N.Y. Man Jailed for Starving Dog

SF Gate ^ | 3/28/6

[kaotic133]

Anyone who can enjoy a week at Disney World while his dog is locked up in a closet with no stimulation, food, water, or companionship, obviously has no sense of right/wrong or responsibility.

Maybe a year of begging for his life in jail will teach him to respect life.

[Dog Gone]

I have seen plenty of cruelty to animal charges filed in Texas against the owner. The big cases generally involve livestock, but occasionally it's dogs or cats.

[GregoTX]

"In Texas you can starve, abuse, torture a dog and its ok as long as it yours?"

"If that is true than there is something wrong with Texass"

No that is not true in the State of Texas.

Texas Penal Code Sec. 42.09. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly:

(1) tortures an animal;

(2) fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;

....

The part people hear about Texas law that mentions belonging to another is ...

(5) kills, seriously injures, or administers poison to an animal, other than cattle, horses, sheep, swine, or goats, belonging to another without legal authority or the owner's effective consent;

The livestock fall under a different title, thats why they are excluded here, but when you read the whole Statute of Texas Penal Code 42.09, you will see that treating animals under your care, or killing other peoples animals are BOTH covered in the law.

[Sender]

Yeah I think taking him away from his daughter for a year is excessive, that is if he is a good father. I'd give him two weeks with nothing but water.

[GladesGuru]

"Maybe a year of begging for his life in jail will teach him to respect life."

Your post seems not to show any indication of the total lunacy of equating the depriving of a young girl of her father for a year over a dog death. And I can say that having had three Irish wolfhounds, a breed over which small wars were fought.

Having seen why the Irish kings and the Vikings so valued their Irish wolfhounds, I can still say that humans are more important. And some Freepers who breed these dogs would agree with me.

Yet they are, in the end, animals. In no way are they human beings.

Yes, I am aware of the Saga of Nial wherein a wolfhound is described as "having the mind of a man" but that was meant only in the sense of being able to sense who was an enemy.

I am somewhat taken aback by the depth of emotion on this thread. Evidently, the animal rights groups have been far more successful in gaining acceptance of their "animal rights" agenda than I thought.

No animal is worth depriving that girl of her father for a year.

[KarinG1]

I wasn't endorsing it, and certainly don't approve, but what part of "belonging to another" do you not understand?

[GregoTX]

"I wasn't endorsing it, and certainly don't approve, but what part of "belonging to another" do you not understand?"

I am sure that you do not endorse or approve of such actions. No one, including me in any way implied such a thing. I don't know why you would even consider thinking anyone would imply that about you. Your expression of "what part of belonging to another do you not understand?" is condescending in its tone, and there is no need for such hostility. Though you asked that question not as a question, but as some kind of sarcasm, I will answer it. I understand it perfectly well, and I will be happy to explain it. The law covers animals belonging to a violator or belonging to others. That is why I posted parts of the statute that covers being cruel to animals under your custody and those "belonging to another".

[KarinG1]

The reason I believe what I said to be true is that I once shot my neighbor's dog. The dog had it coming to him. He was charging me as if he intended to attack me in my yard. It was a snap shot, as I felt the need to act quickly, and I only winged him. It stopped him, but as I was taking careful aim to put him out of his misery my neighbor came running out and blocked my line of fire. I probably should have fired anyway. Allowing a dangerous animal like that to roam into my yard is reprehensible. Anyway, guess who got arrested. Karen did. The charge? Cruelty to animals. My attorney told me that if it had been my dog it would have been legal. I'd tell you how much the fine was but that would betray my age. Suffice to say that it was a lot of money back then. They confiscated the gun as well.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Anyone who can enjoy a week at Disney World while his dog is locked up in a closet with no stimulation, food, water, or companionship, obviously has no sense of right/wrong or responsibility."

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

- St. Francis of Assisi
c.1182-1226