Legal Schnauzer: Will We Ever Get Serious About Animal Cruelty?

[Hissyspit]

http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2009/01/will-we-ever-get-serious-about-animal.html

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009

Will We Ever Get Serious About Animal Cruelty?

Few things get our Legal Schnauzer team riled up quite like stories about animal abuse.

Unfortunately, such stories are all too common, even in the post-Michael Vick era.

Two stories came to our attention in recent days. One has a heart-warming quality to it; the other definitely does not. Both serve as reminders that we still have a long way to go when it comes to protecting "the least of these" among us.

The first story involves an Alabama "man" named Ralph Allen Fisk IV. It seems the 24-year-old Mr. Fisk got angry at a kitten belonging to his common-law wife after the small creature scratched him. So Fisk cut all four of the kitten's pads off to the bone and then burned its belly and genitalia.

The kitten, named Gizmo, was found alive in a closet while Fisk slept, but it died shortly afterward.

Fisk was convicted of animal torture in August and was sentenced to 18 months in state prison. The sentence was revised recently so that Fisk will be able to forgo prison and spend 18 months reporting to Mobile's Community Corrections Center.

No word on what "reporting" to the corrections center entails. Probably means Fisk will stick his head in the door, wave hello, and leave.

Thomas Harrison, Fisk's lawyer, argued that his client has an acute anger problem. Gee, you think so?

Harrison went on to argue that Fisk was blinded by his condition and proceeded to inflict harm that he did not intend. Believe it or not, Mobile County Circuit Judge James Wood bought that "argument."

If you would like to contact Judge Wood and let him know what you think of his ruling, you can do it via e-mail at [e-mail] or via phone at [phone].

If you would like to let "Counselor" Harrison know what you think of his legal theories, you can do it via e-mail at [e-mail] or via phone at [phone].

MORE

[EFerrari]

1. Are there more and worse stories on this topic or is my tolerance just gone?

There was a local news story tonight about people setting their horses "free" when they can't have them any more. It's getting harder and harder to listen or read. And now there's this new craze for having backyard chickens. That'll work.

[bahrbearian]

2. just vote the thread Up.

I did.

[FloridaJudy]

6. My son has a pet chicken

He's had her for years: she's very well treated, and remarkably friendly. But like any pet, she requires a certain amount of commitment. And - as my son points out - he's got the only pet in the neighborhood that supplies omelets.

[EFerrari]

8. LOL! I used to keep chickens at my mom's place

for eggs and for entertainment. We used to love to watch them take walks every morning and every afternoon. One used to come lay her egg in my office at 10 a.m. I miss the ladies. :)

[northernlights]

7. some people turn their horses loose every deep recession

They seem to think (or hope) they'll have a decent chance of survival foraging, or maybe hope someone will take them in. Back in the late 80s, thanks to the Raygun Recession, I saw a young (2 or 3 year old) traumatized filly who'd luckily been found in the woods by a professional horsewoman just a couple weeks early. Poor filly was half-starved and terrified, but at least now safe and properly cared for.

One problem is the rescues get overwhelmed. And the owners rightly don't want to send their horse to slaughter. And either can't bear or can't afford euthanasia. Disposing of the horse's body can be quite expensive.

And then the financial crunch comes, and suddenly they put themselves first.

I have several animals right now I'm quite worried about as my life continues its slide down the toilet, but I also have a plan in mind for them all while I still have some net worth. For myself, I don't care any more. I was supposed to be an abortion -- nobody should be forced to have a baby they don't want and nobody should be forced into a world that doesn't want them.

So I'll hold on and love and care for them as long as I can, and if it comes down to it, I'll make sure they're cared for before I leave.

[mcg]

9. I rescued a dog this morning,

poor thing had his leash wrapped around a tree up on the slope in my back yard.

I heard some noise and looked out and saw the dog, the dog noticed me and looked.
A couple minutes later I looked out again and the dog was still looking with a
look that seemed to say "Help, but please don't kill me." A couple minutes later
I looked again, the dog had the same look. Yes, I thought, something's wrong
and I need to help this dog. I went out and climbed up the slope. The dog was
TERRIFIED, shaking like a leaf, and had seemingly had a bladder malfunction.
I had never witnessed such fear. I figured out the problem and unwrapped the
leash. I was concerned that the dog was injured due to how he was acting, but
apparently he was just cowering. I had to pick up the dog to bring him down the slope.
Oh, the smell.

I checked the name tag, "Brock" is his name, and wrote down the name and number of
his owner. I checked to see if I should bring him in my house. No go, he was too scared.
So I brought him across the street to my neighbor to see if she would call.
Right then, a car drove up, my neighbor said "Maybe that's the owner." It was.

[rpannier]

3. Recommend

[Arkansas Granny]

4. Many people are unaware of the link between animal abuse and other

violent acts from serial killing to domestic abuse.

Animal Abuse and Its Link to Violent Criminals

http://www.aldf.org/article.php?id=763

Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence
In association with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html

[Triana]

5. Damn right. These sick f*cks are psychopaths...

...who do NOT belong in normal society. Sorry, but they DON'T - EVER.

[flvegan]

10. Anti-cruelty in Alabama is a joke. Google "Gucci Law" and be ready for outrage.

The laws are (somewhat) in place, but there's no enforcement.

Unfortunately, there's also little grassroots activism there to help change that.

[mcg]

11. What about the cruelty in factory farms?

The vast majority of animal cruelty is happening in factory farms,
but many people are not even aware of it. It seems "OK" to many that
are aware of it because of a different attitude towards animals that
are raised for food. They are deemed not worthy of our compassion.

http://www.hsus.org/farm/