#loukanikos

[dispatchesfromtheclasswar]

📍 On days like these (October 2014) “Loukanikos”, internationally known as the “Riot Dog”, passed away in Athens at the age of 10. His health was adversely affected by police asphyxiating gas and from being repeatedly kicked by cops. Remembering in our hearts our comrade in riot.

👉 Video of the Riot Dog during the December Revolt in Athens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UmpajCTA_0

[typhlonectes]

Sausage, the Greek Riot Dog

On this day, 9 October 2014, the Guardian newspaper reported that Greek 'riot dog' Λουκάνικος (Loukanikos: "sausage") died peacefully in his sleep. Loukanikos was the most famous of the Athens stray dogs who joined demonstrations and riots against the police murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos and later against austerity measures. Like other riot dogs, Loukanikos instinctively joined demonstrations on the side of protesters, against the police, and often confronted officers while defending the crowd. For example, on one occasion during a march of public sector workers against cuts, Loukanikos barked and tripped up police as they charged down steps at the marchers. Loukanikos became famous around Greece, and later, the world. Especially in 2011, when he became one of the “people of the year” of Time magazine. Inhaling police tear gas and other chemicals during the many riots in which he participated, and being kicked by police, led to a deterioration of his health. He was adopted and retired out of the city in 2012. He died peacefully at the approximate age of 10. He was a good boy.

We have produced some posters and merch commemorating his life, and other riot dogs, to help fund our work, available here:

https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/animals

[fromgreecetoanarchy]

On days like these (October 2014) “Loukanikos”, internationally known as the “Riot Dog”, passed away in Athens at the age of 10. His health was adversely affected by police asphyxiating gas and from being repeatedly kicked by cops. Remembering in our hearts our comrade in riot.

Video of the Riot Dog during the December Revolt in Athens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UmpajCTA_0

[twin-rabbit]

El Vaquita is a Good Boy

On 2 Jan 2020, residents of Antofagasta in Chile held a fake protest for a stray dog named El Vaquita in order to trick him into going to a damn vet. To explain, this is The Little Bull:

He's one of several fairly famous street dogs in the country who frequently join demonstrations and protests, and pretty reliably does not side with the police. He's famous enough that the local newspaper "El Diario" held a vote and in 2019 El Vaquita was voted "person of the year", easily beating all of the humans on the list.

But his adventuring almost came to a halt when late in the year, during one protest, he was shot by a cop with a riot gun and was injured by a pellet. However, he refused to go with anyone to get him to a veterinarian. As a result, the locals organized a fake protest. When he joined, they led the march toward a vet's office where he was treated for his injuries. His recovery was covered by the local news.

If this seems odd, it's worth knowing Chile has a whole group of protest dogs. This is Negro Matapacos (Dark Cop-Destroyer) who has several murals dedicated to his work and signature neck bandana.

In fact, dogs have a fairly storied history of protest participation. There's also Greece's "Loukanikos" (sausage), a proud yellow who died in 2014 due to complications from, I shit you not, repeatedly inhaling tear gas. Just... damn.

But then, Loukanikos had a lot to live up to, the previous yellow was Kanellos (Cinnamon), who got their own song and at one point sported a wheelchair due to repeated injuries from protesting. Kane was even suspected to be dead in 2007 before showing up again in 2008. Everybody needs some time off for self-care, I guess.

Cats, on the other hand, have opted for the more formal disruption of professional sporting events. They've started being identified collectively as "Rally Cats" like the fluffy gray-stripe at a 2017 Cardinals game and the shorthair tabby at a 2016 Angels game:

The Rally Cats do not, as far as we can tell, have a cooperative relationship with the Stadium Squirrel Squadron, whose technique dates back to at least 2011 when a squirrel interrupted NLDS game 3 between the Cardinals and the Phillies. Though, considering the similarity of tactics one does wonder if an informal agreement may have been reached at some point between 2011 and 2015 to avert scheduling conflicts. It seems to have worked since, as of this year, both unions are still active indicated by this squirrel who showed up in May and a Rally Cat startled Dominic Fletcher's fiancée at an Angels-Diamondbacks game just two days ago.

So... Um... Be ungovernable, apparently.

And if your schnauzer's ears suddenly perk up at the sight of a BLM tweet, or your adorable little siamese starts hissing at the sound of sirens, put a little extra in their bowl, they might just need the energy. Also you might wanna make sure your vet is paid up.

[big-cat-s]

[goodbearblind]

"Il 9 ottobre 2014 ci lasciava Loukanikos, il cane color sabbia più volte immortalato dai media internazionali durante le manifestazioni e gli scontri di piazza ad Atene e diventato un simbolo della rivolta dei greci contro l’austerità. I compagni con cui manifestava per le strade del centro di Atene lo battezzarono in un primo tempo Kanellos, in omaggio ad un altro cane divenuto famoso durante sommosse di piazza del passato e morto nel 2008 . Ma negli ultimi anni il riot dog, docile con i manifestanti anti-austerità e meno tenero con i poliziotti, era conosciuto come Loukanikos (Salsiccia), un nomignolo che ha reso famoso in tutto il mondo questo meticcio speciale, sempre in prima linea in tutte le manifestazioni di protesta che si stavano svolgendo nella capitale greca in quegli anni. La salute del cane ribelle, che aveva circa 10 anni, era peggiorata negli ultimi due anni dopo che era stato visto più volte in piazza Syntagma abbaiare davanti ai poliziotti in tenuta antisommossa avvolto da nuvole di gas lacrimogeni. Loukanikos fu protagonista di tanti articoli e servizi di grandi testate, tra cui Bbc, Cnn ed Al Jazeera e nel 2011 il settimanale Usa Time lo inserì nella lista delle 100 personalità dell’anno; sempre nel 2011 fu protagonista di una canzone e di un video pubblicato su YouTube per esprimere solidarietà al popolo greco. La famiglia che si era presa cura del randagio negli ultimi anni, raccontò che Loukanikos era spirato nella sua casa e che il veterinario che lo seguiva riteneva che l’esposizione alle sostanze chimiche contenute nei lacrimogeni utilizzati dalla polizia per disperdere i manifestanti, avessero avuto un ruolo fondamentale nella morte del coraggioso quattro zampe. Ricordiamo Loukanikos perché non era “solo” un cane ma un Compagno che istintivamente, con quella sensibilità che forse solo gli animali hanno, sapeva da che parte stare." In Memory 🥀🐕✊🏽 #Loukanikos #Kanelos #RiotDogs #Grecia #rivolta https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzHfkwNzrm/?utm_medium=tumblr

[elladastinkardiamou]

Loukanikos went to the eternal streets on this day 6 years ago.

Photographs of Loukanikos, "sausage", the legendary stray "riot dog" who was present at nearly every outbreak of mass class struggle and social disorder in Athens up until 2012, when he was adopted and retired outside the city. He died peacefully in his sleep in 2014, aged around 10.

[space--dog--laika]

Shirt / Sticker

Loukanikos the Riot Dog was famous for his appearances in anti-austerity protests in Greece. He passed away on October 9th, 2014 at around 10 years old after being burdened with health problems from tear gas inhalation.