It was only a hamster

[Texashiker]

New York teenager kills family hamster, and is charged with a felony.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/10/us-crime-hamster-idUSTRE72904A20110310

<discuss>

 

[her209]

Blame the people who wanted to give cats and dogs rights.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Folks who vent rage on small animals is a major red flag. The girl needs mental health help immediately.

 

[wirednuts]

Folks who vent rage on small animals is a major red flag. The girl needs mental health help immediately.

this wasnt a predetermined live dissection of a dog... she grabbed a hamster and chucked it. no different the squishing frogs or drowning ant hills.

 

[Texashiker]

no different the squishing frogs or drowning ant hills.

When I was like 4 or 5 years old (I am now 43 years old), my uncle showed me how to take a magnifying glass and use it to burn ants.

Should I report him to the authorities?

 

[darkewaffle]

this wasnt a predetermined live dissection of a dog... she grabbed a hamster and chucked it. no different the squishing frogs or drowning ant hills.

That's kind of why he said "vent rage" and not "predetermined". I have no problem with this, a hampster has more value than your typical 19 year old anyway.

 

[dmcowen674]

New York teenager kills family hamster, and is charged with a felony.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/10/us-crime-hamster-idUSTRE72904A20110310

<discuss>

discuss is commentary or is that been dropped as an OP requirement?

In any case the woman is 19 and should be charged.

Prison time a bit over the top but should have to go through court, fined, community service and restitution. Also will have only a misdemeanor on her record.

She is 19 and should have known better by now, she needs a bit more learnin.

 

[dmcowen674]

Blame the people who wanted to give cats and dogs rights.

Maybe you should be choked and thrown out the window like the hamster.

 

[Genx87]

this wasnt a predetermined live dissection of a dog... she grabbed a hamster and chucked it. no different the squishing frogs or drowning ant hills.

A hamster today, a child tomorrow. Anybody who will vent their anger out on defensless beings has issues.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

this wasnt a predetermined live dissection of a dog... she grabbed a hamster and chucked it. no different the squishing frogs or drowning ant hills.

Actually, squishing frogs is pretty sick too while killing insects is merely futile.

If she trashed the family terrarium and killed a frog or, threw the family ant farm out the window, I would still say she needs mental help immediately. This isn't about what kind of animal she killed or, a law that you or I may think is silly, it's about a human animal who thinks it's alright to destroy life to lessen her own pain. That is my concern.

 

[jonks]

When I was like 4 or 5 years old (I am now 43 years old), my uncle showed me how to take a magnifying glass and use it to burn ants.

Should I report him to the authorities?

In 43 years you didn't learn that our society has differing degrees of affinity for certain animals?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Possible two years in prison for killing a rodent? Take it the reason for killing it (rage) is wrong, so force her to see a therapist.

 

[Texashiker]

In 43 years you didn't learn that our society has differing degrees of affinity for certain animals?

After I made that post, I started thinking about the topic of this thread.

The family made a commitment to take care of that hamster. I think the "commitment" part is what makes the difference between killing a hamster, and killing an unwanted rodent.

Our commitment to other living creatures sets us apart from the rest of the animal world. Its an honor system, a set of values that we as humans set for ourselves. And as such, we must uphold that set of values.

 

[alkemyst]

Blame the people who wanted to give cats and dogs rights.

wow, just wow.

 

[Lemon law]

Folks who vent rage on small animals is a major red flag. The girl needs mental health help immediately.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can somewhat agree with that, what she does not need, and the larger society should not be forced to pay for, is prison time.

 

[alkemyst]

Actually, squishing frogs is pretty sick too while killing insects is merely futile.

If she trashed the family terrarium and killed a frog or, threw the family ant farm out the window, I would still say she needs mental help immediately. This isn't about what kind of animal she killed or, a law that you or I may think is silly, it's about a human animal who thinks it's alright to destroy life to lessen her own pain. That is my concern.

on top of that it was a 'family member' of a human not a random animal.

Pets have rights more or less due to their attachment to a human being.

A pet cat cannot be shot without a good cause, a feral cat can be shot usually with just light supporting reasons.

 

[Jaskalas]

You don't kill a person's pet.

Prison time? I don't know... but it certainly appears to be the law of New York.

 

[CPA]

discuss is commentary or is that been dropped as an OP requirement?

In any case the woman is 19 and should be charged.

Prison time a bit over the top but should have to go through court, fined, community service and restitution. Also will have only a misdemeanor on her record.

She is 19 and should have known better by now, she needs a bit more learnin.

Oh no, will something please think of the hamsters.

 

[Genx87]

Possible two years in prison for killing a rodent? Take it the reason for killing it (rage) is wrong, so force her to see a therapist.

Doubt she will get more than a slap on the wrist. I think an actual prison sentence is reserved for somebody who is sadistic and kills multiple animals.

 

[Scotteq]

Oh no, will something please think of the hamsters.

It's New York - Hamsters (and especially their Gerbil cousins) are valued for their contributions to the local culture.

 

[jonks]

It's New York - Hamsters (and especially their Gerbil cousins) are valued for their contributions to the local culture.

Dude, if you prefer snakes that's your business. We don't need to know about it.

 

[wuliheron]

For all I know the little bitch has a a record a mile long and tattoos in places that aren't legal either.

Still, don't let me dissuade you from jumping to summery judgement based on 4 paragraphs. Ah, such are the things lynch mobs are made of. I live not too far from Lynchburg VA, the namesake of lynch mobs everywhere and the home town of Jerry Falwell. I'm sure he'd approve.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

For all I know the little bitch has a a record a mile long and tattoos in places that aren't legal either.

Still, don't let me dissuade you from jumping to summery judgement based on 4 paragraphs. Ah, such are the things lynch mobs are made of. I live not too far from Lynchburg VA, the namesake of lynch mobs everywhere and the home town of Jerry Falwell. I'm sure he'd approve.

Hey, this is the internets! It's serious bidness. There's no time for accuracy, we got a role to complete.

 

[Scotteq]

Dude, if you prefer snakes that's your business. We don't need to know about it.

You guys in the City invented it!!! D: D: D:

You have to figure all of Christopher Street has gone into mourning at the loss of a dear partner!

 

[jonks]

You guys in the City invented it!!! D: D: D:

You have to figure all of Christopher Street has gone into mourning at the loss of a dear partner!

No way, cities formed way after rural towns perfected these things. Boning animals is much more a farm activity given the dearth of people, widespread availability of fauna, and penned enclosures. Oh, and absense of stigma.