DUmmy Discusses Critter Rights

[GOBUCKS]

Crabby Appleton  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jul-16-09 05:18 PM
Original message
Firefighter that killed his dogs to avoid expense of boarding them
 while on vacation fired by the fire chief.

Hope his bad luck continues.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/state/ohio/news_article.aspx?s...

"COLUMBUS -- An Ohio firefighter sentenced to 90 days in jail for killing his dogs has now lost his fire department job.

Columbus Public Safety Director Mitchell Brown said Thursday that he has decided to terminate 43-year-old David Santuomo on the recommendation of the fire chief.

The firefighter pleaded guilty last month to three misdemeanors, including two animal cruelty counts. Prosecutors say Santuomo tied his two mixed-breed dogs to a pipe in his basement and shot them in December so he wouldn't have to put them up in a kennel while he went on vacation. "

Now, I fully understand and agree this guy is a dillweed, a stupid brute deserving of scorn, but when did it become "misdemeanor animal cruelty" to humanely dispatch an animal one owns, regardless of the reason? Had he tied them to a pipe and allowed them to starve, I can see it. But the way this is described is to me absurd. Where would the line be drawn? A deformed kitten dispatched? How about those flushed goldfish? An ant farm tossed in the trash? 

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6082839

[thundley4]

Now, I fully understand and agree this guy is a dillweed, a stupid brute deserving of scorn, but when did it become "misdemeanor animal cruelty" to humanely dispatch an animal one owns, regardless of the reason? Had he tied them to a pipe and allowed them to starve, I can see it. But the way this is described is to me absurd. Where would the line be drawn? A deformed kitten dispatched? How about those flushed goldfish? An ant farm tossed in the trash? 

I dunno. I have a problem with killing any pet, and especially a dog, (a cat too , I guess) just because they are an inconvenience at the time.

[miskie]

There is no doubt in my mind that this firefighter is an ass and deserved what he got. - however, I can see this leading to a way to stop slaughtering of livestock by PETA and similar organizations, especially by private citizens who raise a few animals for food. Since these private farms aren't regulated by the FDA it could be presented in court that their animals are 'pets' and not 'food'. 

Remember, nothing motivates a liberal like animals do. Nothing.

[GOBUCKS]

Question still stands. When did it become a crime to humanely dispatch a pet? The man is clearly a jerk, and most people would be offended by what he did, but I have never heard it called a crime to humanely kill a pet. This guy is in jail, and he and his family have lost their livelihood because he put down a couple of dogs?  Should he be in jail if he allowed his cat to kill a gerbil? Is there actually a law against humanely dispatching a pet? How is a pet defined?

I think bleeding hearts are desperate to anthropomorphize critters. Bleeding hearts are drenched in the blood of human infants, whose killing they enthusiastically endorse, including convenience situations like this guy and his dogs. They try to offset that barbarity by going overboard on concern for animals.

If you own an animal, you have always been obligated, by law, to treat it humanely, period. But it is personal property. It should not have the human right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and I don't see how a distinction can be drawn between livestock and pets.  I really hope there is more to this story than the post.

[Ree]

Linky?

[miskie]

Question still stands. When did it become a crime to humanely dispatch a pet? The man is clearly a jerk, and most people would be offended by what he did, but I have never heard it called a crime to humanely kill a pet. This guy is in jail, and he and his family have lost their livelihood because he put down a couple of dogs?  Should he be in jail if he allowed his cat to kill a gerbil? Is there actually a law against humanely dispatching a pet? How is a pet defined?

I think bleeding hearts are desperate to anthropomorphize critters. Bleeding hearts are drenched in the blood of human infants, whose killing they enthusiastically endorse, including convenience situations like this guy and his dogs. They try to offset that barbarity by going overboard on concern for animals.

If you own an animal, you have always been obligated, by law, to treat it humanely, period. But it is personal property. It should not have the human right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and I don't see how a distinction can be drawn between livestock and pets.  I really hope there is more to this story than the post.

In this case, I feel it was humane as described, however I also feel it was unnecessary. Killing an animal for food, or ending an animals life because it is sick or injured severely with little hope of recovery is one thing. Eradicating pest animals is fine too, since the critters existence diminishes or threatens the life or livelihood of people or other animals.   

To put down an animal because of convenience however...

It like abortion in that respect -taking a life for convenience-  which I oppose.

[Kimberly]

Now, I fully understand and agree this guy is a dillweed, a stupid brute deserving of scorn, but when did it become "misdemeanor animal cruelty" to humanely dispatch an animal one owns, regardless of the reason? Had he tied them to a pipe and allowed them to starve, I can see it. But the way this is described is to me absurd. Where would the line be drawn? A deformed kitten dispatched? How about those flushed goldfish? An ant farm tossed in the trash?

 

There was nothing humane about what this piece of garbage did. Here's an article with more details.

http://www.examiner.com/x-9726-Seattle-Pet-Laws-Examiner~y2009m6d28-Firefighter-shoots-pets-to-go-on-cruise

Officer Santuomo, 43 years of age, had previously taken two dogs he had adopted in January 2007, to the basement of his house, and tied them to a pipe, partially suspending them. Officer Santuomo then shot them multiple times. In fact, one dog was reported to have been shot six times in the head. He then dropped the bodies unto a plastic sheet he had previously laid down under the dogs. He wrapped the bodies up and dumped them in the fire station's dumpster.

Later Officer Santuomo bragged to this fellow officers of his actions, allegedly even making jokes. Not amused, his fellow officers reported Officer Santuomo to the authorities.

In a letter written to his Fire Chief, Officer Santuomo claimed that his dogs were suffering after having drank anti-freeze. Santuomo claimed that he shot his dogs to "save them" from their misery. Apparently the thought of calling poison control, or taking the dogs to the vet, never occured to him. In any event, a necropsy disproved Officer Santuomo's story and a later investigation revealed that Officer Santuomo killed his dogs because he did not want to pay for the cost of boarding them while he and his girlfriend went on a cruise. Adding insult to injury, Officer Santuomo's neighbors had offered to take of the dogs for free.

<snip>

As a last gesture of regret at the end of his hearing, Officer Santuomo, who offered no apology for killing his dogs, raised his middle finger to the reporters assembled to cover his story.
 

[tuolumnejim]

Now, I fully understand and agree this guy is a dillweed, a stupid brute deserving of scorn, but when did it become "misdemeanor animal cruelty" to humanely dispatch an animal one owns, regardless of the reason? Had he tied them to a pipe and allowed them to starve, I can see it. But the way this is described is to me absurd. Where would the line be drawn? A deformed kitten dispatched? How about those flushed goldfish? An ant farm tossed in the trash? 

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6082839

The biggest part is that he didn't do anything remotely humane, he hung his live dogs and shot them repeatedly!

Link

Columbus firefighter David P. Santuomo, 43, took Sloopy and Skeeter to his home's basement, suspended them from a pipe near the ceiling and fired at least 11 shots from a .22-caliber rifle fitted with a homemade silencer, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron J. O'Brien said.

I for one would like to see the tard burn alive at the very minimum.

[miskie]

 

There was nothing humane about what this piece of garbage did. Here's an article with more details.

http://www.examiner.com/x-9726-Seattle-Pet-Laws-Examiner~y2009m6d28-Firefighter-shoots-pets-to-go-on-cruise

Officer Santuomo, 43 years of age, had previously taken two dogs he had adopted in January 2007, to the basement of his house, and tied them to a pipe, partially suspending them. Officer Santuomo then shot them multiple times. In fact, one dog was reported to have been shot six times in the head. He then dropped the bodies unto a plastic sheet he had previously laid down under the dogs. He wrapped the bodies up and dumped them in the fire station's dumpster.

Later Officer Santuomo bragged to this fellow officers of his actions, allegedly even making jokes. Not amused, his fellow officers reported Officer Santuomo to the authorities.

In a letter written to his Fire Chief, Officer Santuomo claimed that his dogs were suffering after having drank anti-freeze. Santuomo claimed that he shot his dogs to "save them" from their misery. Apparently the thought of calling poison control, or taking the dogs to the vet, never occured to him. In any event, a necropsy disproved Officer Santuomo's story and a later investigation revealed that Officer Santuomo killed his dogs because he did not want to pay for the cost of boarding them while he and his girlfriend went on a cruise. Adding insult to injury, Officer Santuomo's neighbors had offered to take of the dogs for free.

<snip>

As a last gesture of regret at the end of his hearing, Officer Santuomo, who offered no apology for killing his dogs, raised his middle finger to the reporters assembled to cover his story.
 

If this is true, I retract the belief in a humane killing from my post above. 

[vesta111]

If this is true, I retract the belief in a humane killing from my post above. 

Reality is difficult to face for some of us, things do happen that are perfectally lawful that cause an outsider to go bat crap.

In the state I live in it is legal to raise animals for food, dogs cats cows chickens goats horses or pigs.

The SPCA goes nuts when elderly Asians come to the pound a week before an Asian Holiday looking for big healthy dogs.

No big problem with cats, 3 cats will not feed just on person over 3 days and all that work to skin and prepare them is not worth it.

An old man from Cambodia told me how the people in his comunity smuggle in live cobras for food.   Really fascinating culture, the snake is grabbed by the tail and spun through the air and cracked like a whip breaking its back and neck. This is akin to them and their holidays as a turkey at Thanks Giving is for us or lamb or ham at Easter or Passover.

Corned beef and cabbage on ST. Patrick's day, ---Our traditions, BBQ in the summer and a pig picken and boiled peanut's traditions.

In the summer in New England hundreds of thousands of lobsters are boiled ALIVE and eaten with pleasure.  I won't go into Oysters on the half shell alive and pulsing that are eaten alive.

Those in the south west have no problem cutting off body parts from a living animal and turning then into deep fried Mountain Oysters.

This is REALITY folks, had that idiot fireman shot each dog in the head and put them on the BBQ to feed his family, in this state he would have been within his rights to do so.

Now I know why very few Liberals have ever lived on a farm----the closest they ever get to food on the hoof is when taking their kids to a petting zoo.

In an emergency they will starve to death same as the Hindus with food wandering around the streets.   

People rioting for food as a goat butts them in the ass.

[GOBUCKS]

The biggest part is that he didn't do anything remotely humane, he hung his live dogs and shot them repeatedly

I fail to see how the number of shots matters. The story said he shot one six times in the head. After the first, the dog expired. If he shot another hundred times, it would be stupid, but not inhumane.

It is odd how people attach a kind of special status to some critters, but not others.
There is no more lovely creature than a little lamb. But we love lamb chops.
On the other hand, DUmmies "Save The Whales", and lots of us love our horses. Horse meat is a delicious, tender red meat, with very little fat, as is whale meat. I have many times eaten both in Japan, where they carry no more sentimental value than hogs in our society.

[Chris_]

I fail to see how the number of shots matters. The story said he shot one six times in the head. After the first, the dog expired. If he shot another hundred times, it would be stupid, but not inhumane.

It is odd how people attach a kind of special status to some critters, but not others.
There is no more lovely creature than a little lamb. But we love lamb chops.
On the other hand, DUmmies "Save The Whales", and lots of us love our horses. Horse meat is a delicious, tender red meat, with very little fat, as is whale meat. I have many times eaten both in Japan, where they carry no more sentimental value than hogs in our society.

I agree.It is all a matter of perspective. I have spent considerable time in Southeast Asia,Korea,Japan and so forth.Some of the things eaten in different cultures can make Americans a bit queasy. I would not have handled the situation the same way but after all is said and done the dogs were his property and he dispensed with them as he saw fit.

How many dogs and cats are euthanized every year in the US and nobody gives it a second thought.