Beyond Cruel and Unusual Punishment

“[The animals] display all the signs of creatures slowly being driven mad by their unnatural existence.” -- Allan Hall “The World’s Saddest Zoo” “The righteous care for the needs of their animals….” -- Proverbs 12:10 NIV Cruising the “Drudge Report” yesterday, I noticed the photo of a forlorn looking bear peering out from behind bars with the accompanying headline “The World’s Saddest Zoo,” which linked to an article by Allan Hall in the UK’s “Daily Mail.”

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News headlines often depict a crazy and cruel world, and perhaps I’ve become too jaded and cynical regarding the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” – but Hall’s article (and photographs) about animals abandoned in their small enclosures tugged at my heart strings like few other stories have. It is bad enough that they exist in such cramped, claustrophobic quarters, but they are slowly starving as well. Only the compassionate but inadequate care given by an aged and “dirt-poor pair of pensioners named Hovhamnes and Alvina Madoyan” keeps a slow agonizing death at bay.

Hovhamnes said: “I lost my job. I had nothing, my wife and I were walking by the deserted zoo when we heard these terrible cries of animals in torment.  …They are sad and lonely and, when they can be bothered, pace up and down their cages, showing the signs of being driven mad by boredom and inactivity.

The “zoo” (which reminds me of an especially vile concentration camp) is located near the town of Gyumri in Armenia, a small country between the Black and Caspian Seas. Gyumri is where the Kardashian family originally came from. Perhaps someone who knows the Kardashians can inform them of the animal’s plight and they will be moved to help. In any event, below you will find an email I received that includes helpful information for those readers who wish to give aid and comfort to the unfortunate animals in the Armenian “zoo.”

Hi Jim,

 We are currently having about 100 emails coming in and reading each of them! We are happy to provide any info regarding the updates of the situation and the rest.

How can we help you? There is a campaign going on to raise some funds, please also share that at your convenience. Thank you once again! SOS Gyumri Zoo Animals Facebook:  Tel: +37455 139510 
 Regards,
Silva Adamyan Head of "Center of Bird Lovers" NGO
 Central Asia and Caucasus NGO Forum on ADB 
Work group coordinator in Armenia 
Member of coordination group "Environmental public alliance"