These influencers should be put in the doghouse.
A disturbing new TikTok trend — where clueless owners dump buckets of ice water on their unsuspecting pups — is drawing widespread outrage from animal lovers, who are barking mad over what they call a “cruel” and “appalling” stunt.
The so-called “#barkyourmindchallenge” is a twisted take on the recently-revived ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that first soaked the internet a decade ago, raising awareness for a neurodegenerative disease.
But instead of chilling themselves for a good cause, some brain-frozen pet owners are drenching their dogs — all for the sake of a few likes.
“Dousing an unsuspecting dog with water is an appalling betrayal of their trust that undoubtedly leaves them confused and terrified, and it’s every bit as egregiously cruel as it would be if it were a child being harassed and antagonised,” Jason Baker of animal rights group Peta told news.com.au.
“Peta encourages animal guardians to use common sense, think about these senseless social media stunts from the animal’s perspective, and always put their companion animal’s well-being first.”
But common sense seems to be on ice.
“This is an upsetting trend where you can see the animals are visibly confused by the human’s behaviour in these videos,” Ryan Neile, head of behavior at UK pet charity Blue Cross said in a statement, as per The Independent.
“Pets are not toys to be exploited, humiliated or objectified for our own entertainment.”
The frosty fad comes hot on the heels of another stomach-churning trend previously reported on by The Post, in which pet owners filmed themselves spinning their cats, dogs — even rabbits — by the front legs like rag dolls.
“This puts unnecessary strain on your pet’s joints/muscles and can make them feel dizzy and nauseous, all for the sake of a few views,” warned Jade, a registered veterinary nurse and popular TikTokker known as Jade The Vet Nurse last month. “Let’s be responsible pet owners and get rid of this trend.”
Jade, who has three dogs and three tortoises of her own, didn’t mince words when she saw people hoisting their pets like circus props.
“You can cause [them] to feel really dizzy and nauseous,” she said. “I’ve literally seen people try and do this trend with large dogs, and I have seen people drop their dogs, which can cause injury.”
The UK’s People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals echoed Jade’s concerns, warning that the spinning — and likely the ice baths too — could result in lasting damage.
“Limping and stiffness can be caused by several different conditions, the most common being minor injuries and arthritis,” the group said.
“It is important to take your dog to the vets even if their problem appears minor – some dogs are very good at hiding pain from their owner.”
In other words, stop using your pet as clickbait.
Because no amount of clout is worth chilling — or spinning — your best friend into a vet visit.
Read the full article here
