PETA Condemns Ethiopia Over Dog Poison Plan

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ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - An international animal rights group condemned as "cruel and dangerous" Ethiopia's plans to poison tens of thousands of stray dogs as part of a mammoth clean-up campaign before Millennium celebrations next week. Still using the ancient Julian calendar, the Horn of Africa nation enters its new Millennium on September 12 with a huge concert expected to draw hundreds of thousands of partygoers.

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - An international animal rights group condemned as "cruel and dangerous" Ethiopia's plans to poison tens of thousands of stray dogs as part of a mammoth clean-up campaign before Millennium celebrations next week.


Still using the ancient Julian calendar, the Horn of Africa nation enters its new Millennium on September 12 with a huge concert expected to draw hundreds of thousands of partygoers.


Residents of the capital Addis Ababa have been asked to hit the streets with their brooms for a spot of cleaning in the run-up. Last week, the highland city's 90,000 beggars were targeted with a council directive that banned begging.


Authorities have asked residents to lock up their dogs in the lead-up to the Millennium, warning that any strays would be dealt with by the city council.


"Ethiopia might be preparing to mark the third millennium, but this massive dog-poisoning plan is something right out of the Dark Ages," said Ingrid Newkirk, of U.S.-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.


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PETA accused the authorities of planning to use as bait meat laced with strychnine -- a powerful poison that causes intense pain and severe convulsions before death by asphyxiation.


The group said the plan may lead to the unintentional and agonizing deaths of countless other animals feeding on poisoned dog carcasses, and offered to assist in "humane euthanasia."


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