To think anyone who deliberately tortures animals must be severely psychologically damaged?

[CatKisser]

Apologies if anyone finds this upsetting.

Story in today's paper, I remember seeing it when it first happened. Some young men stole a pet rabbit, took bizarre photos of themselves in the bath, drinking beer, passing this poor soaking rabbit around (probably traumatised beyond belief) then killed it.

Today's story says the men involved have escaped jail. Now, I can perhaps understand the point of view that "it was just a rabbit" but for me, anyone who can put an animal through deliberate and sustained pain and distress must have something seriously wrong with them.

Maybe I'm being I'm being OTT but animal abuse stories really make my blood rise.

AIBU?

That's upset me reading that - it's just awful.

I get upset watching RSPCA because of how the animals are treated - but that's neglect which although is horrific it isn't as bad (in my eyes) as torturing animals like you described. I just can't bear to think about how scared they are.

In my area there was a spate of card being shot in the eyes with a pellet gun. The police had got involved and said because if how precise the injury was it was clear that someone was holding the cat and the shooter would let the pellet gun off directly in front of the cat's eye. Just awful. One of my cats went missing in the midst of all this and it upsets be think he may have been a victim of this.

People who do such things are vile human beings and like you said, psychologically damaged.

Wasn't there research done about how people who torture animals are far more likely to torture/murder humans?

I don't know about damaged, but I'd say there's something missing. If they lack empathy around an animal to me they're unlikely to have a lot around people. I would worry for future partners and children.

Agreed - interesting article from NYT

www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13dogfighting-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

YANBU, I feel the same about people who kill animals for 'sport'.

I just don't know what sort of person gets enjoyment out of killing.

I saw that in the Daily Mail ( yes, yes I read it online!) it had pictures as well of the poor rabbit in the bath with these scum.
I wouldn't class myself as an animal lover, but you have to be all manners of sick to think that was an OK thing to do that and then throw it. Sick, SICK.

It's one of the questions police ask victims of domestic abuse 'Has... ever harmed an aminal or family pet?' as it's seen as a predictor for further violence.
I think anyone who has the capacity for hurting a living thing like this has got to have mental issues (as it shows a lack of empathy, need for power trip, fondness for violence) etc
Disgusting.

Lots of serial killers start off killing/torturing animals before moving on to humans.

I would say they are lacking humanity rather than 'damaged', damaged suggests they are victims of something. I suppose they were damaged to an extent by bad parenting, it's most likely their parents never taught them right from wrong, never taught them to have respect or consideration for other people/animals and always ensured that they were never held responsible for their actions. Children learn by example so if you raise them without humanity, unless it's a very strong characteristic in their nature, it's likely they will be without it.

They're pschyopaths to derive enjoyment from torturing an innocent little animal like that. They should never be allowed onto the streets. Ridiculous that they're not even being punished properly, getting away with everything they've done so far is why they are the way they are.

Yanbu

Yes, you're right, damaged wasn't the right word to use. Much better suggestions been made here. MiuChoos you're right about that picture - it really upset me too. It just made you aware of the enjoyment they were getting from tormenting that poor animal.
The angry part of me says "visit their own behaviour exactly back on them" but the rational part of me knows thats not the answer.
Just horrible though.

Yes that is horrible. It also happens everyday in the millions in slaughter houses.

No it doesn't.

Yes it does.

Sustained, enjoyed and deliberate torture, then the subsequent discarding of the entire carcass does not happen in slaughterhouses.

Keeping animals in tiny, cramped, terrible conditions where they get sick and injured is torture. Then murdering the animal. That's morally equivalent.

My OP was nothing to do with conditions in slaughter houses, though... you clearly have an agenda, which makes it pointless engaging. I'm not disagreeing that where poor conditions exist, animals suffer, which is terrible. However, it was clear I was talking about people who torture animals for pleasure. You clearly just want an excuse to air your views that meat = murder.

I just think it's hypocritical to moan about these people not getting jail time when the same thing is happening to millions legally everyday. We shouldn't have one law for one and and the opposite for another. It doesn't make logical sense.

Agree with itsbetter

Maybe it's not torturing animals for pleasure but it's still torture.

Well I resent your very obvious insinuation that anyone who eats meat can't possibly get angry about any form of animal abuse.

There's a difference between a slaughter house and torturing a rabbit for fun. One is systematic process to create a product. The other is taking sadistic pleasure in another creature's suffering. If you can't see the psychological and motivational difference between the two you have the IQ of a radish. Your brain is a wonderful organ, please use it.

Anyone that lights an animal on fire, attempts to drown it, and then throws it out the window needs to be locked up. There needs to be stricter laws for animal cruelty.

However, they can bar these men from ever owning any sort of pet, as they did with Micheal Vick. They can also make sure they all have mandatory counseling.

The silver lining for this is, if they ever get in a domestic dispute it'll be easier to put them in jail because they'll have a trail of breadcrumbs behind them to show they have form for this sort of behavior. It'll be harder to say they were good people who made a bad mistake.

Also, just for silly argument's sake, being mean to animals can be an indicator of future aggression. But being nice to animals doesn't mean the same. Hitler was very kind and loving towards his dogs. I'm so sorry Godwin!!

It doesn't matter what the motivation is. It is still killing whether you do it to sell and eat or for fun. Those are similarly perverse reasons actually.
The end result is the same. Dead animal that was killed by human.

Yeah yeah, go preach to the world about sea kittens. :)

Anyone who says it's just a rabbit needs a smack in the mouth.

Any living thing deserves the chance of a life. Those men need caging for a long time.