What would you have done?

[Hairy Woman]

Hi everyone, I feel like I've been posting too much since my recent joining, but I wanted to know what you would make of what happened to me yesterday, and how you would have reacted.

First off, I was raised in the animal-loving UK but am currently an ex-pat in China, so there are cultural differences involved in this scenario. I was on a bus yesterday at night and this couple in their mid-to-late twenties had this small fluffy white puppy. It was very docile and very young, and they had it beside them on the seat. I watched in confusion and growing horror as, smiling away, they produced a thick white plastic carrier bag (no holes) and put the puppy into it, so that the puppy, when being held up so that its body is at full length, had its head poking out. They then carefully wrapped a little of the remaining plastic around the puppy, then put it into a small leather satchel, still with the its head sticking out. They were very happy over this, and I admit that the puppy wasn't showing any signs of distress.

I found this disturbing and actually went over and told them in English, calmly, but clearly worried, that they should not put a puppy into a plastic bag and to take him out at once. They looked at each other, both confused: what was this foreigner doing? What was wrong? The man pointed at the door for some reason, telling me something just as calmly as I had spoken to him. I was insistent, and they took the dog out of the bag, but they were laughing at me - I was absolutely hilarious.

The next stop was mine and I got off the bus. I have no doubts that the moment my back was turned, they put that puppy back the way they had it. I watched them from the street, still on the bus, still laughing at the silly foreigner who was probably a bit gone in the head. When they saw me looking at them, shaking my head, they laughed even harder.

What would you have done? This is a different culture, and I am a guest, but I find wrapping a puppy in a plastic bag wrong and there have been very few instances in my life when I have felt compelled to act. What would you have done, in my circumstances? Does it make any difference that it happened in a different country? As I mentioned, the puppy wasn't struggling (well it's head wasn't struggling - it's body was completely covered) and on the one hand I feel as if I had no right to say anything and was just being stupid, but at the same time emotions are there for a reason.

[Muddy Fox]

I think that you did the right thing at the time and acted on a gut instinct. But you don't know the reasons why they put the puppy in a plastic bag. Obviously they were not trying to suffocate it as they were in public and the puppy's head was free to breathe. Maybe they had put it in the bag to stop it from running out the door and getting lost. And it would only be carried about in this way for short time until the puppy was big enough to understand who loved it and where it's home was. Maybe they thought that they were protecting the puppy.
But if you have any concerns about a situation in which you think something or someone cannot speak for themselves or are not being allowed the freedom to do so. Then you have every right to speak up.

[Hairy Woman]

It was just a very strange situation: the puppy was very docile and sitting quietly: I can't fathom why they thought they needed to put it in a plastic bag, then into the leather bag. Also, with the puppy sitting and not being held up, I was worried it might sink into the plastic bag, where it would be harder to breathe. But yes, I agree with what you said about me know knowing the circumstances: perhaps they had just bought it and didn't have a proper lead yet. It wasn't pleasant though: I felt more as if I was watching two adults playing with an object than an animal.

[Muddy Fox]

I see your point. To treat any sentient being as an object, is a cause for concern.

[Reyna]

When I first read your post I wondered if the plastic bag was to catch any urine or feces. I know, seems dumb, but it was the only thing I can think of. Or maybe they wanted to be all Paris Hilton but didn't want doggie hair on the leather bag?

[Aitrus]

Reya, that was my thought as well. It could be that, in their culture, they have different ways than we of keeping their pets safe. We have leash laws to keep animals from becoming a danger or hazard, I use a kennel to keep the pug who lives with us out of trouble and safe. It could be that they used the bag in the same way. Wrap the pup up tight so it can't move for it's own safety and that of others (being underfoot of the driver, etc.). Just because we don't understand another culture's actions doesn't mean that they're wrong.

So long as the pup wasn't in danger or suffering, I don't see the issue.

[Hairy Woman]

My worry was when this thick, no-holes bag was produced. The pup, which you could carry in one hand, was placed in this pastic bag larger than the pup (when sitting naturally). I think you're right Aitrus, about the different culture and different ways of treating animals. It just disturbed me so much at the time that I felt the need to react and even now I wonder whether I should have spoken to them. In the end, I suppose I reacted they way that my culture an upbringing told me to react.

Has anyone else felt this way in a different culture, or even your own? Even though we're brought up with a notion of right and wrong, applying it to the world is never easy, or you're seen as forcing your morals onto others.