I'm horrified...is this considered normal in MS? (McComb, West: skateboarding, unemployment rate)

[aquietpath]

Originally Posted by Hank Springer

Aquietpath, With the exception of dog fighting, animal abuse does not constitute a felony under the laws of any state.
Sorry, but the best we can do, whether the violation occurs in Mississippi, Texas or Ohio, is a misdemeanor.
The attitude of the people of Mississippi is strongly against abuse of animals. We spend more time with animals than any yankee, bleeding heart liberal and demonstrate more respect for the same.

I'm sorry, but the attitude of the people of Mississippi is exactly what I take issue with. Inadequate provisions for unwanted/abandoned animals, a resistance to spaying/neutering pets, and weak laws to protect animals. Bills for stiffer anti cruelty laws keep dying or get "adjourned".

Last year now ex-Senator Mike Gunn took 7 baby geese from their habitat, and threw them on his gas grill. As he left the court, he said "I ran afoul of the law, and laid a huge egg and have received a gaggle of problems as a result, I am just glad this wild goose chase is behind us now." Small wonder with small minds like this in congress that nothing changes.

I haven't seen a whole lot of respect for animals here. When people deliberately run over dogs, shoot cats because they are howling and in heat, dump animals off on the side of the road and think there is NOTHING WRONG with these actions, that doesn't show a strong stand against abuse.

As far as spending more time with animals in the south than up north, I disagree. Seems as though if your dog isn't a tiny lap dog, it is banned from the house and often chained outside or stuck in a cage somewhere on the property. Hardly what I'd consider a beloved family pet! Where I'm from we have dog parks and most everyone considers their dogs/cats/pets as part of the family, not some possession.

[poptones]

Yeah OK. When you go to the store where are the diapers?

Now, where is the dog food?

Most stores have them in the same place. What's that say about how pets are regarded? Worse, what's that say about how children are regarded?

The PROBLEM is pets and children ARE considered BOTH part of the family AND property. This fetishism of pets and children is not healthy. Control is an illusion - information and knowledge are the ONLY solution to these problems you mention as well as a gaggle of others like child pornography, teen pregnancy, the increasing refusal of parents to have their children immunized, and the spread of venereal diseases. This is supposed to be a developed country yet we rank with third world nations on most of these issues DESPITE tighter and tighter restrictions on EVERYONE'S liberties. No one arguing against these stupid laws has ever said "oh there's nothing wrong with abusing animals" what many of us ARE saying is that you firstly HAVE NOT ACCURATELY DEFINED ABUSE and secondly the laws would in no way apply equally because the farm industry has lobbyists, and those lobbyists WILL ensure that, while it's illegal for me to toss a few unwanted kittens in a bucket of water the fowl processors would still be allowed to send live hatchlings through meat grinders. Address those issues and you might sway some votes... but I still suggest avoiding that "F" word.

[mccarley]

If you truly care about cruelty to animals, you should read the attached link while eating your fried chicken dinner.

Poultry Slaughter - The Need for Legislation and Elimination of Electrical Immobilization

[poptones]

about 9 birds in every 1,000 missed the [stun] bath and had their necks cut while fully conscious.

So did every chicken ever killed on a farm by a hatchet. Most of the chickens I ate when young, and virtually all my father and mother ate when young were killed like this. And no matter what you might think about us lowlife meat eaters, it's still a better death than being picked apart and eaten while still alive - which is the fate of virtually every animal in nature caught by anything from birds to bears to lions.

I've worked in poultry plants. I wasn't a line worker I was an engineer, on call to assist deployment or repair of a piece of assembly line gear. With all the shackles runnign back and forth overhead it's a miserable place to work - it rains on you constantly and there's tremendous pressure to produce. That said, the chickens are the least miserable of all - they're well past being miserable, offended, or anything else within minutes of entering the building.

If you truly care about the treatment of animals, you need to stop anthropomorphising them and get a proper, objective, education on the matter of conservation.

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by poptones

.

So did every chicken ever killed on a farm by a hatchet.

My Mother never used a hatchet. She simply wrung the chickens head off and let it dance. When I got to be a big boy, I was allowed to do this for her. I never considered her cruel. She was simply putting fried chicken on the table. I grew up knowing where food comes from. Nevertheless, if you must worry about cruelty to animals pick the biggest target. Dogs and cats are pests anyway. And no, they are not human.

[Hank Springer]

Peppermint, I wish it could be so clearly defined. However, there is no such thing as a violation against an animal clearly outlined in the law.
It is possible to bring felony charges against an individual for causing harm to an animal, but such felony charge doesn't result from an animal cruelty law. Any felony charge brought against a man for cruelty to an animal must be tied to another violation.
It's the same as a man on man violation.

[Hank Springer]

There is such a thing as cruelty to chickens and it occurs long before they meet the blade. Many chickens, as with cattle, lose their sanity before the time of killing.

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by Hank Springer

There is such a thing as cruelty to chickens and it occurs long before they meet the blade. Many chickens, as with cattle, lose their sanity before the time of killing.

I totally agree with you. However, almost no one considers it cruel unless it happens to a cat or dog. If you are going to go on a campaign about cruelty to animals then you don't need to eat any farm raised animal or commericial caught fish.

[poptones]

And a horse, left alone in a corral, will go just as crazy as a human locked in solitary. This is why you often see a horse in a pen with a cow, or a goat, or most often more than one horse. Horses need companionship of they go nuts. So maybe we should have a law that you must have at least two animals to a corral?

[Hank Springer]

You're 100 % right Poptones. Solitary confinement will make a dog, horse and any other animal I know of as mean as a snake.
How 'bout those who keep a dog on a chain and then wonder why he bites. Those who have spent time in larger northern cities know what I'm taking about.