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 Submitted photo Lola, a dog belonging to the Hodges family in Cape Girardeau, was poisoned by neighbor Ralph Ziegler in November. Ziegler was sentenced to 30 days in jail. [Click to enlarge] |
Ralph H. Ziegler, 58, 1315 Ashland Hills, pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to one count of animal abuse for poisoning a German shepherd mix named Lola.
Lola, who belonged to Brian and Mindy Hodges, died Nov. 8 from internal damage caused by eating ribs laced with antifreeze.
Ziegler was charged with poisoning the animal after he confessed to leaving the plate of ribs out because the dog was barking at night.
Ziegler's attorney, Al Lowes, argued Wednesday his client would lose his postal service job if he were forced to serve jail time. Ziegler had been suspended from his job since the charges were filed in November, Lowes said.
Lowes asked that his client be sentenced to community service, but prosecutor Julie Hunter asked that he serve some time in the county jail for what she called "a vengeful, malicious act."
In addition to the 30 days' shock incarceration, to be served at the Cape Girardeau County Jail on weekends, Ziegler was sentenced to a year in jail with a suspended execution of sentence.
Bullerdieck said he ordered the jail time in an effort to make Ziegler recognize the severity of his actions.
"Hopefully that'll make you realize how serious this is. Do a little more than community service," Bullerdieck said.
He was also sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay restitution to the Hodges for the vet and cremation bills for Lola and the cost of a new dog, about $1,650.
Lowes called a jail sentence "gross overkill," saying he believed the Hodges and Hunter sought "vengeance, not justice."
Ziegler confessed to the crime after being confronted with a report showing DNA had been recovered from the plate of poisoned ribs during forensic analysis, said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.
The DNA report was false, Swingle said, a trick used by Cape Girardeau nuisance abatement officer Ty Metzger to obtain Ziegler's confession.
Swingle prepared a brief defending the use of the false report, arguing the Missouri Supreme Court holds that a law enforcement officer may lie about evidence if the lie would not persuade a person to confess to something they didn't do.
"I'm just sorry about everything, so sorry," Ziegler said during the hearing.
Mindy Hodges gave a statement to the court asking that Bullerdieck send the message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated.
"We realize that this did not involve a human being, but the loss of our family pet, of our children's pet, has been unexplainable," Hodges said.
Lowes said his client "made a rather serious mistake. He's not a mean or sinister person." He had been recovering from surgery and taking a prescription of hydrocodone for the pain, which made him irritable, Lowes said.
His wife also worked a night shift and said the barking kept her awake, Lowes said.
The Hodges have said previously that they kept both their dogs inside most of the time, and none of their other neighbors complained.
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I hope the Hodge family files a civil suit against this murderer and takes everything he owns. I don't know why I am so shocked that he only got 30 days in jail, but I am.
What do you mean it's "GROSS OVERKILL"!!! This man should have had to serve 30 consecutive days, Pay restitution, Do community service and spend any other time working out at the Humane society.
Come on Tammy, MURDER?
"Murder as defined in common law countries is the unlawful killing of another human being."
Ralph didn't murder a human. Watch your statements, he didn't commit murder.
Fine, be upset about the sentence being lenient in your view, but to say he only got 30 days for MURDER is a little hysterical, don't you think? Statements that he murdered and he should get treated as if he murdered a human being are the reason others feel more compelled to defend Ralph. I'd say 30 days (weekends) is more than fair, plus restitution to cover direct costs for the Hodges.
What a crybaby. He's should do community service picking up dog **** in all the parks in addition to his jail time.
What a jerk. And so is his attorney.
An opinion - I agree the 30 days should of been cs not on weekends , let him lose his job then he would think ahead before he acts out again as a spiteful child.
Better not have the ribs Sat. night Mr Ziegler....
i don't care if this abuser of life loses his job. no decent person would even think of doing such a thing. i work nights and sleep with a fan to block out normal everyday life. the world goes on even when you are asleep dog abuser. as for mr lowes...i have known him since i was a kid. her was a jerk even back then.
I think its deplorable that someone could destroy a animal and all they get is a slap on the wrist and a (SIS).I bet the cape police would feel differently if the animal had been a police dog,then it would have been MURDER.About a month ago i reported that someone had let thier dog starve to death and it had been dead for weeks before i found out about it and reported it, the animal was still chained to the fence(dead)and there was a full bag of dog food next to the fence.I dont know what they(cpd)done about it but,i have had threats,harassing phone calls,threatening phone calls and was hit in the eye with a rock since making the report so dont tell me that the people who mistreat animals are not vicious and mean,sinister people because i know firsthand.And what does it say for the so called (lawyer)who defended this monster.wake up people,its time for tougher laws against animal cruelty.
In my previous incarnation on here I was Sunbeam and my little mini dachs was gut shot by my next door neighbor and yes--it WAS murder. It may not seem so to some of you, but when you have loved a pet and they have licked your tears and made you laugh and kept your feet warm at night they may as well be human. Sadly, we could not get any kind of restitution from our neighbor--not even an insincere apology--and I get sick to my stomach every time I have to drive by his house. I feel so strongly for the Hodges family because I know they feel the same way. I'm just so glad for them that they get SOMETHING in return.
I have had surgery and been on strong medication afterward, I have worked nights and been awakened by neighbors making noise, but never in my life would I consider killing one of their beloved pets, harming one of their human children, or taking any other violent action against them. What this man did was not an act of irritability--it was planned and carried out in a malicious and cowardly manner. I don't believe for one minute that he is sorry for anything other than being caught.
this is to GOFIGURE- It would be MURDER if it had been a police dog.And i bet you would feel different if it had been your dog(if you even have a dog).loving a animal means you have COMPASSION) thats something that this guy,the LAWYER,and the judge evidently doesnt reconize.and what about him being on hydrocodones,what if its a child that irritates him next?
this is to GOFIGURE- It would be MURDER if it had been a police dog.And i bet you would feel different if it had been your dog(if you even have a dog).loving a animal means you have COMPASSION) thats something that this guy,the LAWYER,and the judge evidently doesnt reconize.and what about him being on hydrocodones,what if its a child that irritates him next?
If you kill a police dog you are charged with killing a police officer. While I don't think animals lives should be as big of a punishment as a human, pets are a great way to relieve stress, to have something that loves you and comforts you, makes you laugh etc. I think the sentence should have been more severe.....but at the same time, I don't know what I would do if I accidentally hit a cop dog and got charged with killing a police officer.
moral of the story...don't be a jerk. I'm on pain medications right now, I'm not THAT grumpy. I stray from my point though, accidentally hitting a dog with a car, and deliberately poisoning a dog with ANTI-FREEZE are two completely different scenarios. I just know that if I was this guy, I wouldn't eat anything that people gave me. I would imagine ingesting anti-freeze would be a lot like drinking drano, maybe he should check into that.
I'd be interested to know how many dogs he's maced while working for the post office, I admit, I'm scared of dogs....but I would NEVER hurt one unless I seriously thought I was in danger.
"If you kill a police dog you are charged with killing a police officer."
What a terribly erroneous thing to say.
I read the AP version of this story on the Post Dispatch's website. It didn't quote the attorney by name, but I knew it had to be Al Lowes. When will that man grow a heart? If they ever do a remake of 'The Wizard of Oz,' he'd be perfect as the tinman.
I'm sure Bridget had to restrict herself to just quoting a few words by Lowes. Seventy-five percent of what comes out of that man's mouth is either disgusting and/or curse words.
Not only did this poor family lose their beloved pet but I'm sure their children will have nightmares for years over this. I find it extremely disturbing the court was so leanient in this case. He actually planned out this 'murder' even to putting out ribs!! All a dog has to do is walk thru it and lick it off his paws, some can be absorbed thru the skin. He needed to go to the mental health center to be checked out. And since it was a poisoning...he should be fired from the post office. I don't want that person handling my mail! I'm of the opinion he is unstable. I'm glad the children were not poisoned. I think A. Lowes and M. Swingle are beneath contempt. The police finally do it right and the court slaps wrists! Where is justice?????
That is so sad,my animals are like members of the family.30 days in jail seems like a light punishment for taking the life of a family member don't you think????
Hustler, not that it matters, but yes my family does own a dog. Always have had a collie on the farm. The point I'm making to Tammy is that it is not murder.
Of course I'd be upset if someone killed my dog. I wouldn't press charges for murder, and thank the stars I wouldn't be allowed to! It is a dog, not a person. It doesn't matter if the family/owners/others view pets as humans because of their deep attachment to their pet...they still aren't human as far as the law goes.
I'm with Ike, killing a police dog is same as killing an officer? Puhlease....I sure hope this isn't the case.
"If you kill a police dog you are charged with killing a police officer."
Do some research before subjecting us to your ignorance, this is absurd.
A dog was killed, so it is not "murder", but rather the charge as indicated.
The only situation in which a dog should be killed is if they present an immediate danger to you or someone else. Otherwise go through the legal channels to address any grievances you have with noise etc.
No it would have been MURDER had either of their two boys had eaten the ribs. When the dogs are outside then usually the two boys (one a toddler)were outside. They are just lucky if you want to call it that. It could have been so much worse. Lucky for him they didn't add attempted murder to the charges.
I hope this man someday understands the pain he caused this poor family. The 30 days should've been served all at once.
everyone on here has made bad decisions before, and I hope if they ever do again, they get the worst punishment available. He made a mistake, yes, but it was only a dog.
Obviously no one on here has ever had a neighbor with a barking dog. Police are useless, neighbors won't cooperate, you have no choice.
nothing worse than a yelping dog, the family should have had a little more common sense.
KCPO... Maybe that poster is a Buddhist.
Truth seeker this family's neighbors have spoken on TV & in the newspaper stating the Hodges' dogs did not stay outside & bark. Please stick with this story only.
EJ Robert,
May be, but I doubt a Buddhist would be so vengeful. People and their pets never cease to amaze me.
Let us dog owner's take from this that people do not want to hear our dogs barking at all times of the day and night. Respect the peace of the community. I don't let my dog bark all day long, neither should anyone else.
Ralph is one of my best frends. He is a kind man and this act was not like him. I believe the pain pills had alot to do with this crime. Pain pills have different effects on different people. If you were in your right mind and was going to commit a crime I would think you would destroy the evidence. Also I don't think you would sign your name to a note that was left in the mail box. Please have in your heart to forgive him.
Call it murder or call it killing an animal...it is still the same. A family lost a loyal, and loving part of their famiy, and from the picture I think that Lola was beautiful. I have lost several pets to murder. In the 70's I lost four chuhuahua's to strychnine poisoning. I found the pellets in my yard, and had them analyzed that is how I knew they were strychnine. I know who did it, but I could not prove it. In the 80's my neighbor poisoned my great dane. She was the last birthday present that I had got from my mom before mom died. My ex-husband killed another one of my great danes, and when I found out I let him know, in no uncertain terms, that nothing had better happen to the only great dane that I had left or he would definitely be sorry. I kept the dane, and got rid of the husband. Pretty good trade.
As for justice, I will leave it up to God. When it is their time to go I pray that they suffer 'ten fold' what they made these innocent, loving, pets suffer. I do believe that God will justly punish these idiots.
Hitting a police dog is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in jail, while killing a police officer is a capital offense which can lead to the death penalty.
In some jurisdictions police dogs are considered to be police officers in law so that any penalty that can be applied to the assault of a human police officer can also apply to an assault on a police dog.
Gee....my bad, do your own research before you call someone ignorant. How high and mighty you must feel, please bask in the glory of the light from your monitor as you attempt to belittle other people with your astounding rays of genius which so eloquently flow through your fingertips.
Hitting a police dog is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in jail.
In some jurisdictions police dogs are considered to be police officers in law so that any penalty that can be applied to the assault of a human police officer can also apply to an assault on a police dog.
Gee....my bad, do your own research before you call someone ignorant. How high and mighty you must feel, please bask in the glory of the light from your monitor as you attempt to belittle other people with your astounding rays of genius which so eloquently flow through your fingertips.
Wow all the problems we have in this city and we're worried about a man who took too many pain pills and was annoyed by an "animal". I'd be angry that my animal and property were taken from me, but in the end I'd like to sit down and really talk about a way to resolve the issue before it got to this point. The only innocent party in this situation was the dog itself. While a horrible sense of judgement was made by the guilty party, there is a certain tinge of guilt to be assigned to the owners. They were aware there was a potential problem with one of the neighbors, a civil solution to the problem was never reached. To wish some one lose their job and their life over a dog??? Pretty strong statements. I find it ironic this is a bigger story than the nightly gunshots, violence, and crime on the southside of the city. I mean honestly who cares about the kids on that side of town and what they really see on a daily basis. A dog is obviously something we should be more outraged about. We're more worried about a random unfortunate incident where some one did a regrettable thing, has admitted guilt and is being lawfully punished. What bothers me is people will get more angry about something like this than the inability to rehabilitate the crumbling neighborhoods and families on the southside of town, the influx of drugs in apt complexes by arena park, or any general abuse of a fellow human. This man is being deservedly punished but there's more things happening daily in this town that should draw much more public outrage than this.
"there's more things happening daily in this town that should draw much more public outrage than this."
Too true; however, it seems that the only way that things get a public light is after some tragedy happens, or someone looking for publicity in the political scene tries some philanthropy.
It would be nice to see some of the people who have the power to change things tackling the real problems. You can start with a lot of the waaaay-too-comfy landlords around the area that are letting these apartment complexes and 50 year-old rental houses go into disrepair. The only time they get any upkeep is when there is a fire (though the house that recently burned on the 500 block of North Middle still has a pile of trash in the front yard). Inspectors, start dropping the hammer.
Sorry; way off topic, but wanted to address. In this case, our "weekend warrior" got off lucky. This case shows definite malice of forethought, and regardless of what pain pills he was taking, he was able to make the conscious decision to "cook" this deadly recipe up, and to target their pet. We've all done stupid stuff in moments of heated anger, but he had plenty of time to count to 10.
I hope there are some animal lovers for this guy to spend his weekends with for the next 4 months. Maybe they'll give him the job of tackle dummy for the K9 unit's training. ABSOLUTELY should have to spend time cleaning dog mess out at the HSSEMO. I know they have people do community service with that exact duty; let that be his doodie-- er, duty now.
D
Nice Iceberg ;)
I hear Cape's p.d. is trying to retire bolo and the other dog (I forget it's name). They have to train those dogs, so tackling dummy may not be impossible. I'm just not sure that would make him any more fond of dogs than he is already.
(I honestly don't like dogs, especially big ones. I like to keep pets that if it came down to a battle to the death, I could probably take them. My cats haven't conspired against me yet, but I'm pretty sure they were laughing at me when I slipped on the ice this weekend.)
Getting a kick out of all the mean spirited posters concerning the extermination of this animal. Guess what ya'l? here is a news flash for ya. Dogs are pets and NOT members of your human family! Its the human factor that caused this to occur in the first place.
We have free will and freedom of choice and No other animal or pet enjoys those things. Too many pet owners are not responsible humans. They do not respect others privacy or the required knowledge thats necessary to own a pet. Frankly most pet owners are this way in my opinion. This story has a bad ending for the dog but Me thinks the owner and the person who killed the dog are the only ones to blame here. We all own many kinds of pets (animals) for one reason or another but they are just animals. We were givin the right to subdue them by God and they should not be put in the same class as humans and those of you who do are usually the ones who are irresponsible pet owners. This mans punishment is just and he will pay for his mistake.
I hope the Family who owned the dog learns a bit of a lesson here as well. That lesson shold be, don't own pets if you are not willing to do whats necessary to keep them. Now, before all of you animal rights folks get upset at the Wolf, I wonder if this pet had been a
hamster or a pot belly pig would you be this upset?
I think I would care more if it were a pig.....and the plate was bacon.
I take exception to people claiming this isn't murder. Meateating is murder.
EJ, your comment is ridiculous! You said, "eating meat is murder". I am so happy your a vegetarian but don't even try to cram them down my throat! The killing of animals is NOT murder and never will be.The term "murder" refers to humans and of course crows and nothing else! Don't be so silly.
Sorry, but I disgree. Also, I'm not a vegetarian. I'm a pescatarian. There. There's your new word for the day.
Greywolf... Do you realize if people would eat half the meat they currently do, what would happen? Not only would it be a boon to their physical health, but it would keep gasoline prices down at the pump. No doubt food prices too. I know the price of petroleum is low now, but that's only temporary.
EJ, There you go again being absolutely ridiculous.
By the way, pescetarian is NOT a new word. Oh, its ok to eat fish and murder them but not other animals!
Your idea of people not eating meat would DESTROY our economy. What would happen to the Cattle industry? The poultry industry and the hog industry just to mention a few!? Your statement is just ridiculous and I am sorry that I have to tell you that. A little common sense is needed before you post ridiculous statements like your most recent.
"Oh look honey. It's midnight and rovers is barking. Isn't he cute?"
It's not cute, dumass!
Wolf,
Great point on this being an animal and not a human. Geez people are loosing more sleep over this then the man did.
It is sad that no where does it say this dog was a religious animal, if it was not the Disney movie "all dogs go to heaven" would not apply. Would that make him a "hot" dog?
GW... You are wrong. The word `pescatarian' (aka `pescetarian') was indeed added to dictionaries just last year, as was the word `mondegreen,' among others. As for your assertion about the loss of jobs, when one sector loses jobs because of a major change like I'm suggesting, history has shown that other sectors pick up jobs (i.e., riverboats to locomotives). In this case, more crops (which would normally be fed to cattle, pigs, etc.) would be on the market and have to be handled and shipped, which would increase jobs in that sector. More of these crops on the market would make overall food prices fall. It would also make more food available to people around the world. If the people who normally ate meat just cut back their consumption by half, it would be equivalent to half the population giving up meat. Gas prices would fall due to thermodynamics. Go ahead and argue against it, but you can't win -- at least not in this realm. It's physics.
It's great to know we have so many people with perfect, unwavering judgment. Not Hookie though, she married a dog killer - pretty poor judgment on her part. And to all the people who "pray" for vengeance or "hope" this man gets what he deserves. Wouldn't your hopes and prayers be more useful directed toward the family of the little 7 year old?
There are a couple of ceremonies today for one of our fallen Heroes, Staff Sgt.Brad Skelton. But guess what? In 1997 he was convicted of a class "A" misdemeanor. Not the same charge as Ziegler but the same classification. Just proves that even Heroes make mistakes. Look closely at your own life before condemning someone else's and you may change your mind.
Mine is a forgiving God. Maybe you should try talking to him.
I eat fish because fish are stupid. Actually, that's my stock answer to someone who tries to paint me into a corner with this argument. I use it as a joke. Still, the point you're making is tired and trite. Fish are not as highly advanced as our fellow mammals. Mainly, I'm talking about the nervous system here. It's still open to speculation whether fish can actually distinguish pain from a pleasurable sensation, or whether it's just a stimulus. A fish fertilizing roe acts pretty much the same as a fish trying to squirm off a hook.
EJ, there is no need to argue with you. Again your post is ridiculous! Your suggestion is not physics nor is it intelligent economics! Good Lord Man, your suggestion would ruin several segments of our economy as well as work force that would NEVER be replaced with other jobs! Simply put, your suggestion is only hypothetical and will NEVER come to pass and you know it! And now you tell me that the reason you eat fish meat is because they are stupid! What the hell are you talking about Man? Eat what you want and think what you will but your comments are absolutely off the wall and make very little sense. All ANIMALS with the exception of humans have NO soul and most of them are indeed in comparison, stupid !
Malan... It's good you can claim to know that. Personally, I believe we all have doubts about our beliefs concerning universal truths (including people both religious and atheistic). And even a sliver of doubt -- which I believe everyone at least secretly harbors -- makes someone really agnostic. It just comes down to being able to admit it. So not I nor anyone else can say whether God exists, let alone whether God is forgiving.
GW... And you know we have a soul -- and a dog doesn't -- how now?
Correction: we can't know an `ultimate truth.' Although a case could also probably be made for not being able to know a `universal truth.'
Oh good Lord. there EJ goes again making little sense!
Now he argues that there is no proof of God.
Tell you what EJ, can you proove to me there is such thing as Dark? Can you proove there is such a thing called cold? No you can't can you? Because there is no such thing. Reason, they can't be measured! They are simply the absence of something else!
I do not question whether or not there is a God because I have faith. Now, that being said, there is too much evil in this world so there must be a God. Because just like cold and dark they are the absence of there opposite. Therefore evil is the absence of GOD!
Yep this universe you live in did not just "happen" and I never have nor have my ancestors ever had a tail! Oh and before you question me on measuring "cold" you might want to think about it for a few.
I think this guy deserves to be shot in the head along with all others who would hurt an animal.
I'm not agnostic, I'm Methodist!!
Believe what you will, but man is at the top of the top of the food chain and all other "non human" animals are here for our use. So whether you eat them, work them, or just pet them is up to you. This man, for whatever reason, made a mistake. He has been sentenced - should be the end of the story.
I, personally think killing dogs or cats on your own property should be encouraged. Maybe pet owners would understand that if land owners (oops, another agnostic idea) wanted a yard full of feces they would have pets of their own.
Well, I'm just the type of person who cannot walk through life while wearing blinders. If something does not fit in with my worldview, I have to ask myself why and try to answer the question. I can't just ignore it. As for animals being put here for our use, there is no proof of that; in fact, the idea is illogical. And just because some social control agent written by man under the guise of divine intervention says so, doesn't make it so. Humans are at the top of the food chain likely because we caught a few chance breaks to go along with our intelligence. GW... So you admit it comes down to faith? You admit you can't know for sure? Sounds like agnosticism to me. As for Earth and the lifeforms on it not being here by chance, that cannot be said to be so either. Considering the supposed billions of planets out there, with their various suns, invariably one of them will eventually hit the lottery -- you know, have all the necessary elements to support life, be the right distance from it's particular sun, given it's size and luminosity, etc. As to how the universe got here, or what was around before the universe, who knows? There is plenty of speculation on that. One theory is that the universe was so condensed before the Big Bang that time wouldn't have been able to exist. The questions go on and on, as always... Well, except for those who already claim to know for sure. But that's not educating yourself; that's only allowing yourself to be programmed.
Oh, yes, malan... Please explain how land ownership is an agnostic idea? Actually, we don't own anything; we possess things. And we possess them either legally, illegally, morally or immorally, or a combination thereof. We just flatter ourselves into believing that we own things. It's all vanity. How can one group of molecules (you) `own' another group of molecules (say a painting)? The answer is that you can't. You can only possess them. Does the Earth own the moon? No, but it holds it in its possession. As for land ownership, well, that's immoral on its face. The land is everyone's birthright -- not a chosen few. If you're a Christian, there's a book that was written on the land question by another Christian, Henry George. It's title is `Progress and Poverty.' Land ownership cannot be defended by Christian ideology. Alas, I have gotten sidetracked. This should be a subject for another time.
Also, I see I'm making punctuation mistakes in my copy.
OK EJ,
So mine wasn't a viable example because ownership can be proven. Please, before you throw out any more theories or hypothesis or whatever, just look it up in the dictionary or in a law book and see how it pertains to this.
I understand that people love their pets. But in the eyes of the law we are currently governed by, they are a material possession - we own them.
If you don't like it or don't agree with it fine, get the law changed. Until then, what this man did is a class "a" misdemeanor. He had his day in court and has been sentenced.
And incidentally, just because something was written by a Christen doesn't make it gospel.
Chickatee, what you said is both ridiculous and I hope there was no serious ill intent behind that remark.
Ok so I have worked with both Ralph and his wife K. and she does not work nights but evenings. I have several friends in the neighborhood and the dog was not a nuisance. Ralph is just a control freak with friends and family and very OCD about stuff and the dog probably looked at him funny one day on his mail route and he decided he didn't like Lola. He is crazy y'all.
Wonder if Ralph gets 16 months to repay his high priced lawyer?
A lot of people are making judgements based on a lack of info, or in the case of hello_ people, plain meanness. Glad you don't work with or for me.
I haven't known Ralph very long but I know his wife well. They don't talk much about this situation but I read the paper and I recently stayed a few days with them--- along with my dog. I was one of the many people who were recently without power for a week and they invited us to stay a few days. My dog usually follows me everywhere, and I mean everywhere, but she was crazy about both of them to the point I thought I might not be her favorite person anymore. It's obvious to me that Ralph doesn't hate dogs and he and his wife have to be somewhat nice to let someone with a dog spend a few days living in their house, especially now.
I also noticed while I was walking my dog on their property that one of the neighbors had a dog that really barked when I walked to the end of the drive with my dog. I couldn't see it and I know it was inside, but it was really barking and sounded like a big dog. I was glad it was inside. The houses are far enough apart, I was surprised I could hear a dog inside another house barking all the way in their yard.
Sunday morning it was really quiet when I heard someone hitting something and shoveling a drive while we were outside. First it sounded like it was coming from the southeast and then from the northwest. I never did see which neighbor was outside working. It was like an echo chamber. Made me think that sound isn't exactly linear is it?
Ralph shouldn't have done what he did. I would be heartbroken if someone hurt my dog, but I know Ralph was NOT himself when this happened and he is truly sorry. He has been reviled worse than local child molesters and murderers. He was on the front page and the molesters and murderers have usually been on page three the same day. If I were the parents of those children and had seen the paper those days, I would be pretty upset about the fact more attention was paid to an animal, even if it was a treasured animal, than to the life of a human. But I guess that is where our priorities are now. And only heaven forgives because a lot of the posters here sure aren't going to. They scare me a lot more than Ralph does.
I feel sorry for the children losing a beloved pet, but childen lose pets and cherished family members all the time and they get over it usually with a minimum of fuss, unless the adults around them scare them or otherwise traumatize them. The parents have an opportunity here to instill compassion for people who make mistakes and compassion for others who suffer a loss like the children. Will the parents do that or teach them to fear everything that COULD be dangerous and not just those things that are most likely to be dangerous?
merryaj... I hear (or read) this type of argument all the time: that animal abuse gets more attention than child abuse. It doesn't hold water. More people charged with child abuse make it into the headlines than people charged with abusing animals. For a story of animal abuse to make it into the headlines, there has to be -- if you want to put it this way -- a novel aspect involved, or something notoriously atrocious, such as: MAN KILLS DOG WITH ANTIFREEZE-LACED RIBS. Or, say, someone who leaves their dog in a car in the middle of summer and pedestrians happen to see the dog in pain and are trying to save it. Then, when the motorist shows up and opens the door, the dog shoots out and writhes in agony on the ground. Such an incident happened a few years back in St. Louis. Consequently, fewer stories about animals being abused make the paper, so when they do they receive bigger play and more attention. Plus, animals -- even older ones -- are inherently innocent; many are completely trusting of even people other than their owner, and people know this. Also, you noted you were concerned that you might not have been your dog's favorite person after it had been around this couple for a while. A bit insecure, aren't we?
E.J. Rotert
I didn't say that animal abuse shouldn't be covered in the news, just that having it higher on the newsworthy chart than child molestation and MURDER of an infant seems to be an indication of the value we place on these problems and I have a problem with that. I guess it's your business if you don't.
How much coverage did the media give to the dog skinned alive? Not much and that truly seemed to be the work of a twisted mind. Poisoning is bad, but it probably didn't take that much time and thought once the impulse hit. Skinning alive took a lot more time, effort.
Don't worry about me being insecure. That's not a problem most people would attribute to me. My dog loves me for absolutely no reason other than she does-- even if others feed and pet her occasionally. That's the great things about dogs. They love people unless they are given a reason not to and they love their 'owners' most of all, again unless given a reason.
Point I was REALLY trying to make was that we all make assumptions based on far too few facts. My dog liked Ralph and his wife a lot. In fact, the wife pointed out my dog's eyes look like she might be getting cataracts and I might want to ask the vet the next time I take her. Yeah, Ralph and his wife really sound bad don't they? Every once in a while, you find a situation where someone nice really does do something out of character because of a health related issue. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all ask ourselves, WWJD? We all say we do that, but reading these postings, its obvious not many people really do. How about you?
merryaj... I did not claim you said that animal abuse shouldn't be covered by the news. Please reread the post, and with more attention this time. As for what Jesus would do, I wouldn't ask that. I personally believe Jesus was a wise, peaceful man (although this has been disputed; one source that comes to mind is Marvin Harris in the book "Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches"), but there have been lots of wise men. I'd probably be more inclined to ask what Thomas Paine, Bertrand Russell or John Henry Faulk might do.
Forgot to address your comment about the skinned dog. I don't know anything about it. I also don't know the details at that time about why it might not have been covered, or covered like it should have been. Maybe it was judged by some editors that other stories were more important. An editor's selection of stories to run is far from objective. An editor working the desk one night might put a certain story on the front page; another might put that same story on page 3 or 4. Believe me, I've had my gripes about the topic.
I hate dogs. Especially my neighbors' dogs. One neighbor has some of the yappiest dogs in all the world. Another neighbor has yappy dogs that also go poo in my yard. I hate dogs.
I think this guy deserves to be shot in the head along with all others who would hurt an animal.
-- Posted by chikatee on Fri, Feb 6, 2009, 5:33 pm CDT
So....should the person who shoots him in the head have to be shot in the head also?? Humans are animals.
Here's your sign!