Vet poisoned by fumes from cats
 

Why does the news seem so crappy sometimes?


Reuters News Service
STOCKHOLM - A vet sent to inspect a strong stench coming from an uninhabited rural cottage in south-west Sweden collapsed, poisoned by fumes from the feces of some 20 cats locked inside for months, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

complete story
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...izarre/2391011

EXTRA
News Bizarre: For more odd stories see News Bizarre.

PALESTINE -- A state trooper found 23 dogs, three cats and a chicken in a van during an East Texas traffic stop, and he said the driver and her elderly passenger were covered in animal feces.

"When I approached the van I could smell the stench 20 to 30 feet away," Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Jim Cleland told the Palestine Herald-Press in its Thursday editions. "It was then I discovered the animals."

He said feces were piled up to one foot deep in parts of the van.

complete story
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...izarre/2389294

I thought this was going to be about cat farts. :( Sigh, once again my highest hopes are dashed.

People who abuse and mistreat animals, because that's exactly what these cases are about-animal cruelty- make me sick. I hope they rot for what they have done. Unfortunately loaws arent that strict for people who mistreat animals :(

Because they are still animals, NOT people and if you can't clearly differentiate between the two you have some issues to work out.

Please distinguish.

-Rudey

humans are obviously not animals. . . . right?











right?!?

Don't make me poo in your mouth Mr. "Ilikepooinmymouth" Rob.

-Rudey

Actually, people ARE animals.

We are mammals, just like monkeys and puppies and kittens.

Are you kids arguing that all mammals deserve equal rights under the law ?

To say that animals deserve "equal" rights under the law is silly -- I think we can all agree with that. However, animals should be entitled to some rights under the law, including the right to live free from abuse by humans.

*sits back and waits for everyone on GC to disagree*

Agreed.

And James you still haven't distinguished what makes animals and humans so different. Care to retract?

-Rudey

What in the world did you mean by this statement? Mary said only that the laws are not strict for people who abuse animals. You reply appears to be completely unrelated to her comment.

Yes, animals and people are different. No, they are not entitled to the same rights as people. That does not mean that they are not entitled to a certain level of care and compassion, and a life free from abuse at the hands of humans.

You don't have to prove what is empirically obvious lol.

Let's not play philosophical games here. I can through a ball into another ball and you can say the reason behind it moving was the first ball moving and I can tell you no, that might not be the case and you don't know that. Now think hard and tell me what makes an animal and a human different. Is it a soul? There are people who don't believe in religions and hence a soul. There are people who believe in reincarnation and see animals on equal levels. Is it intelligence? There are animals with higher levels of intelligence and men with lower IQs that can't comprehend basic addition and multiplication. So what is it?

-Rudey
--These games we play become more difficult when Rudey is bored on his Sundays.

I don't know rudey, those types of arguments are too complex for me.

Humans are different because human law, tradition, and most social societies believe and treat them differently.

IF there is an objective reality that gives animals, as we define them, some type of equal or greater value, it hasn't manifested in some being that is compelling us to grant equal status either in law or in our thoughts.

Therefore since we choose to value animals differently than humans in most societies, especialy this Western one we are focusing on, then they are just different.

And remember we are discussint the treatment of animals as pertaining to law and social customs.

Just like we did to black people, and native Americans, etc...

Tradition is NEVER a good argument to make.

Sure it is as an explanation of an observable fact.

Do you always say incredibly stupid things or just today?

-Rudey

I would say this is a classic case of a "collector" which is a mental illness-I deal with people like this often and they are a challenge to say the least.

As far as the arguement of animals and people being the same-on some levels yes they are. They are entitled to (IMO of course)food, shelter, protection from the elements, ability to move around (i.e not be confined to a tiny square box or chained up), not be physically abused (or even mentally for that matter). People that do food animal medicine often have a different opinion-animals are a comodity and food source-I can't think that way. But, they are still entitled to have plenty of fresh food/water available and protection from the harsh elements (which in Texas can be 115 degrees during the day so they need some shade-pretty simple).

They are currently classified as property in Texas and thus prosecuting people for abuse can be difficult but laws are getting strictor. Part of me wishes they were not classified as property-that way people can get stiffer jail sentences. But, in this litigious society people then would start to sue for mental anguish etc.. and veterinary medicine will eventually end up like human medicine-outrageous prices, increased liability insurance for vets. and in turn this will be passed on to the client. Instead of a 50-150$ spay you will be looking at a 500$ spay. Only the rich would be able to treat their sick pet and I can guarantee there won't be medicaid for pets :).

Has anyone ever watched "Animal Precinct"on Animal Planet? Tose animal cruelty cases would break the coldest heart. Now I'm not a PETA person but do support the ASPCA. When you see a gorilla that can sign and express emotion, when you read of heroic acts by different species of animals, you have to stop and think that maybe the differences aren't so great.

One of my favorite show but yet usually depresses me that people would actually treat an animal like that

I agree that animals and humans are different, and I agree that animals are property. However, there is a big difference between my dog and my coffee table. If I want to collect coffee tables, beat the crap out of them, set them on fire, not feed them, inflict undue suffering by not dusting, then hey, I can. It's a friggin' coffee table. But if I were to do any of the above to an animal, I shouldn't be allowed to own one.

People should not be allowed to beat animals (except when they get on the good couch and destroy the new throw pillows;) ) and inflict undue suffering. I'm not a vegetarian. I eat meat. That doesn't mean that I don't want the animals to be treated respectfully during their short life.

There should (IMHO) be some legal classification for animals that is between human and coffee table. And I don't believe in this "guardian" crap. I need a guardian for my child. I need a kennel for my dog.

jh124 ,I like the way you explained that!

Good book-All creatures Great and Small.

I try to do it just slightly less than you do :)

Well either animls are property or they are creatures we have enslaved for our own uses or entertainment.

I am not sure what rights either status would give the slaves or property.

I don't advocate mean treatment, you don't have to own an animal so i look at it more as responsibility.

However, it really is an issue of enslavement. I am not sure how ethically correct that is to begin with no matter how much you love your slaves.

One thing I've learned-you can't own a cat! IT decides who it wants to hang out with!:D