[[I am addicted to the animal "cops" shows on animal planet.  They follow
the
stories of animals rescued from horrible situations.  Some make it; some
don't.  The punishment the owner receives never seems to be enough(*).

I can't figure out why I watch it.  Maybe because it warms my heart to
see
these rescue workers going out, day after day, and doing the best they can
to
help those who cannot help themselves.  I find myself thinking, maybe I
could
do that.  And then I realize that I would never have the self-control to
do
that job.  And I have the training to injure someone very badly if they
upset
me enough.]]

Tell me about it. I watch the show more often than I probably should,
given how angry I get when I see some of the cases being presented.

There's one recent episode where I did have to change the channel the
first time I saw it aired. It was soon after Harmony went to the RB, after
several weeks where the vet and I just could not keep her from losing
weight, and where daily feedings by syringe were not helping. So when some
[insert expletive here] neglected his dogs to the point where the officers
found them shockingly emaciated, AND they discovered the body of one dog
that'd starved to death, I was even more furious than usual. "I busted my
tail and ran up huge vet bills to try and reverse it when my sick cat lost
weight like that, and THIS [expletive omitted] had perfectly HEALTHY pets
and LET them get into that condition." I had to change the channel. (I've
since watched the episode, but that first time it came on, I couldn't bear
to see those dogs and know that someone's neglect made them look like
that.)

I couldn't be one of those animal officers. Even though under normal
circumstances I'm not a violent person, I fear I'd be in jail for assault
the first time I knew I was in the presence of an animal abuser. That's
also one of the reasons I realized I'd have trouble being a
veterinarian... I probably shouldn't have access to things like scalpels
if I'm ever in the presence of someone I KNOW harmed their pet
deliberately. Resisting the temptation to visit similar treatment on the
abuser would be a tough challenge, at best.

[[A guy is convicted of animal cruelty for letting a pregnant mare starve
to the
point where she has to be euthanized ... and he gets two days in jail and
a
thousand bucks fine.  As DH so aptly put it, "Makes you wish they would
euthanize some of the owners instead."]]

It's a shame that it's not permissible to inflict, on the abusive or
severely neglectful owner, the same sufferings that they allowed their
animal(s) to go through. We have laws against cruel and unusual punishment
in this country.

On the other hand... it IS pretty nice to see the animals re-homed with
caring people, toward the end of each episode. It's always a pleasure to
see that the animals are recovered from the injury or neglect, and now
have humans who are prepared to spoil them rotten, as they should be.

Donna and the spoiled-rotten twosome, Captain and Stanley

I could never watch that show. I can't stand animal cruelty. And yes,
the punishment often doesn't seem to be enough.

I live in SC Pennsylvania, land of puppy mills. Don't get me started.
Grrr...

Oh me too.  I think I watch it because of the "train wreck" factor.  I
have worked in shelters, and even some of the stuff on that show
surprises me.  Sometimes I think they make the wrong decision to euth
for behavioral problems.  I especially hate the cat episodes. :(

-L.

I've said it before and I will say it again people who do these things
should be released and their names,photographs and addresses should be
published along with a statement of immunity to prosecution.....Let
them live in fear I;ve no doubt the animals they abused have had
to!!!!

Its the same over here, the best result we've had recently was when
someone got a few months in jail for roasting someone else's cat alive
and that was because they could be charged with "criminal damage" as
well as animal cruelty. The commonest punishment is that a person can
be banned from having an animal(s) for anything up to life. The only
problem is I've never heard of anyone being nicked for breaking this
rule. I assume welfare shelters have a list of people but there's
nothing to stop them picking up a newspaper and replying to a "free
kittens to good homes" advert or buying from a puppy/kitten mill.

Lesley

Slave to the Fabulous Furballs (who probably currently think the SO
should be baned from keeping pets as he didn't switch the heating on
until this afternoon!)

I watched it *once* and that was enough.  It was one with a home with like
100 cats in it, and a busted pit bull ring.  I cried through the whole show.
I can't watch it, I'm way too emotional.  I applaud Animal Planet for
putting it on and bringing animal cruelty to light.  Maybe a major network
should carry it in primetime to get some more attention.
I agree, the punishments are too soft, and I'm normally a rehab over jail
type person.  People who abuse animals (or other people) don't seem to
change, though.

SNIP>

Too right!

Sigh..... I know what you mean. I don't have cable TV, but a friend does,
and sometimes we watch things like Animal Precinct.  I'm glad to see the
animals taken away from terrible situations and finally get the care they
need.  And in the best cases, get loving new homes.  I was upset on Sunday
Night as we were watching Animal Precinct, and there was some sicko person
going around in Queens, deliberately poisoning neighborhood cats.  A
candidate for human Euthanization if any!

Melissa