to think this isn't actually a tragedy?

[Skyrg]

I'm aware I may get flamed for this...
First, please note I am a vegetarian, have a much loved dog and cat, and like animals generally. Was shocked by the cat in the bin and puppies in the river incident. Hate animal cruelty.

So, AIBU to not quite think this is such a big deal?

uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100925/tod-the-pink-prankster-cat-covered-in-dy-870a197.html

BBC reports the same thing:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-11407516

'The RSPCA is trying to trace the owner of the animal and described the culprits as "sick".'
Why? Sick imo is enjoying causing an animal pain and suffering. The cat is just pink! The dye is non-toxic, so it will not be harmed by licking it, and the 'yobs' who did it have obviously (it is noted in the article) taken care not to get any near the cat's eyes, nose and mouth.

Now, this is clearly not fair on the cat, but I'm struggling to see what harm it will do to it. It may have more difficulty hunting (but being white it would have difficulty anyway and will be fed by owners/RSPCA so it doesn't need to hunt) and it will look a bit foolish.

So what I'm saying is: yes, it was wrong to dye the cat pink, but why is it a 'sick prank' by 'yobs'?
It was apparently thrown over a garden fence, not sure what 'thrown' means here, but surely throwing a cat is more of a big deal than dying its fur?

I just keep thinking people need a bit more of a sense of perspective. There are far worse crimes going on unreported.

I guess that catching the cat and keeping it still enough to apply the dye would have been traumatic for it. But you're right, "sick" and "a tragedy" are a bit strong!

yanbu, a while back a MNer was dying her horse pink [shrug]

True Bertie, I hadn't thought of that. But they haven't said anything like that, 'it was kept imprisoned while dyed' they've just said 'oh how tragic, it's pink'.

Personally I think it's quite cute, I want a pink cat now

Haha, yes me too

Maybe that's why they are playing up the "OMG, how cruel!!" aspect, to stop people seeing it and saying "Wow, what a good idea!"

I sprayed green hoops on my black dog once to support DH's rugby team so I am with you OP.

I have to admit I was sitting here thinking 'well, it's nice, but it'd look better in blue!' Sadly my cat is black so no dying him :(

Hahaha, yes...i want a a little pink pussy too

Brilliant...herbietea...i bet the dogs love all the fuss....just don't give them a mirror!!!

I shouldnt laugh (I think) but Captain jack sparrpw is fantastic as is th epanda

i have a feeling cochineal9food colouring0 was used....have experience of this from when i was younger! and no!! it wasnt me!

lol at my brackets there!!

dp and i have just posl at those poor poodles... I hope Jack Sparrow Dog won

kinda puts a pink kitten in perspective doesn't it?

I totally agree Skyrg, I'm a bleeding heart who rescues kittens from the side of the road and has had up to 8 cats in the house at once but even i fail to see the horror of a dyed kitten... I found the fact that it was thrown over a wall far more upsetting tbh

I think it's funny too

Herbie, I just laughed so much it hurt :(
Those are fantastic. How is the pink kitten worse than this mass animal humiliation?

No it isn't a bloody tragedy, it's a mildly peeved cat. The RSPCA lose any credibility they have when they make such outlandish claims of 'cruelty'. It was clearly NOT done in the spirit of cruelty.

and these! allthingsliz.blogspot.com/2007/04/painted-cats.html

I bet it wasn't cataoulted over a 9 foot high prison wall and left to slide, dying, down the other side. I bet it was gently dropped over a 3 foot garden wall.

I once coloured in a budgie with a pink highlighter, I threw the same budgie up in the air, in manner of launching falcon.
The pink didn't harm it but it died not that long after being smacked off the ceiling

colditz, it does not look even mildly peeved to me! In fact it looks like it's quite happy with its new look.
I completely agree that the RSPCA lose credibility over things like this.

Pinky, love the link. 'The book these came from said some of the paint jobs cost $15,000 and had to be repeated every 3 months as the cat's hair grows out. Must be nice to have $60,000 a year just to keep your cat painted!'

So... these cats can't have their dye washed off either... again... how is the pink cat worse?

Is that link with the painted cats real? It does look a little photoshopped!

oh god muggle I have just spat coffee on my new laptop at your post about the budgie

seen the pink cat also seen the loon who drank a fish too !!

Ah, the fish was cruel imo, because A) It's now dead and B) It probably died horrible in his throat or stomach.