Cell Zoe: to fight cruelty
Cruelty to animals takes many forms. Voluntary or guided by profit, or even under the pretense of education, it must be condemned and prevented whenever possible. In order to fight it and eradicate it, One Voice has set up a field action cell. It was named Zoé, "life" in Greek, in remembrance of a female dog, saved in 2011 from a real hell in Savoy, with 60 other Tibetan mastiffs and three donkeys. She lived tied to a barrel, in the middle of rubbish, when One Voice discovered her. Today safe in a loving home, she is the symbol of One Voice's fight against cruelty. The Cell Zoe intervenes in the field thanks to its vast network of informers and investigators who are in contact with gendarmerie and veterinary services, and also with partner shelters, ready to welcome the survivors.
Our work, our responsiveness is essential to the authorities to allow them to intervene quickly. Not only are animals saved, but their cases are brought to light, making magistrates aware, and despite being already overwhelmed with cases, they understand that they must include these issues in their priorities. Thanks to our work with them, regulations are evolving.
The Link: a tool to fight violence on animals and humans
The fight of Cell Zoe against cruelty also aims to have these cruel acts condemned regardless of the victim.
The link between violence against animals and humans is proven. Highlighting this has already changed practices in some countries. For example, by setting up collaborations in the United States and the United Kingdom, where child protection and animal protection services are finally starting to work together, including cross-referencing. For the link proves that there are not several types of violence but only one kind, the one that is perpetrated against individuals - human or animal - in a state of weakness, physical or psychological. The famous formula which states that violence breeds violence makes perfect sense: victims of violence are more than likely to become perpetrators themselves ...
The link between child abuse, animal abuse and family violence becomes clear. The need to get rid of a legal distinction between the nature - human or animal - of the victim becomes obvious.