“Dama’er Mosamma”: Film Shames Officials for Poisoning Baladi Dogs
By Muhammed Aladdin
Poisoned Consciences, or in Arabic “Dama’er Mosamma”, is a short film that has gone viral on social media for a cause that, more than often, is shrugged off by Egyptians.
The struggle of Egypt’s Baladi dogs has been silent and rough on going battle; from rocks being thrown to frequent beatings, these helpless creatures continue to suffer. On top of that officials resort to lethal inhumane methods to rid the streets of these dogs.
All over Egypt, reports of the government’s mass poisoning of Baladi dogs continue to gain notoriety. The situation has become so hopeless that there were talks of exporting this precious breed of canine, that is unique to Egypt, to Asian countries famous for devouring them.
The root of the abuse stems from the lack of awareness; the Egyptian public needs to understand that these dogs are harmless, loving creatures that undergo so much without a tinge of love. They are alone and scared, and to kill them mercilessly with poison, is not a solution.
Amr Khalil, Director of the film, wanted to show how the practice of poisoning that some officials use in tackling the problem could lead to even more dire consequences.
The film stars a young, 14-year-old paper tissue seller who is friends with two Baladi dogs, Red and Apache. The three friends take care of each other, but when officials decide to bring an end to street-dwelling canines, everything just falls to pieces. The film is heartbreaking, yet true in so many ways.
Baladi dogs predate modern Egypt; in fact, the breed goes all the way back to the times of ancient Egypt. They helped our ancestors with tasks like hunting and herding, and many of them were revered to the point where they were buried next to their owners.
Responsible individuals need to act; there is always other solutions to curb the population growth of these helpless creatures. If you find an abused dog, there are different organizations that can help like ESMA, APF, and Hope.
