Charl del Rio received this reply from the Animal Aid charity, in respect of the email which has been circulating about the ‘artist’ and starving dog in Latin America.
Dear Charlotte,
Thank you for sending us this email – we do share your anger. We have known about this ‘artist’ for some time (the exhibition with the dog was held last year) but it remains unclear what actually happened.
It is likely that this starving dog was taken off the street in Nicaragua, used by the artist to highlight the issue of starving stray dogs in the city and turned back out again at the end of the exhibition.
The gallery states that the dog was fed while there and claims the dog did not die. Unfortunately, the truth may never be known. (See http://www.snopes.com for more details.)
There are no laws to protect animals in Nicaragua and so no legal action can be brought but, although the ‘artist’ will be exhibiting again this year, the gallery has confirmed that no animals will be used.
Thanks again for your concern.
Kind regards,
Carole
Animal Aid
The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1AW
Web: http://www.animalaid.org.uk/