Why? That is the question I keep asking myself each time I see or hear about someone mistreating an animal. I keep hearing more and more horrendous animal abuse stories in the news. Is it me or are the cases of animal cruelty on the rise?
And if so, why? Take the following case that happened last week in Philadelphia.
A man (John Fleet III) doused his puppy’s head with rubbing alcohol and proceeded to set him on fire. Fleet’s children told their school counselor how enraged their father was when the puppy allegedly nipped at them and set the puppy ablaze. Fleet has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
The puppy, who has been named Rudy (pictured below), is currently at the PSPCA. Rudy’s face and ears were burnt and his cornea was scratched. He may lose vision in the right eye.
You can see his story on Channel 6 News here.
Also in Philadelphia- a possible dogfighting ring was broken up this past when the PSPCA found seven pit bulls including a dead one in a home. The basement was covered in blood. One of the dogs appears to have been used as a bait dog with multiple wounds all over her face. She is being treated. A cat was also removed. Dogfighting rings routinely use cats as well to use as bait to train the dogs to fight. Charges have been filed.
Why??? Why didn’t Michael Vick make an impression on these people to stop their ways? Last I heard, he made three appearances at schools. Hmmm. I guess he’s too busy and/or excited about his new reality show. Do I dare watch to see if this man has reformed?
Or take the case of Karly, a six-month old German Shephard puppy who was beaten at the hands of a neighbor,Glynn Johnson, a Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief, both pictured here. This former firefighter tried to break her jaw by opening up her mouth as far as he could. He punched her repeatedly.Then he continued to beat her with a 12 pound rock. He beat her so badly that the vet who viewed her injuries had never seen a head injury like hers. She had to be euthanized.
Did I mention Karly had done nothing to provoke his attack on this innocent dog?
He was found guilty and will be sentenced on March 8th. He could be sentenced up to four years in jail. Not long enough for me.
Then there’s the story of another firefighter who wanted to go away on a cruise with his new girlfriend. Guess he couldn’t decide what to do with his two dogs while he was away even though a neighbor offered to take care of them. His solution- hang them and shoot them and dump their bodies in a dumpster behind the firehouse.
What is fundamentally wrong with people? I guess that is the $64,000 question. I will never get it but we, as a society, must do something to change this cycle. What will it take to stop these horrific crimes? I’m tired of hearing these stories.
Their stories are painful and unbearable at times to hear. I can’t begin to imagine what the animals had to endure while they were being tortured. And before any human rights people jump all over me……..I feel the same pain when innocent people are hurt or killed. That pain is unbearable to hear at times too. I can’t imagine taking another life unless it was in self-defense. Could I kill someone who has killed a loved one of mine………I guess the question should be WOULD I want to kill someone who hurt a loved one of mine whether it be human or an animal- yes, without a doubt. Could I? No. If I did, I would be just like them. Wouldn’t I?