Kitten thrown from 11th floor flat. Does the punishment fit the crime!

Tara - posted on 01/28/2011

Just to clarify, I don't agree with the judge at all.
In either case, but especially the kitty thrower.
She needs help, Mary is right, a lot of the kids I worked with in foster care were not allowed to be left with animals, and those that had violent tendencies toward animals went on to show violent tendencies with other children and people.
It is something that should be taken very seriously. The ability to kill a living animal without remorse is disturbing to say the least.

Sherri - posted on 01/28/2011

I think the punishments should be reversed. No the punishments did not fit the crimes in either scenario.

Jackie - posted on 01/28/2011

Assuming the fire ext was thrown by a male... Id say that it is better to be a female and commit crimes in Aust

Bonnie - posted on 01/28/2011

Oh my, what did the kitten ever do to her?!

Stifler's - posted on 01/28/2011

Because a fire extinguisher could have hit someone and killed them. However... how are they going to enforce this pets ban anyway? Sounds like a load of crap.

Nicole - posted on 01/28/2011

that is irrational and cruel! She should be forced to see a psychiatrist at very least and have some jail time.

April - posted on 01/28/2011

Mary is right...abuse of animals is often a precursor to something bigger (i hate to use that word, but can't think of a better one :( ) Sometimes animal cruelty is the first sign of sociopathic behavior. It's not uncommon for serial murderers (and even rapists) to have killed animals as a child or a teenager.

Mary - posted on 01/28/2011

Here's the problem with not taking abuse and cruelty towards animals seriously....if left unchecked, those people who abuse animals are statistically more likely to go on to abusing other humans, particularly children.

http://www.21stcenturycares.org/orlinks....

http://www.peta.org/issues/Companion-Ani...

http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/n...

Cases involving the abuse of animals NEED to be taken seriously by both society and the legal system, particularly in the case of the OP, where the offender is a "parent".

There is currently a trial in progress in Baltimore City involving twin teenage brothers who set a pit bull puppy on fire in 2009. Despite the valiant efforts of the police officer who risked her own safety to douse the flames engulfing the dog, and the best efforts of the vet, the dog had to be euthanized a few days later. the boys were arrested, and released on bail. There friends and family staunchly defended their innocence, and spoke about what "good" boys they were. Many people expressed feelings that the prosecutors were being overzealous in the charges being brought against them....after all, it's just a homeless dog - and a pit bull at that. Who really cares?

This past October, one of those boys was again arrested - this time for attempted murder; he shot at a man and woman during an argument.

April - posted on 01/28/2011

Of course the punishment doesn't fit. She took a life...doesn't matter to me that it wasn't a human life. It was a helpless animal with real feelings. She should go to prison.

Julianne - posted on 01/28/2011

she killed a kitten....what a sin...

Shauna - posted on 01/28/2011

i guess it depend where you live? In Nebraska they are really strict animal cruealty laws. she would have been in prison.

Louise - posted on 01/28/2011

This was in the UK and if the judge thinks on those lines he should be ashamed of himself.

Tara - posted on 01/28/2011

That's a case of injustice.
3 years in prison is a long time for the crime he committed.
And 4 months suspended sentence seems like a slap on the wrist for the crime she committed.
I'm guessing his punishment is more connected to the fact he was protesting something. He was made an example of.
Whereas she was just being stupid. No need to make an example of her.
Maybe the judge feels that there are too many unwanted cats in the US already and this girl was doing everyone a favour.