If the torturers did what they do to a dog, they'd be imprisoned.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Amazing to think that we have people defending torture against human beings that would appall them (I hope) if done to an animal.

[Land Shark]

1. Agreed. For much more on the special status of torture see this link:

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5300664>

[karlrschneider]

2. Uh, I've put my naked dog on a leash.

/sarcasm
:D

[jilln]

3. actually, that's not necessarily true, it depends on the state

In Texas, though animal cruelty is a felony, one guy was found not guilty for running his puppy over with a lawnmower because the dog was HIS "property," and two college jerks were found not guilty of skinning and beheading a cat because the cat belonged to NO ONE, though a woman fed him consistently where she worked.

And look at all the things people do legally to dogs, such as chopping their tails off, cutting their ears, etc.

And you may know that it's legal to do pretty much anything to farmed animals, such as grind them up alive (male chicks)... not hard to see how some people think torture is OK.

[Bluerthanblue]

4. sincerly mean no offense, but..

Texas is a strange place from my knowledge of it.
Also, as to the OP it says alot about our society that it was the SPCA that made child-abuse something legally punishible in this 'great' nation of ours....
We might be a 'good' country- but we sure aren't the people we like to think we are- as evidenced by the history of the last several years alone.-

[jilln]

5. no offense taken at all...

and I did not know that about the SPCA, that's very interesting.

[Bluerthanblue]

8. a VERY great link- that

is worth reading-
Please give it a glimpse- it'll blow you away i think-
And thanks for the tolerance- i have a really positive view of many folks i've met from Texas, but it does seem to have some strange happenings- and perspectives. (this coming from an admittedly weird person)

link-
http://home.swfla.rr.com/maryellenwilson/maryellen.html

[justiceischeap]

6. Very rarely are people imprisoned for felony animal abuse

Usually just a fine and being barred from "owning" animals.

[indepat]

7. But W says we don't torture