Humanity is not lost

Baptiste, 14, becomes president of his association against animal abuse

Source : https://www.epochtimes.fr/je-voulais-me-rendre-utile-baptiste-14-ans-devient-president-de-son-association-contre-la-maltraitance-animale-2575024.html

“I wanted to make myself useful”: Baptiste, 14, becomes president of his association against animal abuse

BYEMMANUELLE BOURDY

March 23, 2024 7:37 p.m. Updated: March 23, 2024 7:45 p.m.

At just 14 years old, Baptiste Praud created an association to fight against animal abuse of which he is president.

It all started two years ago, when Baptiste's parents adopted Cookie, a cocker spaniel. Realizing "that we weren't talking enough about unfortunate animals", he decided to launch his own association, in order to show that "everyone" can act for animals, "in their own way", he assures of 20 Minutes .

“The law authorizes any minor to lead or join an association”

“It immediately seemed obvious to me: I wanted to make myself useful like any other person, whether I was 14 or 35,” the teenager explains to our colleagues. However, when he realized that there were only “shelters or foster care” around his home, he decided to create, last September, an association to raise awareness about protection. animal that he named Argos 42 .

The young boy had taken care to check beforehand whether the law authorized him to do so, and it was indeed the case, any minor being able to “direct or join an association”. The only thing that slowed him down was “the administrative side,” he points out. Problem which was quickly resolved thanks to his parents, one having taken on the role of treasurer and the other, secretary. All three are also supported by the vice-president, who is a dog breeder.

“Public awareness and fundraising to support our partner shelters”

“Our main mission is to raise awareness and protect domestic animals, with a particular focus on our four-legged friends, dogs and cats,” explains Argos 42 on its website, which is entirely managed by the teenager.

“As a unique association, we distinguish ourselves by not receiving physical animals, but by focusing our efforts on public awareness and fundraising to support our partner shelters,” it further states.

The members of the association regularly participate in designer markets, which allows them to sell their homemade creations such as “make-up remover wipes and accessories for animals”. “Most of the profits are donated to our partner shelters,” it is mentioned on the site.

Petition against the testing of dogs for scientific research

The association also launched, on March 4, a petition against the experimentation of dogs for scientific research in France. “The subject is not well enough known and yet 13,688 dogs were used in scientific experiments in France in 2017,” Baptiste told 20 Minutes . The objective of this petition is to obtain 50,000 signatures in order to alert the government on this issue, and thus develop “more ethical alternatives”.

The association is also carrying out a project of meetings with primary school pupils, because “the earlier we raise awareness about this subject, the fewer tragedies that happen”, assures Baptiste. This educational project, which uses “playful approaches to instill respect for our furry, feathered and scaly friends”, is available in “captivating stories”, “educational games and “interactive discussions”, details the site.

“The problem is that everything has to be redone”

To 20 Minutes , Baptiste still indicates that he wants to do “video communication campaigns”. “We also want to ask for the establishment of compulsory training for judges and police officers, so that investigations concerning animal welfare are carried out in the best possible way,” he adds. However, despite all his good will, the teenager is aware “that everything has to be done again”. “We cannot fight on every subject, there are so many things that are wrong,” laments the young president of the association, who is forced to limit himself to “three or four” themes only.

Argos also proposes to expand its team, made up of fervent animal defenders, of course. It is therefore possible to join the members of the association and participate in the various awareness-raising actions by clicking on this link .