The images are difficult to sustain.
In an investigation published on Tuesday, the Vakita media, launched by journalist Hugo Clément, reveals the existence of pet trafficking on social networks.
The remains of dogs and cats, originally intended for rendering, would be diverted and transformed into masks, carpets or decorative objects.
“They are dissected, dismembered, skinned, and their bones, their skins, their faces are put up for sale on a private group, on Facebook, in the form of trophies,” Vakita explains on his website.
A rottweiler transformed into a bath mat… 😱@William_Thorp investigated this mind-boggling business.
Go to https://t.co/dxZLqb0Pq9 to discover the first two episodes of our investigation 💥 pic.twitter.com/IMxrKjHTQ4
— Vakita (@vakitamedia) January 17, 2023
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The process, denounced by the teams of Hugo Clément, could concern 500 animals and this traffic would obviously be organized without the knowledge of the owners.
The latter thought they had entrusted their companion with a view to incineration.
“A very disturbing passion”
To carry out his investigation, Vakita managed to infiltrate a Facebook group called “MC Osteo”.
“We collected the testimony of an owner of a dog who died.
He was contacted by the gendarmerie who found the body of his headless and legless dog, ”says Hugo Clément on the set of BFM TV.
The journalist and activist recalls that while taxidermy is authorized in France, the recovery of animal carcasses without the knowledge of the owners is, on the other hand, illegal.
“We are dealing with people who have a very disturbing passion.
[…] It's a form of fascination for the anatomy of animals, death,” says the reporter.
For its part, the 30 Millions d'Amis Foundation "is protesting against the existence of such traffic in dead animals and against the deception of the masters of these dogs and cats who wrongly thought see their friend go in peace.
A freezer seized by the gendarmes
Vakita also met one of these sellers of products derived from animal remains.
She explains that she saw the gendarmes arrive at her house who seized around 200 “subjects” and a “full freezer”, containing dogs, cats, piglets and even a baby kangaroo.
All these corpses had been recovered from a knacker.
Hugo Clément specifies that this “black market” concerns hundreds of animals and therefore hundreds of customers.
"We would not have talked about it if we had realized that it was a person in his corner," he says.
Even if the journalist recognizes that the cases remain "very minority" among all the animals euthanized by a veterinarian.
Justice
Charleville-Mézières: Two wildlife traffickers sentenced
Miscellaneous facts
Finistère: Puppy trafficking dismantled with more than 300 animals concerned
Company
Facebook
Animals
Traffic
Animal cruelty