cruelty

[druiaghtagh]

About the puppy in the newspapers that had its ear tips cut off by some morons with scissors, i suppose if they are ever caught it will be just a slap on the wrist and community service. What is it with these pond life ?

[andy hughes]

You are looking for a rational answer and the simple answer is - there isn't one. People perform these mindless acts of cruelty for no concious reason, if you asked them why they did it, they would tell you they don't know why, and mean it. People who do these things have no sense of morality of concience, so expecting one is futile, and merely causes more distress to the rational thinker. They may get punished, they may not - society is a long way from perfect - we just have to do our best with what we have.

[WendyW]

As you say if they are caught it will just be a slap on the wrist ... if the penalty was a harder one then maybe they wouldn't do it.

[xyzzy@bok]

like snip something of theirs off !

[andy hughes]

I would not wish to disagree with the sentiments of my fellow Correspondents, but I reiterate that the notion of punishment connected to their actions, or the concept of similalry cruel treatment simply do not reach these people - such ability to think beyond themselves is beyond them. If it were possible to exist on anything but a basic level, they would not perform their cruelties in the first place. Empathy with anything, or anyone, is beyond such people - we have to try and co-exist alongside them, until an agreeable means of dealing with tme can be found.

[d+dwidow]

I agree with you andy, however maybe if i could get them in a room for half an hour and inflict terrible pain and torture on them i might get some of the way there!!! that has to be one of the most disturbing things i have ever seen in my life.

[FredPuli]

I bet that asked the reason was they'll reply 'Dunno , really '. There is a possible 'thought' in it though. In the US pitbulls and other dogs that were originally bred for fighting often have cropped ears. This is permitted by their Kennel Club, so even show dogs have it. It is done when the pup is very young, just as tail-docking still is here. It was made illegal in the UK about 100 years ago. The historic reason was to stop the ears being seized by the opposing dog in the fight. So this strange act of cruelty may lie in some imbecile's hearing of that practice.It is likely that it was outlawed here as part of the measures against such 'sport' .Tail -docking ,of course, was fine as gentlemen did it to certain gundogs ( so their tails didn't get hurt in thickets, would you believe ?!)

[druiaghtagh]

Thankyou all fro your answers, Fredpuli, your answer is interesting, i think myself though that these lowlife are just bad through and through, would like to say something stronger, howver fear it would be edited by moderators.

[comloulou]

While I agree whole heartedly that this was an evil act perpetrated by sick individuals I just feel the need to say that what these people do to animals is no worse than what is done to other people. How can we instill a respect for the life of an animal when we cannot stop old women being raped in their homes, wives being beaten to death, children being abducted and murdered and god knows what else? Its a social thing and as horrific and pointless as this little dogs torture was, theres a bigger human picture that needs solving before we can hope to successfully prevent similar in the future.