Animal Cruelty and the Canine History of Dogs in Nigeria

The manner in which animals are killed, the revenue accrued from animals, and the ethno-religious differences emanating from rearing and consuming animals are generally referred to in this book as Slaughter House Politics. Animal cruelty and Animal Rights are yet to occupy eminence in Nigerian historical scholarship despite numerous laws enacted since colonial times. Unfortunately, historians profess a multi-disciplinary approach to historical scholarship which is not strictly followed, especially in animal-human relations and other areas of science. A dog is an animal of social and economic importance. It is both a pet animal as well as a carnivorous animal. As a result, the government, since colonial times, has enacted laws such as the Dog Ordinance to guide society on how to use, train, and guard dogs. The various laws relating to animal-human relations have always been contravened. Dogs-related diseases, such as rabies, have kept medical experts busy and have caused many harms and deaths. There is a need, therefore, to interrogate medical research that relates to dogs as well. Furthermore, the selling and buying of dogs, intergroup relations, and cuisines related to dog meat are increasing daily. Dogs are also an important weapon of national security, and as such, this book accommodates both the political, social, and economic discourses related to dogs and other animals, especially within the confines of existing laws.