Bat Chen an, tann mèt li

This could be literally translated as: "Beat the dog, expect its owner."

Dogs are one of humans best friend among all animals. For people, dogs can be either good companions, security guards, helpers, guides, and more. People take time to take care of them, bring them to the hospital, feed them and protect them. For some people, dogs are like their own children.

On the other hand, some people hate dogs. Any time they see one, they feel like beating them, throwing rocks at them and possibly harming them in some manner. They tend to ignore that every "chen" (dog) has a "mèt" (owner).

People say this proverb to remind those that hit/beat/harm a dog that its owner will take revenge.

Haitians say that proverb also to remind anyone that robs/mistreats/harms a less fortunate, weaker or unprotected person that someone is going to take revenge for him/her. And often,, people refer to God as the avenger/revenger of the poor/week and unprotected.

This proverb teaches us to think twice before doing any harm to those that are less strong/ fortunate than us. And it also reminds us that "dèyè mòn gen mòn" (we will find someone more powerful than us to pay us back our harm). When one acts like that, he attracts trouble to himself.

Let us do good to everyone anytime everywhere anyway because God will ask us about our actions.