burglar killed in Costa Rica by two rottweilers guarding property he had entered at night. The incident caused friction between the two countries. Habacuc told the daily La Nacion, “I won’t say the dog died. The importance to me is the hypocracy of the people where an animal is the focus of attention where people come to see art but not when it’s in the street starving to death.”

“The same thing happened with poor Natividad Canda. The people sympathized with him only after he was dead,” the artist added.

The artist apparently is unaware that at least three large, active organizations are dedicated in Costa Rica to the protection of animals and that several persons have been prosecuted for cruelty to animals. They are hampered in their efforts by the old Hispanic customs of disregard for animal welfare and by a lack of funding.

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If this act was done to a human it would be murder, but a dog, no one gives a f##k in that country. How many of us readers would of cut the dog free, forcibly removed him and done everything physically possible?  Everyone that looked art the dog and did nothing is a culprit to murder.

It’s at times like these where I wish had a shed load of money and could fly over to Costa Rica and meet Guillermo Habacuc Vargas – and tell him exactly what I think.

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So true Patricia, i also find it hard to believe that NO ONE did anything to help this poor dog. For my part they are as guilty as the SOB !

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you know if we did this to a nother person we would go to jail.I think that the sob should be put on that chain and starve  just like that poor dog did. shame on the people who just  stood by and did nothing to save that dog. they need to be put o the chain right next to Guillermo Habacuc Vargas and strave to.Whats up with the dog food on the wall why the heck didnt they give it to the dog?

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how awfull, i agree the sob, chained  up and starved,

                   jacqueline

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I am sat here with my two dogs and I cannot imagine what that poor doggie went through - it makes me ashamed to be human.

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Despite all our efforts this low life scum has still been selected to represent his country!!!!!!

Monika V.
Scum represents Puerto Rico in 2008 despite protests!!! Wednesday, 7:52 PM

wspa: press release

http://wspa.or.cr/news.asp?newsID=94

      

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What the hell is wrong with people in the world today? This isn't art you idiot this is horrible! I hope someone catches him and chains him to a corner and then lets him starve to death. I don't care if the animal was a stray or not you don't do stuff like this. I still can't believe people stood around and let this happen........in the end they will all get what they deserve!

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bastardo ...you scumbag...you should be tied to a wall yourself

what a fine example for the costa rican people ..how the hell did this happen   

come on costa rica do you endorse this .....b..a..s..t..a..r..d

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shithead

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I want to sign the petition above, but I do not know what this means:

Ciudad / Localidad

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Teresa, it's you address.

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make me wonder why some people poor all there money into helping dogs and cats when our human children are in so much need.  .. 

god help us.

help Africa this Christmas.    PEOPLE are dieing

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“How can you justify spending your time helping animals when there are so many people who need help?”

There are very serious problems in the world that deserve our attention, and cruelty to animals is one of them. We should try to alleviate suffering wherever we can. Helping animals is not any more or less important than helping human beings—they are both important. Animal suffering and human suffering are interconnected.

http://www.peta.org/about/faq.asp

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Hey Beter, what do these letters P.E.T.A. stand for??

Theres other place that help Children, Go fine them.

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my native laugage is setswana

I am jus trying to raise awarness to the most pressing plite of human children under Unisef help

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God bless them. But this is an animal rights group. They have rights to you know. Unless your heartless about animals.

Theres groups that help children.

Theres groups that help adults

Theres groups that help animals.. This is one of those.

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We are here because this is where our hearts bring us.  Don't think you're going to disuade anyone here from helping animals just because YOU think people are more important. 

Sounds like a typical egocentric to me.

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I don't think anyone here actually said that animals are more important than people.  The sentiment seemed to me to be that animals and people are on the same playing field. 

To be perfectly honest, I won't send a dime to Africa, or anywhere else unless it's to support a birth control program.  Why on EARTH would you bring a child into a world where poverty, starvation, and deadly disease are the norm?  It boggles the mind.

Now, I will apoligize for contributing to this non-topic discussion.  Here's hoping that the artist who starved the dog will suffer a similar fate.

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PEOPLE AND ANIMALS ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT!!!!

WE PEOPLE ARE AN ANIMAL KIND

EXCEPT, WE ARE THE WORST!!!!

CAUSE THEY TELL US WE ARE THE SMARTEST OF ALL BEINGS AND STILL WE LEAVE OTHER HUMANS TO DIE OF HUNGER OR DISEASES.THE NATIONS TOGETHER COULD PREVENT THIS!!!!

BUT OUR LUST FOR MONEY AND POWER IS ABOVE ALL!!!!

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