Fireball said:
We'd be doing the public a huge favour by eliminating these individuals and sending a message out to everyone thinking of doing the same thing. I don't care if they are 14, 16 or 50 - the cat is a "member of the family" and there is no psychological difference than taking someone's infant and doing the same thing. I'd be a "wreck" if anyone did that to my cat.
Eliminating the individuals.That I'll happen.
I have pet's as well.I have kid's.To compare the two in my mind is silly.I had a dog that tried to bite me,to protect my child I put the dog down myself.While it upset me for a little bit I put my child on a higher level than a dog or cat.
This reminds me of a story in Newfoundland where a few youths broke into the SPCA (IIRC) and threw kittens into a cage with a pitbull,which ate them.
This is a common theme across the world.I was searching for the above incident to post here,and found hundreds of examples across the world.
For example if you torture a cat then sexually abuse it in Au,you get 12 months in jail or 12,000$ fine.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22911740-5005961,00.html
So let's get realistic.These youths will get probation for a year,ordered to do some course to respect animals,and get physc help.The will have to write apology letters to the family,and when they are 18 their record will disappear.
To try and fool ourselves and think they will be locked up in Dorchester etc is plain foolish.
Having said that I can imagine what I would have done to the youths if I came home and found them in there....
Then I would most likely end up in Dorchester.
(how come no one has come by and called this a CAT-ASTROPHE.Am I the only guy thinking of that?)