By Gberindyer F. Aondover
1.0 Background Story
On 7th April 2026, at Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross Rivers State, I witnessed a raw, unfolding scene outside a modest home. A woman who told me that she hails from Ogoja LGA of Cross Rivers State was slaughtering a local dog for consumption in front of her compound by the roadside. The slaughtered dog was struggling and crying, echoing in sharp yelps that cut through the afternoon stillness.
Directly opposite this compound (a house across the street), a mixed-breed dog chained inside its pen exploded into action. It barked ferociously and in fury while lunging and twisting violently against the chain that held it fast in a small dog pen. Its eyes locked unblinkingly on the woman slaughtering a dog and body taut as if ready to break free, charge the woman, and intervene, perhaps to rescue the dying dog. I stood nearby and watched the empathy-fueled raged dog, the helpless dog been slaughtered, and the woman as she slaughtered the helpless dog.
After the whole exercise, I interacted with the owner of the empathy-fueled raged dog and the woman who was slaughtering the helpless dog. It was confirmed that this exact reaction from the empathy-fueled raged dog repeats every time a dog is slaughtered nearby, i.e., the chained dog always barks, strains, and attempts to attack whenever a dog is slaughtered.
2.0 Neuroscience view
My quick literature review revealed that the dog’s explosive reaction likey started in the brain’s limbic system, when the visual and auditory cues of slaughter (blood, distress calls) triggered the amygdala to hyperarousal. Also, this almond-shaped structure, which has been evolutionarily conserved by dogs from wolves, has been reported to process threats in milliseconds, triggering the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This cascade releases corticotropin-releasing hormone, spurring adrenocorticotropic hormone from the pituitary glands, which flood the bloodstream with cortisol and adrenaline. This neurochemical surge probably heightened arousal, sharpening senses, and prime muscles for fight-or-flight, explaining the frantic straining and barking observed from the empathy-fueled raged dog.
In respect to neurobehaviour, this aligns with *pack-defense instincts* (collective defence by vulnerable animals against threats from predators or enemies) retained from many years of domestication. Dogs exhibit *conspecific altruism* (sacrificing own fitness to benefit another animal of the same species) by considering the woman slaughtering the local dog as a “pack threat” or “predator” or enemy of
dogs.
I also read that *Mirror neurons* (brain cells that fire both when you _perform_ an action and when you _observe_ someone else doing the same, enabling _imitation_ and _empathy_ ) in the pre-motor cortex fire both during “self- pain” and “observed-pain”, fostering *emotional contagion* (automatic spread of emotions and behaviours from one individual to others through mimicry of expressions). In this case, the mixed breed dog’s “empathy-fueled rage” motivated rescue attempts.
My literature search also revealed that chronic chaining imposes learned helplessness, but in this case, slaughter cues cancelled the expected helplessness. Dopamine surges from the ventral tegmental area (based on theoretical knowledge) could explain the observed aggressive response, turning “passive tolerance” into a “motivational frenzy.” Thus, the reports I obtained about the repetition of this behaviour by this dog suggests *operant conditioning* (learning process where voluntary behaviours are shaped by their consequences, i.e., rewards reinforce them while punishments or omissions reduce them). I observed that the owner of this dog did not stop it from its attempts to rescue the fellow dog being slaughtered.
3.0 Pharmacological Science View
There are some drugs that could calm the brain’s overactive stress response observed in this dog (anxiolytics). This would reduce barking, struggling to lose from its chain, and the associated unnecessary suffering. A commonly available example is _fluoxetine_, which can be used to reduce chronic anxiety in this dog. Fluoxetine could boost serotonin to stabilise mood over weeks, preventing repeat distress from fellow dog slaughter witnessing by the empathy-fueled raged dog. This is because it’s not possible to stop the consumption and slaughtering of dogs by those people. For quick relief, gabapentin could be administered as pre-exposure in high-risk areas to reduce the activity of amygdal without full sedation.
4.0 Lessons Learnt
Chains can not override conspecific altruism in canine species, teaching us how they value _pack_ over _self_ . Veterinarians and dog owners or caregivers can use this for safer handling via operant conditioning and not force.
5.0. Observations and Recommendations
There are gaps in real-world veterinary neuroscience research. Most studies stop at the use of laboratory mice or rats. A research study on the modulation of _amygdala-mirror neuron interplay_ in conspecific distress in chained dogs would make a huge sense in veterinary medical practice. The important markers here would be hormones associated with stress and neurotransmitters. Other indices would be observational. This implies that the investigation is not impossible even in our resource scarce setting.
This experience has made me recommend the introduction of Animal Behaviour in the undergraduate curriculum and as an area of research in veterinary medicine. My yesterday’s encounter, as reported, motivated me to read what previously I wasn’t interested, and was made to understand through this literature review that understanding animal behaviour enhances veterinary medical practice by improving diagnoses, treatments, and animal welfare.
Gberindyer F. Aondover is the Interim Co-ordinator of Balanced Rights Advocates Nigeria
