I just...I just...the world is coming apart.

[trof]

Today in Baldwin County, Alabama, MY county:

1. According to Mobile Register reporter Ryan Dezember in the June 30 issue, an 11 foot, 7 inch alligator was shot and killed by authorities in the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge on Ft. Morgan Road.

The behemoth had taken to hanging out on or near Mobile Street in the refuge. Mobile Street runs south of Ft. Morgan Road to the beach.

Why was he shot? Because beachgoers were feeding and taunting the creature. Some ventured close enough to have their picture snapped with him. In addition to feeding him Oreos, marshmallows, and who-knows-what, some were observed lobbing rocks and beer bottles at him to get a reaction.

Well, they started getting those reactions. The gator became aggressive to people. Guess he got used to being fed - associated food with humans - and now expected it.

Thad Holmes, an Alabama Conservation Enforcement officer, said that the department really had no choice. The alligator had to be destroyed to avoid a tragedy that was sure to happen eventually. Now that he had become aggressive, and viewed humans as a food source (one way or another), relocation wouldn't change him. It would only move the danger to another place.
It's a damned shame that this happened just because of some ignorant asshole thoughtless people.

2. Just on the evening news.
An 11 year old boy used limb loppers to cut the legs off of a cocker spaniel tied to a fence, doused him with gasoline, and burned him to death.

Jeesus H. Keerist people.
What is happening to our country?
I'm fixing a large drink and going to bed.

[redqueen]

1. .

:cry:

[trof]

2. Exactly.

I weep.

[redqueen]

4. It's as if people are becoming even more callous...

more uncaring... God, please...

I feel like a nitwit because all I can think to do when I want to cry like I do now is to pray. :(

[progmom]

66. why does this make you a nitwit?

if you're a nitwit then so am i. :hug:











at least you're not organizing a party to go burn the 11 year-old alive. x(

[redqueen]

82. Awwww... thanks, progmom...

really... :hug:

It's just that so often you read about how it's pointless and there's no reason to... however if it helps me to process awful things like this, then I suppose there's a pretty good reason after all.

[progmom]

87. that's pretty much how i feel about that too

:pals:

[Zomby Woof]

3. Jebus fucking crisco!

Is it any wonder I am a cynical misanthrope???

That 11 year old is beyond help. That poor dog! :cry:

I am speechless otherwise.

[peacebird]

5. poor poor creatures - how can people be so cruel?

i think i will join you in a couple cocktails, buddy...

[barb162]

32. they are fucking sociopaths; lock them up as they can never

be cured

[friesianrider]

45. I agree 100% Barb.

I do not know anyone who abused or tortured animals as a kid and grew up to be an honest, respectable member of society. Particularly when you have a case of animal torture this heinous and evil...I agree. People like this are like child molesters in my eyes. I do not think you can ever "rehabilitate" them.

[barb162]

77. From everything I have read and heard by shrinks, they cannot cure

sociopaths. I was reading a really good one from a shrink a while back and after many, many sessions, this one doctor thought he cured the guy. Then the guy stole something from the doc's waiting room on the way out. I need to get the stories out of my mind somehow.

[Bunny]

6. Oh dear god, trof.

Weep, then drink. I'll join you.

[MissB]

7. Oh dear.

The first bunch of people are just plain stupid. These people would feed grizzly bears if they could, because the grizzly bears are clearly big fuzzy stuffed animals. :eyes:

That 11 year old boy damned well better be given some intensive treatment, lest he move from animals to people. That poor dog. :cry:

[Spinzonner]

8. Or become President of the US

[trof]

9. I am just at a loss for words.

Unusual for me, I grant.
What twisted that young mind?
I sure did some dumb shit when I was a kid.
But not deliberate cruelty.
Nothing that even begins to approach something like this.
I really don't understand this at all.

[Blue Diadem]

10. OMG, I was thinking the same thing this afternoon when I heard

3 kids had tortured a dog and killed it. It's one of the many reasons I will never allow my dog outside without me being out there with him. Imo, that 11 yr old that did that to the cocker spaniel needs intensive psychiatric care..

As for the alligator, it's such a shame that people are so ignorant they don't realize that feeding these animals often leads either to the death of the animal or the death or serious injury of a person. So sad..

http://www.wnwo.com/Global/story.asp?S=3539152

Police say three teenage boys stole the Shih Tzu, tied speaker wire to its neck and attached the dog to a bumper. According to police, the teens then drove about a mile down the road dragging Toby behind the vehicle.

At one point, police say, the three male teens even ran over it. Toby was in the middle of the road where police say the boys left the dog to die.

"The cord was still wrapped around his neck," says Lisa.

Wood County Sheriff deputies charged three teenagers with animal cruelty, including 18-year-old Cory Cheney.

[chaska]

11. This is why they use the young to fight wars.

They just aren't fully developed mentally. They don't fully understand ... a lot of things, but personal risk for one. Empathy too, I'd say.

It's really hard not to want to inflict the pain I feel when I read things like this on those responsible for these kinds of things.

If they get some serious jail time, I won't much give a damn. I'm not that noble.

[KFC]

12. Damn good point

Hadn't thought about that. Wonder if chimpy will lower the recruitment age.

[trof]

13. I don't want to start a flamewar, but...violent video games?

These are a relatively recent thing among the younger generation.
I'm almost 64 and an admitted geezer.
Obviously we never had anything like this.
Our closest brush with "virtual" violence was the Saturday afternoon B western movies at the local theater.

I don't have any close relatives of the sub-teen generation, but I have seen clips online. They are chilling.
I do have a three year old grandson, and I don't want him to see or be involved with these in any way.
Neither does his mom.

But how do you keep kids away from this when all their friend are into it?

I also don't believe in censorship of any kind. Or I didn't.
Now I'm not so sure.

[redqueen]

15. Nah... it falls apart

because not everyone who plays those games acts violently.

Perhaps the violent video games are allowing us to detect their inherent inability to empathize with other creatures earlier... by exposing them to the images earlier, thereby enabling their acting out earlier. Either way, I just don't think everyone who watches violent movies / plays violent games / whatever has that same lack of compassion.

:shrug:

[trof]

16. I agree.

Obviously not everyone does.
I don't much like the concept of "enablers", but maybe it applies in cases like this?
I dunno.

[hippiechick]

14. Anyone got a spare lopper & some petrol ???

I'd like to pay that little motherfucker a visit.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[friesianrider]

46. I've got a match!

Please oh please let me do the honors!

[Terran]

17. That kid should be killed.

I'm so disgusted I could vomit. I'm sorry, but the human gene pool has no need of him. He is a mistake.

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

19. I am in 100% agreement with this.

Thin the herd - starting with that kid.

[friesianrider]

25. I agree totally.

Here, give me the gun, I'll do it myself.

Or better yet, get me some limb loppers and I'll cut that little shits legs and arms off, then douse him with gasoline and set his ass on fire.

No sympathy whatsoever from me, I could give two shits how young he is.

[barb162]

35. and his parents are mistakes too

[roguevalley]

18. I can't believe it either. We have bears all over the place up here

in Alaska. Too many of them dying because of people. That little boy? He needs put to sleep. Seriously stupid son of a bitch. Hope he gets put away forever.

[barb162]

33. check the parents too; no way the kid got this fucked up by

himself. The kid needs locking up forever.

[Merrick]

20. Why do people invariably call it a 'tragedy' when anyone dies?

Some people need killing. And judging by the way they were acting, not letting the alligator eat them is a blatant violation of the laws of natural selection.

[friesianrider]

30. LOL Great post... I like the way your mind works!

Us crazy liberals are all about evolution! ;)

[marzipanni]

21. I discuss a lot of things with my 10 3/4 -year- old son

I asked him what he thought of what this 11- year- old boy did, and he said "why did you tell me that ?
Now I'll be barfing for five days." I started to tell him about the alligator, and he said
"Don't tell me anything else." Then he said "Did you know that sometimes, in L.A., they put firecrackers in puppies mouths?"
Is there anyone involved enough with these kids as they grow up to teach them what is right and wrong?

[friesianrider]

27. It's so good that...

You're teaching your son about animals early. To me, compassion for animals goes directly hand-in-hand with compassion for those less fortunate and those who are unable to defend themselves (children, the elderly, and of course, other animals). Compassion and kindness for animals is one of the frst things I'll reach my kids. That, and to stop animal cruelty if they see it happening. It has such direct ties to abuse of women, kids, the elderly, etc.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. That kid could be a future serial killer. Seriously.

[friesianrider]

29. Absolutely.

Every serial killer in history had a documented past of abusing/torturing animals as a kid.

I know the BTK killer tortured animals as a kid, and was an animal control officer known for being especially brutal when dealing with animals.

I'm in PA, and in NJ a young boy (around 10 years old) was found responsible for bashing in the skull of his one-month-old baby nephew and tossing his body in the family pool. His parents said he regularly abused the family dog.

Abusing and torturing animals is a GRAVE sign your kid is psychotic.

[GreenPartyVoter]

34. Yes it is. I think in the UK they are working on tracking those kids

[chaska]

23. Putting on my noble hat here....

I find some of these post a bit disturbing. Don't get me wrong, my first reaction is the same as yours, but....

It does no good to perpetuate the cycle of violence. It only makes me feel better ... until I find out the kid has been raped in prison or something equally horrendous.

You know, we see this enough that you really have to wonder if this isn't a natural behavior. A natural behavior that's not properly channeled or moderated or supervised. It doesn't seem so far fetched to think of this as a sort of hunting behavior that's been perverted.

But, of course, not all kids do this kind of thing. Maybe it's because they are abused somehow by parents, peers or our sick society generally.

Ultimately, I certainly have no answers, but questions never hurt. I'm just as upset as you about this stuff. It's only natural to look for ways to prevent it happening again. Punishment doesn't seem to work beyond the individual case ... if then.

But there I go being a liberal, trying to figure a better way when mindless violence is what's wanted. I think I understand how the freepers feel about us now - a little.

Sorry if I sound a little sanctimonious. I don't mean to.

[friesianrider]

28. Sometimes you need to fight fire with fire.

And, at the risk of sounding like a Republican, I say fry that little fucker. He deserves it. He didn't just hit the dog or something. He savagely cut off the dog's legs and then torched him. The piece of shit will get NO mercy from me for such evil acts. He should face the same fate IMHO...and I'd gladly say good riddance.

Plenty of kids/adults are/were are abused and don't hurt others/animals.

[chaska]

36. Now, now, what would your avatar say?

I hear ya though. I won't fight for him.

[friesianrider]

37. LOL I know..

But I'm not a holier than thou Christian. Sometimes people just need to get what they've got comin'! ;)

[progmom]

48. he's 11

there is still hope for him.

[friesianrider]

53. I don't believe so...it is because he is 11 that I see no hope

I don't know of anyone who, in their childhood, lopped off the legs of a helpless dog with a garden tool, then torched the animal who was likely suffering immeasurable pain and anguish....and went on to have a happy adult life. These people, at WHATEVER age, are sick and twisted and purely evil.

Where an 11 year old mind gets such an idea is beyond me, which is why I have to believe it is either the result of the parents or another traumatic experience (still see no hope of recovery now that he has acted on his violent impulses) or he was just born an evil, sick bastard. Only a true psychopath would ever do such a thing, regardless of age. The kid needs to be torched himself, and I'd say good riddance without an ounce of shame.

[progmom]

76. "The kid needs to be torched himself"

How far are you willing to carry out your idea that a child, who you admit is probably the victim of a traumatic experience, is not rehabilitatable and deserves to die? How early should we apply this logic? Should we even wait for the symptoms to manifest themselves? How about this - do you recommend sterilizing all people you think unworthy of breeding?

You are scaring me.

[friesianrider]

88. No but when the crime is this heinous and evil

The punishment should fit the crime.

What should scare you is that there are people who think sociopaths like this need to be "healed" and "understood".

Clearly the symptoms HAVE manifested themselves...are you proposing we rehabilitate this kid? Please. Like I said, meaning no offense, but you knock yourself out. If his mind comes up with a scheme this brutal and evil, I'd lose not ONE night of sleep over giving this little psycho what he deserves - I could care less how young he is. Period. Disagree if you want but I'm not that liberal that I can just acceptunderstanding and treatment to someone this mentally unstable and evil.

[progmom]

98. can't say that healing and understanding...especially for a 9 yr old

...will ever scare me. :hi:

[Misunderestimator]

80. You have no idea what brought him to such as place...

that he would do such a horrific thing. How could you then know that he is a psychopath? How can you determine that he is unredeemable? I have personally known someone who was a sick asshole as a child who tortured animals (not to this extent, but nevertheless torture), who turned out to be a "normal" (albeit a "born-again" normal) contributing member of society and a great parent.

I guess people are reacting purely out of emotion here... otherwise I really am surprised by the bloodlust.

[friesianrider]

89. Oh, please.

I would bet that person who had a "normal" life has some very bad skeletons in their closet. Someone just pointed out James Dobson is an animal abuser. Just because they LOOK normal doesn't mean they are.

And hello? How do I know he is unredeemable and a psychpath? HE CUT OFF A DOG'S LEGS WITH A GARDEN TOOL AND BURNED HIM ALIVE. If that doesn't scream psychopath to you, I don't know what to tell you.

I'm not that liberal that I'm going to play the understanding "we need to rehabilitate him" crap. Disagree with me all you want but like I said, I'd not feel one ounce of guilt letting this piece of trash get what's coming to him - period.

[Misunderestimator]

95. Knowing NOTHING about what abuse he might have suffered...

you make this judgment... amazing.

[friesianrider]

24. That 11 year old needs to be incarcerated...

Fucking serial killer in the making. Anyone who would be that evil towards something as innocent as an animal wouldn't think twice about doing it to a human being.

Every serial killer in history tortured animals as a kid.

[chaska]

41. And nobody ever gets what they've got coming to them, these days.

[friesianrider]

47. For if they did, Dumbya would be in Abu Ghraib right now.

[Bouncy Ball]

26. Oh God.

Someone better get that 11 year old into some SERIOUS counseling pronto. :scared:

[Rabrrrrrr]

31. They shoulda executed all the assholes who fed and taunted him, and

given the alligator a congressional medal of honor after he ate their worthless asshole carcasses.

[progmom]

38. wow

:hug:

that, and the horrific things those parents did to their baby in texas (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3984404#3984526) makes me worry for the human race.

but there have been viciously horrible people on this planet for as long as we have documented history. and there have also been amazing and wonderful and kind and creative and generous and giving people too. and i thing to good people still outnumber the bad.


:hug:

[nytemare]

39. When the President blew up frogs with firecrackers as a child

this is what we should expect.

[DS1]

40. The heartless bastard in me sees it like this

While both acts were wrong, the media did discriminate by personifying the dog as 'him' and depersonalizing the alligator 'the alligator'. That being said, the issue in both accounts is people, alligators don't hunt for sport, people do. On the other hand, people prop up their weak instead of eating them like an alligator would.

:smoke:

[hfojvt]

42. reminds me of the large muskrat that was hanging out by

the Nazarene church. The kids seemed to think they had a mission from God to torment and kill it as it hid under cars. Granted, you really do not want an animal like that living around your church, but let the adults handle it, and until then leave it alone - which is what I told them.
I seem to have turned into my dad, when as a teenager I thought he was so silly capturing bugs and taking them outside. I used to think he should just smash them, but now I mostly do the same thing, except with spiders and centipedes.

[friesianrider]

49. Good for you! Seriously.

Good for you for stepping in with those kids. I'd do the same thing. I'm sorry, but animals to me are as innocent (or moreso) than children and the elderly - so helpless. To torment or torture or abuse them is just plain evil, and I intervene whenever I see it happening. So kudos to you for stepping in.

I do the same thing with the insects - but for me, it is especially spiders. My grandmother always told me it was bad luck to kill a spider in the house, and I heard once that without spiders, insects would literally rule the Earth. At the very least, whatever gnats or small winged things spiders eat, it's all good to me! They're always guaranteed a safe ride outdoors in my house ;) I go out of my way to do this with all bugs in my house. It may be looney, but I figure someday I may need someone or something to show me compassion, so I'd like to have good karma on my side.

As the Dalai Lama said, "Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures."

[hfojvt]

52. I used to be sentimental about spiders

because they kill those annoying flies, but I found out they will bite me as I sleep too, so all bets are off.
And part of my point was that many animals are very quick and have sharp claws and teeth, so picking a fight with one or chasing it into a corner is not very smart.

[friesianrider]

54. LOL...

Well if the kid got bit, I'd probably laugh at them - it's the karma they deserve for being such assholes. ;)

[Merope215]

43. Oh, God

Those are horrible, horrible stories. If it makes you feel any better, human cruelty and stupidity aren't anything new, it's just that now people care about it and it makes the news.

That kid should never be allowed out in society ever again.

[uppityperson]

44. Yup. Me too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3992130&mesg_id=3992130 for my rant for tonight. I think your post perhaps explains mine. Political comes from personal WTFness. I need to lower my expectations again.

[texas1928]

50. Oh let me get my hands on the little bastard that killed the cocker.

I would make him appreciate living.

I had a cocker growing up and I cannot stand people who injure animals.

[progmom]

51. we are talking about a child here

how can you, as liberals, advocate this violence?? reading this is like watching a blood-thirsty mob forming. i'm shocked.

[friesianrider]

55. It's got nothing to do with beng a liberal.

I'm sorry but he deserves to be punished SEVERELY for what he did. If it were up to me I'd lock him up for the rest of his life. Clearly he's got very severe mental issues. Every serial killer in history tortured animals - but none to my knowledge were this evil and heinous.

What exactly will a kid who did something like this grow up to be? Gandhi? I would bet anyone $100 that if you visit this piece of trash in 20 years, he will be a drain on society and doing what he did to that dog - except to his pregnant wife/girlfriend or kids. He tortured and killed a helpless creature...every serial killer in history did shit like this in their childhood because they were psychopaths. HE CUT OFF A DOG'S LEGS A WITH GARDEN TOOL. Then he proceeded to douse the animal in gasoline and light him on fire. You can't cure pure evil behavior like that.

Not attacking you, but if you want to try and "understand" this behavior and rehabilitte him, you go right ahead. But I'd jump at the chance to be the first to let him know what it is like to have your limbs cut off with a garden tool then burned alive. NO sympathy from me because "he's a kid".

[marzipanni]

56. Did you happen to read this a while back?

This creep is the darling of fundie churches. The youth ministry woman at a local church bought into his 6-session video-tape parenting program and offered it free to the community. I wish I had printed this article and stuck copies of it on the participants' windshields while they attended the first evening class last February!

http://www.geocities.com/cddugan/DobsonsDog.html

[friesianrider]

59. See! Animal abusers grow up to be the James Dobson's of the world

What a friggin' psychopath. I wish you would have photocopied this for the windshields of the "parenting" participants!

What a looney - but to be expected.

[progmom]

65. so people with severe mental issues should not be helped

but burned alive?

[friesianrider]

90. MANY people with severe mental issues...

Please. Many people have severe mental problems and do not do anything NEAR this heinous and evil. I work for an animal shelter and have heard many sick cases of animal abuse and torture, but this is definitely in the top 5 worst. Never heard anything quite so callous and brutal.

[alphafemale]

61. Offer him a babysitting job. To show him we trust him.

To help his self-esteem.

Maybe an overnight with milk and cookies would make him all better.

Maybe nobodies ever really listened to him.

Maybe he just needs a hug.

:sarcasm:

[progmom]

64. right - that's what i said

:eyes:

[friesianrider]

91. WELL SAID!

Exactly what I'm sayin'.

[Mutley]

68. I agree progmom.

My initial reaction was similar to some of the posts above, but only out of shock, anger, and sadness for what those animals went through. But you are absolutely right. That 11 year old child is sick, and as liberals we should be advocating for him to be treated, not doled out eye for an eye type punishment.

I also agree that people like this don't have a very good chance of becoming "normal" adults, but that doesn't mean we don't have to try. We're not supposed to believe in capitol punishment, remember?

[progmom]

70. thank you.

i seriously considered leaving DU for awhile after reading some of the things written here. i'm so shocked, i am having trouble putting my feelings into words...

[Mutley]

71. I know.

I found it disturbing, too. :hug: It's perfectly normal to have an angry reaction to this sort of news, but certianly that can be taken too far. Hopefully these guys will come to their liberal senses and realize just what they're saying.

I know lots and lots of people would miss you if you went away, including me.

[Misunderestimator]

81. I agree too progmom, and I think most people are responding...

out of pure emotion and disgust. I'll choose to think that they would come to a different judgment of an 11-year-old child after some thought. The kid needs help, not death.

[friesianrider]

92. And as a "liberal"

You shouldn't paint all liberals with a broad brush. I never said I was against capital punishment, and I never said I thought everyone deserves rehabilitation.

I can't believe some people on here actually can propose with a straight face that there aren't some people in this world who are born just plain sick and evil. If an 11 year old child can do this and you want to hold his hand and give him a hug for "all he's been through" go right ahead. But if I saw this piece of trash and had a match you can bet I'd put it to good use and do the world a favor.

[Coventina]

86. This is not a child, this is a small monster

Contemplate what this act entailed.

He planned it.

He chopped off four legs, knowing as he did that he was causing the animal incredible pain. He repeated the act four times!!!!

THEN set it on fire?????

That "child" needs to be locked away permanently. He is a danger to ALL OF US.

I am not in favor of the death penalty, or to torture him, but he should not ever be free again.

[NMMNG]

57. .....

The first story was bad but I've heard of this sort of thing before. I just wish I could tell people to stop being so stupid.



The second story :mad: :scared: :mad: :scared: :mad: :scared: . The boy needs serious intervention. This is likely not his first episode of such behavior and if nothing is done it will probably not be his last. Kids like this graduate from animals to humans, becoming sociopaths. I hope he gets help before he does more harm.

[friesianrider]

58. You're right on...

"Kids like this graduate from animals to humans, becoming sociopaths."

This is so true, Buffy. This is truly one of the most brutal and evil cases of animal torture and mutilation I've ever heard (and I am obviously a big animal-rights person and have heard some real disgusting cases of abuses - this is easily in the top 5 worst).

[hippiechick]

62. He's beyond intervention. He needs to go to HELL.

NOW.

[DemBones DemBones]

67. So you'd just kill the kid?

I wouldn't have expected someone called hippichick to be so judgmental.

:shrug:

[hippiechick]

69. Sorry, but YES.

What he did is a sign of incredibly cruel sociopathy.
There simply is no excuse for it.

Call me judgemental if you want, but in this case ... I'd be happy to the light the match.

[Misunderestimator]

79. You'd just light him up without knowing what kind of abuse must have

led to this? Wow.

[hippiechick]

83. In this case, yes.

I'm 99.5% against capital punishment, but the fact that he did not stop after cutting off one of the dog's legs ... but continued, and then intentionally set it on FIRE ... in this case, yes. Eliminate the boy.

The suffering that dog went thru is unimaginable.
And for no reason other than 'it was there'.
There simply is no excusing that boy, IMHO.

Flame me all you want, have your own opinions and that's fine too, but this is how I feel.

[redqueen]

84. You reeeeeeeeally picked the wrong username, then.

Just sayin...

[Misunderestimator]

85. I have no interest in flaming you...

I'm just surprised by the instant judgment I see so many here make. Of course there is no excusing the child for what he did, and of course the dog suffered unimaginably.

Killing the boy is a pretty fucking severe punishment. I guess I'm curious to know which crimes you would be AGAINST the death penalty for.

[friesianrider]

93. Who cares?

You actually think once a child has done this kind of heinous act we can "understand" what happened in his past and make him all better?

I'd at least lock this kid up for the rest of his life...it'd be doing humanity a favor.

[Misunderestimator]

96. Great, you've all convinced me... we should string him up and set fire

to him... knowing nothing about any of this but what we read in this article. :eyes:

[NawlinsNed]

60. Having caught my fair share of gators...

... about the only thing the authorities could have done is shot the thing. It isn't worth risking life or limb to capture it.

I spent a good portion of my teen years rotating between catching alligators and crawfish as a way to make money (both are also good eats). You are NOT going to outrun an alligator.

Female gators are extremely aggressive when they are nesting. The alligator wasn't freaking eating oreos and marshmallows, but it was likely pretty ticked off by having things hurled at it.

[BreweryYardRat]

63. Good god, talk about depressing.

Can we have that kid get eye for an eye?

[Shell Beau]

72. OMG!! That makes my stomach hurt!

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :mad: :mad: :mad: :( :(

[trof]

73. Update on the dog story: The kid was 9.

No mention of loppers in the morning news coverage:

The boy left his home, walked a few houses down Hickory Street on Bay Minette's east side and found the dog around 6 p.m. June 19 while the homeowner was not present, Rowland said.

"The dog wasn't bothering the child," he said.

The boy picked up a 2-by-4 board with a nail embedded in it and smacked the dog in the head several times, according to the chief.

"At least one of those blows to the head killed the dog," Rowland said.

At some point the boy set the dog on fire.

The owner found the dog dead and contacted police, Rowland said. Bay Minette investigators found the dog's badly charred body in the back yard near a trash fire, according to the chief. The boy had apparently tried to pull the dog into the burning trash pile, but was unable to free the animal's remains from a chain, the chief said.

"So he set the dog on fire where it lay," Rowland said.
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1120209586246830.xml&coll=3

[Misunderestimator]

75. Not really what I wanted to read this early in the morning...

or any other time... :mad: I hope they are hooking that kid up with some therapy... he's definitely a serial killer in training.

[Catchawave]

74. That boy may be abused at home....

I hope the authorities investigate the parents and they all get some serious counselling....and jail/detention time. The more infamous serial killers started out torturing animals.

The alligator abusers should all be shot, imho. Just stupid humans, we just don't need any MORE of them!

[livinginphotographs]

78. That's true about the abuse.

A child doesn't just wake up one day and torture a dog to death for no reason.

Even still, this kid needs to have a serious intervention FAST, because it won't be long before he hurts someone else.

And the people throwing shit at an alligator are no different than jerks who stand at the gorilla cage at the National Zoo in DC and bang on the glass.

I could make a comment about how cruelly we treat food animals, but it's not just that. Look at how our first reaction to 9-11 was to blow up the entire world. Look at how we treat this country's poor, and not even the poor, but look at how so many corporations treat their workers. Look at how the majority of people are unaware of Iraqi civilian casualties, or even worse, just flat-out don't care. Whether it's animals or people being abused, it comes from the same really nasty side of our nature.

Overall, we're taught to value life on a graded scale, basically the more you can do for me, the more valuable your life is. So it doesn't surprise me in the least that some people take it too far like this kid did.

[Catchawave]

97. You're AWESOME Livinginphotographs !

Wonderful observation, AND it reminded me what bothers me most about our current administration.....uh, Bushco, etc...we are not as stong as we think we are, yet trying to IMPOSE Democracy on other countries. What about us (generic)...our U.S. infrastructure is decaying rapidly, we are polarized by hate, lies and fear, worst of all, apathy. Boy sets dog on fire is a sign, I tell ya!

[ComerPerro]

94. What???? How can someone do something that sick to a dog.

I'm gonna post on my blog about it...

[Avalux]

99. Locking.

Blame it on story #2. Thanks for your understanding.

[Moderator]

100. locking

Whatever she said