Baaaah...words don't bother me.
TONE of voice, that's a different story.
I do NOT like to be yelled at.
Posted on 05/22/2015 4:15:16 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A COMPLAINT over alleged animal abuse has sparked a completely BAAH-MY debate - over whether SHEEP can be offended by BAD LANGUAGE.
The bizarre topic arose when the RSPCA in New South Wales, Australia, were approached about the alleged mistreatment of sheep - including verbal abuse - at a nearby farm.
The complaint was launched by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) after one of their volunteers worked undercover at the Boorungie Station ranch and had apparently obtained footage from the alleged abuse incidents.
Ken Turner, who operates the shearing facility, said the allegation seemed to suggest that the sheep could UNDERSTAND English - and that they could have been offended by swear words.
He said: "The basis for the concerns was the rights of the animals, that they might have been harassed by viewing things they shouldn't have seen or verbal abuse by people using bad language.
"To my knowledge, there was no actual cruelty on the job. The allegation was that bad language was used by an employee on the property in front of the sheep, and that they could have been offended by the use of bad language."
Steve Coleman, CEO of the RSPCA in New South Wales, said the debate over how much sheep can really understand began when the video footage was ruled not legally usable.
He did not deny that verbal abuse was a factor in the case - but said that although such claims are rare, the RSPCA still take them seriously.
He said: "We felt the footage was inadmissible and therefore we relied on what oral evidence came from both parties.
The allegation was that bad language was used by an employee on the property in front of the sheep, and that they could have been offended by the use of bad language Ken Turner "It was conflicting and on that basis we were unable to continue.
"The evidence that was available basically came down to one person's word against another."
He added: "If there is an allegation that puts at risk an animal that would cause it unnecessary suffering and distress, we would investigate it.
"I don't know if it matters what language is used. An animal is not going to understand it."
But Nicolah Donovan, president of Lawyers for Animals, argued that animals DID in fact understand when verbal abuse was being hurled at them.
She said: "I think it is conceivable that verbal abuse of an extreme nature against an animal, whether it be human, sheep or otherwise, could constitute an act of violence."
Her point of view was shared with Lynda Stoner, CEO at the charity Animal Liberation, who said sheep did not need to understand the content of the speech to know when a human speaker was frustrated or angry.
She said: "I'm not sure all animals can understand different dialects. I don't think they're getting the nuances someone is using.
"What they will be getting though is the threat inherent in the way that voice is used. I believe they can absolutely comprehend emotion."
The case against Boorungie Station has since been formally dropped.
PETA said in a statement that "if foul language were the worst that sheep in Australian shearing sheds had to endure, then no complaint would have been filed".
Mr Turner said the farm will "continue as normal" but admitted that his employees have no plans to mind their tongues in the future.
He said: "It made me ask a lot of questions of myself about what we're allowed to do and not allowed to do. I believe we do things properly."
Ping
Just buy’em a nice dinner first. Maybe a movie. No need to talk dirty to’em at first...
Baaaah...words don't bother me.
TONE of voice, that's a different story.
I do NOT like to be yelled at.
Yup...Nothing like a sheep in fishnets and spike heels. Gene Wilder knows... ;)
Oh baaaaa...ry!
These people are INSANE.
Maybe thats why Mooch was kicking a bag in the workout propaganda video. She was upset when Barry told her “I love ewe”.
"Yeah! The same to you! And many more of them!"
“Sheep lie! Sheep lie!”
So, say my sheep are grazing outside of my open bedroom window and they heard me say to my wife “I would like to ram in in ewe”, that be offensive?
Man, I swear . . .
DANG!
“admitted that his employees have no plans to mind their tongues in the future.
“
HURRAH! common sense prevails...SOMEWHERE!!
who could imagine.
is this PETA nincompoop a BIDEN relative...by any chance???
Barry’s being a BAAAAAHD boy.
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