Dexter Daily Statesman

A new kind of drive-by

Posted Thursday, October 4, 2007, at 10:13 AM
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It seems that bored teenagers have come up with a new kind of drive-by.

The new trend seems to be shooting farm animals -- such as cows, goats, horses, pigs, donkeys, etc. -- with small caliber bullets to ensure that the animal dies a horrible and prolonged death.

We have even seen this happen in the Dexter area. Not long ago two guys were arrested for shooting and killing two mules in a pasture just outside of Dexter.

The problem is that once arrested, these people receive miniscule charges like vandalism or property damage or some such, meaning that they will only get a slap on the wrist and be right back out on the street.

Do I think these misguided youths need the death penalty? Absolutely not. But they also need to do more than pay a fine or be on unsupervised probation for a few years.

These are animals that have feelings. In the cases of some animals such as horses or even goats, there are people who are attached to them and love them the way they love their dogs or cats.

In the case of cattle, hogs, sheep, etc., there is a farmer out there who has dedicated time and money into ensuring that when those animals reach market, they are at a peak weight and of good health. I myself purchased a feeder hog this spring and have put a lot of time, money and effort into getting him up to butcher size and that is only one animal, not one of hundreds like some farmers have.

I think a suitable punishment for these bored kids is to put them to work on the farm where they shot and killed an animal. Have them get up at dawn to feed, muck out a barn, etc., etc., and let them see how much sweat and labor is put into raising animals such as these. Not only will it give them a new viewpoint, they will also have less time and energy to pull stupid "pranks."

What punishment would be good in your opinion?

Comments
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I agree that a fine is certainly not enough of a punishment. For teenagers, their parents probably end up paying it and the teenagers don't even care. Community service is a great idea, but it's not always good to have the offenders work with animals. Often cleaning up animal poop and doing the "dirty work" causes these offenders to resent the animals. Also, it's never a good idea to leave a convicted animal abuser alone with an animal.

I would suggest picking up trash as a good service option, and some humane education classes and anger management counseling (at the offender's expense, of course, not the taxpayers').

-- Posted by Youngest Child on Wed, Oct 24, 2007, at 10:57 PM

GL, if your suggestion is true it is a check mark in favor of independence for the Texas Republic.

-- Posted by FJGuy on Mon, Oct 8, 2007, at 3:17 PM

this some sick sh**! those r some seriously messed up people,a bunch of jeffrey dahmer wannebes.first ur mules,then ur neighbor,then ur family like BTK killer.

ok-why do parents not know where there guns and ammo are?they check the booze level or how many cigs they have ,but dont keep track of their weapons?

if the gun is with ur kid and there punkass friends,its not guarding ur person or property now is it?

SICK SICK SICK-

-- Posted by CharlesSmith01 on Sun, Oct 7, 2007, at 5:08 PM

Sacha Champion's response:

From this point on, because of the increasing number of curse words being used or implied, any post that contains a curse word, abbreviated or implied, will be immediately deleted. We at the Statesman believe that comments and opinions can be stated without the use of such words. Thanks so much for posting and hope to see your posts -- minus the curse words -- in the future!

OH, MY GOSH!! These kids have issues and need something else to do. Many of these animals are the owners lively hood. They spend time, money and themselves for this animal and in many times, the animals returns with a profit either by the sell for buthering, shows and just for the pleasure of having them.

The punishment needs to be harsher. An investegation needs to be done on the family to find an underlying cause as well.

With the mentioning of Owne Welty, many who knew him believed that his family had issues. That whole family should be locked up.

-- Posted by aztecmomma on Sat, Oct 6, 2007, at 10:34 PM

You don't think this pattern of macho animal-killing fun is combined with the "good ole boy" gun culture of the Southwest (Texas), do you??

-- Posted by goat lady on Fri, Oct 5, 2007, at 6:57 AM

It seems to me that young folks who do stuff like this are only a step away from being Owen Welty. This is very serious stuff. I say let 'em muck the barns AND go into therapy.

-- Posted by scotswoman on Thu, Oct 4, 2007, at 9:23 PM

Sacha and GL, I think it is a mistake to attribute this behavior to "bored" kids -- it could be indicative of deep-seated psychological problems that could cause big problems when they get older.

For example, on Corey's blog several people have made fun of the way The Decider, GB talks. But you may have noticed that he magically becomes coherent and articulate when he talks about death and destruction. It gets his juices flowing.

This is consistent with an article in the New York Times on May 21, 2000. Friends report that as a youth GB enjoyed torturing animals for fun. One boyhood friend was quoted as saying, "We were terrible to animals." He described shooting animals and that they liked turning frogs into living hand grenades, "We'd put firecrackers in the frogs and throw them and blow them up."

GB joy of reveling in death and destruction has not changed, and I don't want any youth in this country to "grow-up" to be like GB. So when caught, let's get these kids the intensive psychological counseling they need to become decent, warm human beings who strive to leave footprints of goodness behind where they walk.

-- Posted by FJGuy on Thu, Oct 4, 2007, at 7:43 PM

I had not heard about this, but I am APPALLED! Words cannot express how strongly I agree with you on this!

I have no idea if this sort of cruelty fits in with the studies which show that people who deliberately kill animals for pleasure will eventually move onto humans -- but I can see the possibility. The cruelty and disregard for LIFE is there, whether it's aimed at animals or humans.

Parents of such young people should be alarmed enough to support strong measures to ensure that it never happens again.

Those kids are in bad need of some sensitivity training and lessons in developing a strong work ethic!

-- Posted by goat lady on Thu, Oct 4, 2007, at 6:25 PM

Works for me. I was half way though reading your article when I was thinking the same thing. Put them to work ON THE FARM, let them do the "dirty" jobs. If they don't want to do the work then let them sit in JAIL. Cruel or unusual punishment? Don't think so, ask a farmer!!

-- Posted by D.W.B. on Thu, Oct 4, 2007, at 11:42 AM