Authorities Investigating Video Showing Oppossums Being Set On Fire

[matcom]

<snip>

FORT DODGE, Iowa -- Authorities are investigating a video sent to a humor Web site that shows opossums being doused with lighter fluid and set afire as youths laugh "hysterically" in the background.

Josh Colvin, cruelty intervention coordinator for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, called the video "the worst animal torture I've ever seen."

"It shows the possums walking around, clearly just engulfed with flames," Colvin said. "They do this to two possums while laughing hysterically in the background."

The video was sent to eBaumsworld.com, a Web site the features a variety of humorous video clips, stories and games.

"We don't mind a little edgy humor, but this was too over the edge for eBaumsworld," said Neil Bauman, executive vice president of the Rochester, N.Y.-based Web site.

The video doesn't show anyone's face, but it includes voices that sound like teenage boys or young men. Web site administrators sent the video, accompanying e-mail and Internet information to a caseworker with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and it was traced to Fort Dodge.

The Webster County sheriff's department and Fort Dodge police are investigating. Officials declined to comment until charges are filed.

"It's one of the worst cases of cruelty we've run across," PETA spokesman Martin Mersereau said. "The video tracks on for what seems like an eternity."

The 13 staff members at the Web site sift through an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 e-mails a day, many of them with video content, and this was the first one referred to authorities, Bauman said.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/4644653/detail.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Oh, GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Are we creating these monsters somehow by society's increasing desensitization to torture, violence, brutality?

I'm sure Karl Rove would say that is "manly" behavior and those of us who are devastated just wusses....God, I hate these bastards....

[madeline_con]

2. "Are we creating these monsters somehow ..."

I have a theory. It's been a couple of generations since really widespread drug abuse started in the 60's.

We now have kids whose parents and grandparents used, some quite heavily, not to mention alcohol.

These kids are brain damaged. That's why we have so many more 'special needs' kids in the schools these days. :freak:

[matcom]

3. right. pot smoking creates oppossum-burning offspring

:eyes:

[madeline_con]

4. Who said pot?

Did I mention pot? I said DRUG abuse.

Do they seem normal to you? Does the average kid in your neighborhood burn possums for entertainment? Is Iowa really boring, do you know?

[hlthe2b]

5. I'm more concerned about a REPUG driven media/society

that no longer expresses horror when we torture and kill innocent human beings--much less helpless animals!

(However, regarding your drug theory:
Drug use while a woman is pregnant is certainly risky and can certainly harm the fetus-- but there is little evidence for a more general impact from chronic drug use earlier in life, translating to later chronic effects to progeny. Certainly severe abuse can damage the user (Bush* brain dead personna is a good example). In fact most of our almost hysterical concern about cocaine use in pregnant women has since been proven not to bear out in reality. (Not that I condone that btw, but the anticipated horrible effects on the babes has not been shown to occur). However alcohol, our "accepted" drug of choice in utero HAS been shown to have devastating effects on the child.)

[noonwitch]

6. There have always been sicko punks, and there always will be

They just get more press these days.

I hate possums, but if I was having a problem with them, I'd either call the city to get rid of them, or buy a bb gun and take care of matters myself. Sorry, animal lovers, but possums, rats, etc., are just not in the same class of animal as my dog or cat.

[Zuni]

7. exactly

animal torture is nothing new, and has nothing to do with the GOP or Marijuana

It has been around as long as man, and new little sociopaths will always expierement with violence against animals and smaller kids before they go onto to bigger game

[madeline_con]

8. "They just get more press these days."

I think there are more of them now. It seems that way more kids are maladjusted, selfish and cruel.

My first son started school in 1984, and my youngest in 1991. In that amount of time alone, things in the schools have gotten worse where disturbung behavior's concerned.

For the sake of argument, I'll say maybe it's just the schools in my county. I'm sure things are perfect everywhere else. Well, except for those misunderstood unfortunates in Iowa. :sarcasm:

[redqueen]

12. I'm sure things are different now...

but I would suspect that our culture of selfishness and cruelty is to blame.

Look at it... we have women ADVOCATING bullying, for Christ's sake.

[Kraklen]

15. No, that's what the media wants you to think.

There have always been cruel teenagers.

It's a Bowling for Columbine type situation.

[redqueen]

11. No, that's not true.

Cocaine and opium and marijuana used to be completely legal... hell, it was in Coca Cola, for God's sake.

[salin]

9. Darn that Oscar!

[redqueen]

10. Sickening...

God I hope they catch these monsters. x(

[salin]

13. not only sick... but no perception that if they sent it out to a "humor"

site - that anyone might take notice and be alarmed rather than amused. No boundaries and no ability to see themselves as others might see them. Scary - as that means they have NO internal restraints - and we know that they have limitless cruelty.

[MrSandman]

14. It's a flambeau recipe...

They forgot to skin 'em.