Hmm, should I torture animals or not? That's a toughie...

I seriously don't understand our species sometimes. We are the only known intelligent life in our universe (until proven otherwise) and yet some people simply cannot make rational, good decisions. While under the influence of drugs and alcohol, Englishman Colin Sherlock was arrested for torturing his pet cat Roxy by putting it into a microwave for 8 seconds, a clothes dryer for 7 seconds, a freezer for 20 seconds, and then dunking it into soapy dish water. The cat is lucky to be alive but shows signs of serious mental trauma.

So let's just make a comparison between Roxy and her previous owner.

Roxy, torture victim of Colin Sherlock.

Here's Roxy after her ordeal. She looks as though she is doing okay in still photos, but she is now extremely paranoid and and is likely to suffer lasting mental trauma. Did anyone mention that she's a cat? You can clearly see by her physique that she is indeed a cat. What could she--a cat--have possibly done to deserve to be tortured by this man:

Colin Sherlock, drug user and torturer or innocent animals.

So what now happens to Colin Sherlock? He's from England, after all, so you'd figure they'd have many medieval torture devices laying about for such an individual. Well, lucky for this man he gets the maximum penalty available: a whole 126 days in jail, and 10-year ban from owning animals. Excuse me while I golf-clap for the fellow.

What I really don't understand is why these crimes aren't taken more seriously and why the punishment for them is so minuscule. It is well known that one of the major characteristics of future serial killers is torturing animals. Instead of providing these individuals with proper care and sentences, we are essentially allowing them back on the streets to further their sadism. Whether you believe animals have rights and deserve to be protected by the law or not, would you really want this guy as your neighbor? Regardless of whether or not he feels remorse for what he has done--which he claims he does--would you want this guy living next door to you? I think not.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1327062/Tattooed-cat-torturer-Colin-Sherlock-jailed.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

the fast food industry becoming animal rights activists?

Animal rights organizations, such as PETA and the Humane Society, have gotten some new activists: fast food giants like McDonalds, Burger King, Carl's Jr., Wendy's, KFC, Chipotle, Quiznos, Denny's, Hardee's, and many others. They have all pledged or have already made changes to increase the welfare and treatment of their animals by hiring on animal welfare specialists to regulate the treatment of animals.

Animal welfare specialists will also work with these fast food giants by providing new ethical ways of raising and slaughtering their animals. Some suggestions include free-range, larger crates or less animals per crate, veterinary care, discontinuing the use of growth hormones (which can be harmful to humans), and "controlled atmosphere killing" (CAK), a non-poisonous gas that puts animals to sleep before they are slaughtered.

The Humane Society, who owns stock in many of these chains, has also purchased stock in Jack in the Box and Steak 'n' Shake--two companies who have been criticized for their lack of steps at improving the livelihood of their animals. Once the Humane Society has owned stock in the companies for one whole year, they will be able to submit proposals that are then voted on by shareholders.

Jack in the Box currently requires their animals to have enough room to move freely and be provided veterinary care. However, they continue to use unethical ways of slaughtering their animals, one of which involves hanging conscious birds upside-down by their feet, electrocuting them in electrified water, and then cutting their throats.

While the fast food industry as a whole is improving their methods, only a small percentage of the meat purchased comes from animals which were treated humanely during their lives. Certainly restaurants are pledging to make changes, but there are simply not enough vendors treating their animals ethically to be able to meet the restaurants' demands. However, as the times change one can almost guarantee that the vendors will change with them.


http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=374390
http://www.jackinthebox.com/corporate/corporate-responsibility/animal-welfare/
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/HSUS-Becomes-Jack-In-The-Box-Shareholder/2010-01-18/Article.aspx?oid=976233
http://www.ibj.com/animalwelfare-group-targets-steak-n-shake/PARAMS/article/15750
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/mcdonalds/egg1.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/05/eveningnews/main582028.shtml
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19356388_ITM