Cruelty against Animals

[Florestan]

I very recently witnessed (half visually and half auditively) the gruesome murder of a puppy. The problem is threefold compounded: (1) it was a puppy that my son found in the streets and wanted to keep, (2) I could have prevented it but when I realized what was really going on it was too late, and (3) the one who murdered it is a member of my family (husband of my wife's late aunt --- thank God he's not blood-related). Ever since, I can't get it out of my head and I told my wife, my mother-in-law and the husband of one of that man's daughters that I don't want to be with him (the murderer, that is) in the same place at the same time anymore (they all agreed that I am right). He's not a human being, he's a despicable brute.

No, really, I am shocked and I'm afraid it will take a long time to forget the whole thing.

[LKB]

I very recently witnessed (half visually and half auditively) the gruesome murder of a puppy. The problem is threefold compounded: (1) it was a puppy that my son found in the streets and wanted to keep, (2) I could have prevented it but when I realized what was really going on it was too late, and (3) the one who murdered it is a member of my family (husband of my wife's late aunt --- thank God he's not blood-related). Ever since, I can't get it out of my head and I told my wife, my mother-in-law and the husband of one of that man's daughters that I don't want to be with him (the murderer, that is) in the same place at the same time anymore (they all agreed that I am right). He's not a human being, he's a despicable brute.

No, really, I am shocked and I'm afraid it will take a long time to forget the whole thing.

Unfortunately, there will always be people who, for whatever reason, can only feel " strong " by inflicting pain or death upon those without the means to resist or escape.

It's fortunate that in this case the victim wasn't a person, but that may not be the case next time. In any case, your decision to shun the offender is undoubtedly correct.

[Florestan]

Unfortunately, there will always be people who, for whatever reason, can only feel " strong " by inflicting pain or death upon those without the means to resist or escape.

It's fortunate that in this case the victim wasn't a person, but that may not be the case next time. In any case, your decision to shun the offender is undoubtedly correct.

Well, I already knew that the guy can't stand animals of any type, down to the least insects, in his own yard but I could have never imagined he's capable of killing animals in his neighbour's yard as well. My son wept and was sad for two days in a row because his puppy disappeared.

A daughter of that sadistic beast put it right: He's my dad but I'm afraid he'll be going straight to Hell.

[vandermolen]

I very recently witnessed (half visually and half auditively) the gruesome murder of a puppy. The problem is threefold compounded: (1) it was a puppy that my son found in the streets and wanted to keep, (2) I could have prevented it but when I realized what was really going on it was too late, and (3) the one who murdered it is a member of my family (husband of my wife's late aunt --- thank God he's not blood-related). Ever since, I can't get it out of my head and I told my wife, my mother-in-law and the husband of one of that man's daughters that I don't want to be with him (the murderer, that is) in the same place at the same time anymore (they all agreed that I am right). He's not a human being, he's a despicable brute.

No, really, I am shocked and I'm afraid it will take a long time to forget the whole thing.

What a horrible experience Andrei and I'm very sorry to hear about it.
Over here there was an unpleasant case recently of a football player who got his brother to film him kicking his family cat across the room, as if it was a football, and then posted it on You Tube. I'm pleased to say that he got into big trouble and the RSPCA took that cat (who was ok) away...what an idiot.

[Florestan]

What a horrible experience Andrei and I'm very sorry to hear about it.

That day and the next one my blood was boiling in indignation and anger. Even today, almost a week later, my heart cringes. I want to forget the whole thing and get over it but I can't.

Over here there was an unpleasant case recently of a football player who got his brother to film him kicking his family cat across the room, as if it was a football, and then posted it on You Tube. I'm pleased to say that he got into big trouble and the RSPCA took that cat (who was ok) away...what an idiot.

An idiot indeed but what about his brother? He should have gotten into big trouble too.

[SimonNZ]

I would expect cruelty such as this to manifest itself in other ways in the person.

[Florestan]

I would expect cruelty such as this to manifest itself in other ways in the person.

Well, he beated his wife.

[vandermolen]

That day and the next one my blood was boiling in indignation and anger. Even today, almost a week later, my heart cringes. I want to forget the whole thing and get over it but I can't.

An idiot indeed but what about his brother? He should have gotten into big trouble too.

See below:

From Sky News:


Kurt Zouma: West Ham footballer sentenced to 180 hours of community service for kicking cat
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma was also banned from keeping cats for five years; Zouma, 27, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates' Court last week

Wednesday 1 June 2022 17:52, UK

Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Image:
Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to kicking and slapping a cat.

The West Ham defender was handed a 12-month community order and also banned from keeping cats for five years. He was told to pay nearly £9,000 in court costs.

Disturbing footage of the incident, filmed at Zouma's home and posted on Snapchat by his brother, Yoan, emerged in February.

Zouma, 27, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates' Court last week.

Zouma pleads guilty to kicking and slapping cat
Zouma's brother charged under Animal Welfare Act
In the footage, he kicks the Bengal cat across his kitchen before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.

His brother, 24, later sent the video to a woman he had been messaging who raised the alarm. He was ordered to carry out 140 hours of community service.


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Hazel Stevens, for the prosecution, said Kurt Zouma could be heard in the video saying: "I swear I'll kill it, I swear I'll kill it."

Ms Stevens said the 40-second clip appeared to have been recorded after the cats were blamed for damaging a chair.

"Kurt Zouma is determined to chastise or carry out some sort of retribution for the damage caused," she said.

Ms Stevens added that the young woman who first saw the footage was so appalled that she cancelled a date with Yoan, saying: "I don't think hitting a cat like that is OK - don't bother coming today."

West Ham hopes Zouma 'will learn from his mistake'
Following the verdict, a West Ham statement read: "West Ham United can confirm that Kurt Zouma has been handed a community service order following an investigation by the RSPCA.

"West Ham United wishes to make clear that we condemn in the strongest terms any form of animal abuse or cruelty. This type of behaviour is unacceptable and is not in line with the values of the football club.

"Within 48 hours of the footage emerging, we fined Kurt the maximum available to the club.

"Every single penny of this money is now with a number of deserving charities, all dedicated to animal welfare.

"Kurt admitted at the earliest opportunity that what he did was wrong. He has apologised without reservation.

"We hope that now the court has reached its decision, everyone will allow Kurt the chance to learn from his mistake and move on."

In a statement, RSPCA chief inspectorate officer Dermot Murphy said: "We hope this case will serve as a reminder that all animals deserve to be treated with kindness, compassion and respect, and that we will not tolerate cruelty by anybody."

[Florestan]

See below:

From Sky News:


Kurt Zouma: West Ham footballer sentenced to 180 hours of community service for kicking cat
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma was also banned from keeping cats for five years; Zouma, 27, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates' Court last week

Wednesday 1 June 2022 17:52, UK

Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Image:
Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to kicking and slapping a cat.

The West Ham defender was handed a 12-month community order and also banned from keeping cats for five years. He was told to pay nearly £9,000 in court costs.

Disturbing footage of the incident, filmed at Zouma's home and posted on Snapchat by his brother, Yoan, emerged in February.

Zouma, 27, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates' Court last week.

Zouma pleads guilty to kicking and slapping cat
Zouma's brother charged under Animal Welfare Act
In the footage, he kicks the Bengal cat across his kitchen before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.

His brother, 24, later sent the video to a woman he had been messaging who raised the alarm. He was ordered to carry out 140 hours of community service.


ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADVERT


Hazel Stevens, for the prosecution, said Kurt Zouma could be heard in the video saying: "I swear I'll kill it, I swear I'll kill it."

Ms Stevens said the 40-second clip appeared to have been recorded after the cats were blamed for damaging a chair.

"Kurt Zouma is determined to chastise or carry out some sort of retribution for the damage caused," she said.

Ms Stevens added that the young woman who first saw the footage was so appalled that she cancelled a date with Yoan, saying: "I don't think hitting a cat like that is OK - don't bother coming today."

West Ham hopes Zouma 'will learn from his mistake'
Following the verdict, a West Ham statement read: "West Ham United can confirm that Kurt Zouma has been handed a community service order following an investigation by the RSPCA.

"West Ham United wishes to make clear that we condemn in the strongest terms any form of animal abuse or cruelty. This type of behaviour is unacceptable and is not in line with the values of the football club.

"Within 48 hours of the footage emerging, we fined Kurt the maximum available to the club.

"Every single penny of this money is now with a number of deserving charities, all dedicated to animal welfare.

"Kurt admitted at the earliest opportunity that what he did was wrong. He has apologised without reservation.

"We hope that now the court has reached its decision, everyone will allow Kurt the chance to learn from his mistake and move on."

In a statement, RSPCA chief inspectorate officer Dermot Murphy said: "We hope this case will serve as a reminder that all animals deserve to be treated with kindness, compassion and respect, and that we will not tolerate cruelty by anybody."

Very good.

[vandermolen]

I found this story rather upsetting as well (in today's news)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecz8XqFyJBk

[Irons]

See below:

From Sky News:


Kurt Zouma: West Ham footballer sentenced to 180 hours of community service for kicking cat
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma was also banned from keeping cats for five years; Zouma, 27, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates' Court last week

Wednesday 1 June 2022 17:52, UK

Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Image:
Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Kurt Zouma has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service after pleading guilty to kicking and slapping a cat.

The West Ham defender was handed a 12-month community order and also banned from keeping cats for five years. He was told to pay nearly £9,000 in court costs.

Disturbing footage of the incident, filmed at Zouma's home and posted on Snapchat by his brother, Yoan, emerged in February.

Zouma, 27, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it on the head at Thames Magistrates' Court last week.

Zouma pleads guilty to kicking and slapping cat
Zouma's brother charged under Animal Welfare Act
In the footage, he kicks the Bengal cat across his kitchen before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.

His brother, 24, later sent the video to a woman he had been messaging who raised the alarm. He was ordered to carry out 140 hours of community service.


ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADVERT


Hazel Stevens, for the prosecution, said Kurt Zouma could be heard in the video saying: "I swear I'll kill it, I swear I'll kill it."

Ms Stevens said the 40-second clip appeared to have been recorded after the cats were blamed for damaging a chair.

"Kurt Zouma is determined to chastise or carry out some sort of retribution for the damage caused," she said.

Ms Stevens added that the young woman who first saw the footage was so appalled that she cancelled a date with Yoan, saying: "I don't think hitting a cat like that is OK - don't bother coming today."

West Ham hopes Zouma 'will learn from his mistake'
Following the verdict, a West Ham statement read: "West Ham United can confirm that Kurt Zouma has been handed a community service order following an investigation by the RSPCA.

"West Ham United wishes to make clear that we condemn in the strongest terms any form of animal abuse or cruelty. This type of behaviour is unacceptable and is not in line with the values of the football club.

"Within 48 hours of the footage emerging, we fined Kurt the maximum available to the club.

"Every single penny of this money is now with a number of deserving charities, all dedicated to animal welfare.

"Kurt admitted at the earliest opportunity that what he did was wrong. He has apologised without reservation.

"We hope that now the court has reached its decision, everyone will allow Kurt the chance to learn from his mistake and move on."

In a statement, RSPCA chief inspectorate officer Dermot Murphy said: "We hope this case will serve as a reminder that all animals deserve to be treated with kindness, compassion and respect, and that we will not tolerate cruelty by anybody."

What has puzzled me of this sorry saga and has not been mentioned in Court or the Press. Why would Zouma, leading the life of a millionaire footballer and all that goes with it, choose to own a cat (I think he had two) anyway? A trophy dog maybe but not a cat.

[vandermolen]

What has puzzled me of this sorry saga and has not been mentioned in Court or the Press. Why would Zouma, leading the life of a millionaire footballer and all that goes with it, choose to own a cat (I think he had two) anyway? A trophy dog maybe but not a cat.

Maybe it belonged to his wife/girlfriend.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

What has puzzled me of this sorry saga and has not been mentioned in Court or the Press. Why would Zouma, leading the life of a millionaire footballer and all that goes with it, choose to own a cat (I think he had two) anyway? A trophy dog maybe but not a cat.

It was a Bengal (or Bengals?  Not certain)--a breed prized by some owners (originally bred with an Asian leopard cat according to Wiki).  Their coloring is more like a wild cat than what most folks think of in terms of normal cat fur patterns.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_cat

PD

[Mandryka]

The things being discussed here are distressing partly because of the animal and human suffering involved, but also because they demonstrate people being cruel or thoughtless.


The real important thing though is cruelty to animals in food production. That generates an enormous quantity of misery and pain. How can anybody eat factory farmed food when they don't really need to, and then claim to be morally outraged at the story of a footballer kicking a cat?

[MusicTurner]

I'd tend to agree about the food production being the main problem. But it's a discussion on several levels - that of pets you have a more personally involved contact with, and that of the massive food sector, where animal welfare to a large extend still tends to be a niche thing - pigs, chickens and hens come to mind as some sectors displaying institutional cruelty.

I've cut down meat consumption and am increasingly buying more animal welfare products, but certainly not stringently so yet.

[Florestan]

At least the food industry is essential, people can''t do without food. An even worse offender is the fur coat industry, where animals are killed in gruesome ways (I couldn't watch a video footage taken in an Argentinian nutria farm for more than a few seconds) in order to satisfy the fancies of (mostly) rich old ladies.

[Irons]

Maybe it belonged to his wife/girlfriend.

Good point.

It was a Bengal (or Bengals?  Not certain)--a breed prized by some owners (originally bred with an Asian leopard cat according to Wiki).  Their coloring is more like a wild cat than what most folks think of in terms of normal cat fur patterns.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_cat

PD

I did see a picture of the cat - probably not the actual one and is as you describe.

[Mandryka]

According to Shakespeare, God is as cruel to us as we are to animals:


As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods,
They kill us for their sport.

(Lear 4.4.32)

[Florestan]

According to Shakespeare, God is as cruel to us as we are to animals:


As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods,
They kill us for their sport.

(Lear 4.4.32)

(1) flies (and mosquitos too) are annoying creatures. One generally doesn't kill them for sport but out of necessity. And wanton boys is not an accurate description of the average person.

(2) He says "gods", not "God".

[Mandryka]

(2) He says "gods", not "God".

I was hoping you wouldn't notice.