Justice for Karley

On January 6th, 2010, former assistant fire-chief Glynn Johnson was seen viciously beating and punching a 6 month old shepherd-mix puppy for no apparent reason. The incident began when Karley darted across Johnson's front yard, and he jumped up, grabbing a 12-pound rock, and ran after her. Once he caught ahold of her, he proceeded to bash her nose and face in with the rock, then dropping the rock and punching the defenseless dog with his clenched fist. A few minutes later, witnesses report seeing him drop the dog, and run away.

This report just astounded me. I mean, who brutalizes a dog for running across their lawn? And the sad fact was, Johnson was a leader in his community. His reputation was one of love and compassion. So what led him to inflict so much pain on the young puppy that she had to be euthanized?

Evidence

• "...Johnson punched the dog with his fist about a dozen times, and then beat her with the 12 pound rock..."
• " 'I've never seen a dog come in with that level of head injury,' says veterinarian Angela Howard."

Questions

• What led Johnson to inflict so much pain on the young puppy that she had to be euthanized?
• Had Johnson always harbored a secret hate for Karley, or dogs in general?
• Was this event a random mistake where someone's anger just got the better of them? Or was it a purposeful abuse of an innocent animal?

Sources

"Puppy-Beating Trial to Begin." The Press Enterprise. 6 January, 2010.

"Justice for Karley." ADLF. 6 January, 2010.

ADLF vs. Woodley

On May 31st, 2005, the ADLF, Animal Defense Legal Fund, was able to put an end to animal hoarders Barbara and Robert Woodley's crimes of animal cruelty. The Woodleys' were convicted of mass animal cruelty, for hoarding, mistreating, and generally neglecting over 300 dogs. When a veterinarian was first called in to do a diagnosis of how bad things were, he said that there were, "...puddles of urine everywhere on the floor. Dogs were eating feces inside the home."

This is a shame. A shame to the Woodleys for not taking any care of their more than 300 animal dependants. No animal should have to be treated like this, or put down just because it was in so much pain. Because that is what happened to 60% of the rescued animals. They had to be euthanized, meaning put to death, because their condition was so horrible. If you want to be a part of the solution, go to "http://aldf.org/section.php?id=89", where you can sign petitions that deal with subjects that matter to you.

Evidence

• "I was stunned. There were puddles of urine everywhere on the floor. Dogs were eating feces inside the home."
• California is the state where the most animal hangings and animal drownings occured in 2009.
• In 2009, the most commonly abused animals were non-pitbull dogs.
• Second most commonly abused in 2009 were cats, then followed by horses.

Questions

• Do people enjoy beating/torturing their animals or pets?
• Or is it something that they were brought up to do? Something that is required?

Source

"ADLF vs. Woodley." ADLF. 31 May, 2005

"Cruelty Statistics :: By Animals Type." Pet-Abuse. 3 February, 2010

Betrayed...

When you leave your house next time, make sure you don't hire Richard Rioux as your house sitter. On October 1st, 2009, Rioux was house-sitting with a friend, and the family who's house he was taking care of happened to have a docile kitten. While he was in the house, Rioux drank some of the occupants' alcohol, became drunk, and proceeded to stick the kitten in the freezer, then the dryer, and ended the torture by shutting the kitten in the microwave. Needless to say, the poor kitten died.

This article really shocked me, and made me want to bring Rioux to justice. To make him pay for torturing an innocent kitten who trusted him, and paid the ultimate price for that trust. This beg the question, "Why did he, meaning Richard Rioux, even drink the alcohol belonging to the homeowner anyways?". If that hadn't happened, maybe the kitten might've still been alive today.

Evidence

• Along with Rioux, Kevin Abel and Scott McDowell are also being tried for animal abuse, as they were accomplices in the torture.
• Almost 800 animals die from torture or maiming every year in the US.
• Every year, 2,713 cats die from abuse in the US.

Questions

• Why did he, (meaning Richard Rioux), even drink the alcohol belonging to the homeowner anyways?
• Did Rioux's drunken state bring out hidden feelings, or were his actions just caused by plain stupidity?
• If they were hidden feelings, was it better for them to come out now? Or would it have been better for his feelings to stay hidden until later?

Source

"Kitten Tortured to Death in Edgemere, MD." Pet-Abuse. October 1st, 2009.

"Graph of Animals Abused per Species in 2009, (US)" Pet-Abuse. February 3rd, 2010.

Brutal Culture :: Dog Fighting

Fog fighting used to just be run by gangs, so cops just ignored it. But now one of our celebrity sports players, Michael Vick, has been exposed as a leader of these activities. The American football player was accused of running an organized dog fighting company called "Bad Newz Kennels" for several years. He and 3 other men took their prize fighting dogs across the nation for matches on which thousands of dollars were bet. The men also executed several dogs that did not perform well by hanging, drowning, electrocuting, and stabbing the dogs to death.

I can't believe that anyone could think of dog fighting as a sport. It is a disgusting and vile thing to be a part of, and it is one of the most common cause for death among animals. Even worse, Michael Vick was an idol of many young children, and he has now been exposed to be a violent, abusive man. I am sure that he has his own point of view, one that most likely justifies his actions, but it doesn't matter whether he had a reason or not. The fact is, he was a part of the execution of 54 dogs, and he himself maimed and tortured uncountable others. There is no excuse for him. None.

Evidence

• "Animal welfare groups point out that the 37 other pitbulls found by the authorities will almost certainly have to be put down."
• Experts say that even when an animal survives maltreatment, they are usually put down, as it is extremely difficult for them to adapt to a non-violent environment, and they find it very hard to live with loving families.
• "If you have $100,000 bet on two grand champion dogs that are fighting, someone is going to be extremely happy, and someone is going to be angry enough to kill..." Mr. Goodwin.

Questions

• Why didn't the police care when only the gangs were running the dog-fights?
• How did Michael Vick escape notice for so long?

Source

Smith-Spark, Laura. "Brutal Culture of US Dog Fighting." BBC News. 24 August 2007.

Anger Let Loose

On January 11th, 2010, the New York City Police Department received a tip that a Manhattan woman had been caught on video kicking and leash-choking her dog. This case of abuse also happened to occur in the same public housing project where a surveillance video captured a dog beating only 2 weeks before. At approximately 2 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2010, the NYPD’s surveillance system captured Tiara Davis beating Sparky, her four-year-old Pomeranian in an elevator. The 31-year-old apparently lost her temper after Sparky urinated on the elevator floor. The video clearly shows Davis punching, kicking and swinging the small dog by his neck until he blacked out.

This article just drove e crazy. How stupid of a person are you when you believe it is acceptable to swing your tiny dog around by his neck, kicking and punching him all the while, just because he leaked a bit? What kind of person are you? This is just one more example to me of how inconceivably stupid and insensitive to pain the human race has become.

Evidence

• Almost 35% of animal cruelty cases worldwide are abandonment/neglect related.
  
• More than 25% of California's animal cruelty cases are also abandonment/neglect cases.
• 44% of abusers are between the ages of 30 - 50 years old.
  

Questions

• When do these kinds of people get what they deserve?
  
• Why is this allowed?

Source:
"Dog Gets Punched, Kicked, Choked For Urinating On Floor" Pet-Abuse. 11 January, 2010

Reliving the Holocaust :: Through a Dog's Eyes

For many, just hearing "holocaust" brings up horrifying images of torture and death. Corpses are strewn about, some missing arms or legs, others are headless. Fortunately, that is the past, and it is now behind us. Or so we thought...
The current issue being addressed is a holocaust of a different sort. Death camps for dogs. Millions of dogs are killed every year because of these horrible places, who are, ironically, masquerading as breeding kennels. Every time a female dog goes into heat, they are force bred, which is extremely unhealthy for both the soon-to-be mother, and the puppies being born. Pictures of the horrors committed at these false-kennels include groups of puppies stacked on top of each other, dogs shoved cruelly inside cages smeared with feces and urine, poor puppies covered in cuts, bruises, and open sores. These are the deeds and injustices committed in the puppy mills. These are what we need to stop.

From the very beginning, this article just got me mad. The fact that in our lust for cute puppies and loyal dogs to cuddle and play with, we have created a horrible market for the greedy. This market is the mass-production of dogs. I couldn't believe that so many people were accepting of this, and that it had stayed hidden for so long. The mere thought that some poor puppy was being mistreated just because someone didn't want to adopt from a shelter just made me want to yell and rage. But then I saw the part of the article that told me what I could do to help. And that is to be a smart buyer, and make sure that the breeders that I buy from don't support the puppy mills. Some things to look for are:

• Ask to see the mother of the puppy(ies). If they say no, the puppies are most likely from a puppy mill.
• Breeders who do not provide a certificate of vaccination.
• Breeders who have several popular breeds and many litters.

Evidence

• In Tennessee, 150 puppies overheated and died traveling from a Missouri puppy mill to pet stores on the East Coast simply because the driver didn't turn on the air conditioning.
• Breeders, brokers, and pet stores ensure maximum profits by not spending money for proper food, housing, or veterinary care.
• The USDA has 70 inspector who are supposed to monitor and inspect 8,300 kennels each year.
  

Questions

• Why don't people just go to adoption homes for their dogs?
• If they did, the puppy mill business would die almost immediately.

Source:
Downing, Ann. "Death Camps for Dogs" Suite101.com. 1 May, 2000
"Puppy Mills: Dogs Abused for the Pet Trade" PETA.

Hollywood Trainer :: Unmasked

On November 18th, in 2005, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), filed a complaint in U.S. District Court against Hollywood chimpanzee “trainer” Sid Yost for violating the Endangered Species Act and the California anti-cruelty statute by torturing the chimpanzees in his possession. One of the witnesses was Sarah Baeckler, who had worked with Yost for more than a year, and had witnessed him repeatedly abuse several chimpanzees by violently beating them with sticks, and punching them with his fists. Baeckler stated that he did this to force them to preform for movies and/or television shows. To rescue the chimpanzees Sable, Cody, Apollo, and Angel from their frequent abuse at the hands of Yost, ALDF claimed that by purposely injuring animals listed as “threatened” by the Endangered Species Act, Yost directly violating the Animal Welfare Act.

This really shocked me, because whenever I had seen chimpanzes in movies, I assumed that they were being treated right. But by going and paying for those movies, I was directly aiding Sid Yost in his torture schemes. This article should startle everyone who reads it, because it is an important thing to realize, that there will always be people who are bent on cruelty. But we need to really work hard on making sure we know how the animals we see on TV, in movies, and in circus shows are being treated well.

Evidence:

• “Eyewitness testimony will prove that Yost uses vicious beatings and intimidation to force terrified chimpanzees to perform in the spotlight,”

• “It is unconscionable—and illegal—for him to abuse our closest relatives for our viewing pleasure and his profit. ALDF will see to it that these animals will no longer suffer the pain and fear of being subjected to his cruel ‘training’ techniques.”

• Yost, who also goes by the stage name “Ranger Rick,” has been fined and placed on probation repeatedly in the past for animal-related offenses, including a $2,000 fine from the USDA in 2002 when one chimpanzee bit a boy attending his show in Ventura County and a $1,000 fine from the California Department of Fish and Game for illegal possession of a lion cub.

Questions:

• Why did Sid Yost think that this would be acceptable?
• Was his decision to commit these crimes influenced by his upbringing/parents?
  

Sources:

"ALDF Files Suit Against Hollywood Chimpanzee "Trainer" in Federal Court." ADLF. 18 November, 2005

Flames of Cruelty :: Mercy

Some things are painful to see, just because of how horrifying and repulsive they are. This story was about a young, 10-month old pitbull-mix puppy, who was stabbed and mutilated for no apparent reason, then doused in gasoline and set on fire by 21 year-old Deshawn Quatrail Brown. The result, burn scars covering 60% of her body, and a weakened heart. Fortunately, a passerby noticed her plight and immediately brought her to Operation Kindness, a veterinarian office for mistreated or abused animals. However, even with all the care given to her, Mercy's heart gave out on April 23, 2006, leaving this world forever, to be in a better, less hate-filled, place.

In my mind, the human behavior is now the #1 m. To even think that someone could be that cruel to an innocent animal just enrages me beyond thought. This is a real story, a real event, and Mercy the pitbull was a real person too. How can we stand aside and let these things happen? These are the injustices that we are required, as citizens of America to stop and remedy. Poor Mercy was just 1 story that got publicized, 1 out of the millions that are out there. Ask yourself, "Does this matter to me? Does this story make my heart ache? Does this story make me want to do something?", and if the answer to any of those questions is "No", then there is something wrong with your heart.

Evidence:

• Every year, 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters, and 3 to 4 million shelter dogs and cats are killed.
• More than 25 million vertebrate animals are used in testing in the United States each year—this means monkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, birds, farm animals, and still other sentient beings. After the experiments conclude, 97% of the animals who have survived the research are killed.
• Close to 14,000 cases of animal cruelty were documented in 2009, this doesn't include the illegal tests, nor does it include the animals mass produced and slaughtered for food.
• Many abusers kill, harm, or threaten children’s pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or to force them to remain silent about abuse.
• Disturbed children kill or harm animals to emulate their parents’ conduct, to prevent the abuser from killing the pet, or to take out their aggressions on another victim.

Questions:

• Was Deshawn Quatrail Brown harboring hatred against animals?
• How many cases are there that weren't documented?
• To say nothing, to do nothing, stops nothing... So what will people do when they hear about these statistics?

Source:
Daines, Maria. "Mercy, the Innocent Victim." Operation Kindness. 12 December, 2006
"Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence." The Newsroom. 19 July, 2006

Groundhog Day's Injustice

While it isn't big news that Groundhog Day is approaching soon, it may be news to some, that PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have complained about the ethics of imprisoning an innocent groundhog for the entertainment of the public. PETA believes that it's unfair to keep the animal in captivity and show him off to the huge crowds and bright lights that accompany the February 2nd celebration in.

This article struck me because, at first I couldn't believe that people would be making such a big deal about a simple groundhog. Then I realized, "Why shouldn't they be making a big deal?", it's not fair to the groundhog to be confined and forced to face crowds for our personal holiday. He shouldn't have to endure those conditions just because it's a tradition to have a groundhog come out and either be scared by his shadow or not see it at all. I mean, if properly programmed, a robotic groundhog, just like the one described in the article, would do the exact same thing. And this is just a small-scale, a minor charge of animal cruelty. On a side note, the governor of Pennsylvania did mention in his defense that Phil the groundhog is being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania.

Evidence:

• Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated in both Canada and the US that is held on February 2nd every year.
• According to folklore, if a groundhog who is coming out of its burrow fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will end soon.
• If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.
• On February 2nd of 2002, as soon as the announcement was made that the groundhog had seen his shadow, the crowd changed its rabid chants of “Phil! Phil! Phil!” to a chorus of boos, terrifying Phil the groundhog even more.
• It really doesn’t matter to Phil whether people are screaming with cheers or jeers at sunrise every February 2. The bottom line is that it’s terrifying for Phil to be hoisted up onto a stage in front of thousands of screaming people, and flashing, bright lights. "It is stressful for any wild animal," said Stam Zervanos, a Penn State–Berks biology professor and an expert in groundhog physiology.

Questions: I don't really have any questions, but I have a comment, and that is, "If Phil the groundhog is being better treated than many of the kids in Pennsylvania themselves, then maybe instead of spending all the funds for the festival on the groundhog, the funds should be spent on the kids. And then Phil could be released, and PETA would be happy too."

Source:
Associated Press. "PETA Calls for Robotic 'Phil' at Groundhog Day Festival." Fox News. 27 January, 2010.
Crowland, Michael. "The Groundhog Day Celebration is a Display of Animal Cruelty." The Tartan. 29 January, 2007

The Essential Question

The essential question, the question that keeps us awake at night, that my partner Devante, and I chose was: What is the purpose of Animal Cruelty? Who is cruel to animals? What are their reasons? What are their beliefs? When we research this question we want to find out why people believe animal cruelty is acceptable. We believe that by answering these 4 questions we will be able to develop better reasons and arguments against animal cruelty.