WARNING: SEVERE ANIMAL CRUELTY: if i were in canada i'd fucking kill these guys

[livingdeadgirl]

Edited so there is the option of not having to read about the cruelty on the first page by request. --UnBlonde

i want to fucking rip their fucking hearts out. this fucking makes me sick, it makes me want to cry...it makes me violent....

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TORONTO (Reuters) - Two Canadians who skinned a cat alive, and video-taped their venture claiming it was a performance art project, were sentenced to jail on Thursday, but one will serve his sentence at weekends, while the second walked free because of time served during the trial.


In comments and sentences that infuriated animal rights activists, Ontario Court Judge Ted Ormston ignored the prosecution's plea to jail the two for the maximum of 2-1/2 years.

The crime was "not the worst offense possible," he said. "There are worse ways that this cat could have died."

Jesse Power, 22, and Anthony Wennekers, 25, both from Toronto, had pleaded guilty to charges including cruelty to animals.

They filmed the cat as they tempted it with a mouse, then skinned and decapitated and disemboweled it, and left its body dangling from a coat hanger.

The 10-minute video, shown twice during the court proceedings, sickened spectators as they listened to the cat's increasingly weak and plaintive meows.

"This cat absolutely suffered and the videotape of its torture and ultimate death was one of the most upsetting things I've seen," said Amy White, director of communications for the Toronto Humane Society.

"I am extremely upset that the punishment for Jesse Power and Anthony Wennekers does not equal the severity of this horrific crime."

Power, a vegetarian and a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design, had said the video was an artistic statement about the suffering of animals used for meat, according to newspaper reports.

Judge Ormston sentenced Power to 90 days in jail, to be served over 16 weekends, followed by an 18-month conditional sentence. Wennekers was given time served because he had remained in jail since his arrest last May.

The two men also received three years probation each.

Police have not yet found a third person who appeared in the video, identified only as Matt. Flyers circulated in Toronto and at the courthouse urged the public to help find him and bring him to justice.

Canada's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was incensed at Thursday's sentences.

"Killing any animal in the name of art is deplorable and unacceptable," said the society's chairwoman, Vicky Earle. "There is no excuse for such cruel and criminal acts. Individuals such as these should never be allowed to possess or have contact with animals again."

[Naughty Jewel]

"Power, a vegetarian and a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design, had said the video was an artistic statement about the suffering of animals used for meat, according to newspaper reports"

WHAT THE FUCK?

[Lucy Forever]

Originally posted by livingdeadgirl


The crime was "not the worst offense possible," he said. "There are worse ways that this cat could have died."


I wonder if the judge was even paying attention when prosecuters were saying exactly what these two...monsters were doing to this poor cat. I'd say that's pretty much the worst way to die.

People need to be taught more respect for animals. We all came from the same cell, and it's just a respect for life.

What a sad day for animals :a

[RobotRollCall]

Originally posted by Naughty Jewel
"Power, a vegetarian and a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design, had said the video was an artistic statement about the suffering of animals used for meat, according to newspaper reports"

WHAT THE FUCK?

Yeah, 'cause people eat cat.

[Naughty Jewel]

let's go skin a cat so everyone will know why i think eating fish is immoral!

[fragile]

this is the perfect example of a judge who has made up their mind BEFORE the end of the case. I was absolutely appalled when I read about this, and just couldn't possibly understand. It may not have been the worst possible offense, but does that make it forgiveable - No.

[Vindemiatrix]

well . . it makes you think that that's what happens to all animals before they are packaged and sent off to grocery stores, then you think they are killed before hand and not slowly tortured to death, so yeah . . thats a sick way of trying to make a point, especially with a cat? what the hell!
and if they don't want animals to be abused, then what the fuck were they doing to the cat? martyring it? like the cat really knows whats going on?

[Canodiva1]

oh god.

oh god

i did not want to read that.

:m :g :m :g :m :g :m :g :m :g :m

[Bogdi]

:g

[Exit 75]

<font color="#2B0080">That absolutely makes me ill. I... I can't even think of what to say, but Oh my god... I hope karma catches them fast...fast and furiously.

[Ryoko!]

The crime was "not the worst offense possible," he said. "There are worse ways that this cat could have died."
:a
fuck off. fuck off. fuck off.

[Dizzy810]

Fuck FUCK FUCK!!! How could anybody do that. That is beyond wrong. And for the judge to basically let them is just as wrong. He is sending the message that it is ok to kill as long as you don't do it in the worst possible way (even though I don't know what would be worse)

DC

[ocean]

i cant understand that.. i just cant understand.

and i cant understand the laws, animal cruelty is barely punished, barely recognized, barely made time for in courtrooms.

offenders rarely get prison time and if so it's what, 2 years maximum?

that is violence staring you right in the face, that is violence and nothing happens, nothing has happened to say;
this is unacceptable, intolerable, this act will put you in prison and ruin your future. this act is wrong and unjust and you will suffer the consequences.

probation? on weekends?

what is the percentage of people commiting these inhuman acts on animals that later go on to hurt/kill human beings?

laws need to change, there has to be change.

my stomach turns raw with sickness and the tears come full with anger -laws need to change.

it's violence, and i just cant understand it.

[violent_n_delicious]

I am in absolute horror right now. I don't even know what to say.

[pagefire]

Originally posted by livingdeadgirl
[/B]
The 10-minute video, shown twice during the court proceedings, sickened spectators as they listened to the cat's increasingly weak and plaintive meows.
[/B]

I really hope something horrible happens to these bastards soon.
Karma, indeed..

[Binka+Bonka+Chair]

Originally posted by livingdeadgirl
In comments and sentences that infuriated animal rights activists, Ontario Court Judge Ted Ormston ignored the prosecution's plea to jail the two for the maximum of 2-1/2 years.

The crime was "not the worst offense possible," he said. "There are worse ways that this cat could have died."

I'd like to see this guy's point of view after either watching a human get skinned alive, or better yet, himself.

[zebedee]

i read about this in the paper a few days ago.

it made me feel sick. :m

[anastasia1009]

I have read this and saw it on Toronto news. Made me cry and I still have horrible images of seeing a tiny clip from the video of the poor helpless cat. I can still picture the kitty in the back of the cornor scared, lost and have so much fear in its eyes.
I hope right now people in Toronto know what he looks like and knows where he lives and hopefully does something evil to get him back and I hope he feels alot of pain. There are a few other boards in Toronto and people know who he is and I read that they are going after him and I hope they get him god.
If I lived in Toronto I would hunt him down and cause him pain.
Right now in Canada they are trying to pass a bill to make cruelity to animals more of a jail sentence but it was delayed.
I am thinking of making an internet petition dedicated to the kitty cat and try to get people to sign it . Send it to the governement and the SPCA here in Toronto.
I better stop typing because I will be crying more thinking about it.

I just hope the kitty cat is reincarnated and gets placed with someone who will love it and take care of it.

For all thoses who have kitty - kiss your cat on the head, give it a few treats and hug it.

:(
have to stop crying
deb

[YosemiteBear]

Originally posted by livingdeadgirl


In comments and sentences that infuriated animal rights activists, Ontario Court Judge Ted Ormston ignored the prosecution's plea to jail the two for the maximum of 2-1/2 years.

The crime was "not the worst offense possible," he said. "There are worse ways that this cat could have died."



You know, I haven't even finished reading the article yet, let alone the rest of this thread, but I just have to stop and say WHAT?????

I really hope this guy's statement was taken out of context, or maybe he was misquoted or something, but I just can't believe this quote.

I would really like to know what the "worse ways" are that he has in mind, because to be honest, I can't think of any. Maybe being burned alive. That's about it, and even that's questionable.

This makes me ill.

[FaerieHope]

after rewetting my eyes, which had dried out from staring in disbeliefe at the thread,.........

WHAT THE HELL??????????

i would do my best to have the bastards who did this hung! if it was my poor little kitty. these sick fucks will only move on to more horrible acts. it's a proven fact that people who perform murder on animals are more likely to kill humans...how can the courts ignore this????

the world is doomed

hopie

[Piku]

Ugh. This was disgusting. I can't believe what that judge said.

That is completely inhumane and they should be punished much more severely. That has really angered me as a pet owner.

[Digital Ghost]

<font color="#3300cc">
Those sob's should be executed! :s :s :s

- Edward</font>

[Dangus]

It's a damn shame we blew up good Canadian soldiers by accident and not these three fucks on purpose.

[Jump]

My friend goes to OCAD, he's had the pleasure of seeing those guys before too.

It's news that's been around here for a while about those guys. Many people arguing that they deserve a worse sentence and a small group thinking that they don't deserve to be punished at all because they were making a statement.

I think some people did have their pictures posted around the downtown area of the city so people knew who they looked like a while ago.

Someone needs to skin them alive...

[MerkurMan]

If I knew those fucks personally... there would be much hell to pay... much hell. ;p ;p ;p

[Piku]

"Making a statement"...please.:r

[Steve SFM]

"Performance art?" A "statement"?

:m

This is a perfect example of what happens when people get so theoretical in their thinking, they completely forget about little things like morality.

Steve the Sweet Fat Man

[pandora34]

Hearing about something like that just makes me absolutely sick to my stomach...if you go to PETA website, there are actually a couple of pictures of the skinned cat hanging from a coat hanger.It's absolutely disgusting.

[Vik]

Originally posted by ocean
animal cruelty is barely punished, barely recognized, barely made time for in courtrooms.

offenders rarely get prison time and if so it's what, 2 years maximum?Seems the same with rape and child molestation too. :a

I wish there was a way for the penalties to actually *fit* the crimes...

[ecstasia]

ah yes, the article i avoided posting because it's just too horrible to submit others to read.

*has traumatized flashbacks*

- ecstasia

[Awake]

My housemate in my first year of University (many moons ago) was from Newcastle, and used to delight in telling stories about how much he hated cats. He enjoyed setting cat traps, which consisted of a bowl of tuna laced with razor blades and the like. I called him an evil bastard a few times and generally avoided him thereonin.

I'm a cat person. These bastards deserve to hang. Or, if we fit the punishment to the crime, put them in a sackcloth bag and drown 'em.

~sjd

[ocean]

i was thinking that too, Vik, as i was typing.

[StrandedHtchhkr]

im not a cat person but MY GOSH THOSE SICKOS :m art my foot. if they had killed it first some humane way (put it to sleep) i wouldnt say what they did was wrong, gross but nothing really wrong, skinning ANYTHING alive is worthy of burning at the stake for though. goodness sake, break its neck even! sick bastards. unless its in the name of science taking any creature apart is just ... *pukes* nasty nasty nasty:g

[CherryAllamanda]

Holy f-ck. I didn't read the whole thing because it was too upsetting. That makes me want to puke... I read nother article about it just now... and they said...

"During her interview with authorities, Shepherdson claimed that the cat was frantically struggling or, in her words, "thrashing around" during the attack and that Herrin reached for the steak knife only when a machete proved to be too dull to kill the cat."

:g :m :s
can you just see any human holding down a struggling cat and cutting it's throat? It's disgusting... it's just.. too horrible... can't... even... think of a word...

"The cat’s body was allegedly thrown into a community swimming pool."

*SCREAMS* What the fuck statement were they trying to MAKE?!

(quotes taken from article at the PETA website, not giving link, but if you really want to see it, you can find it yourself rather easily.)

-=Cherry=-

[CherryAllamanda]

Originally posted by Awake
He enjoyed setting cat traps, which consisted of a bowl of tuna laced with razor blades and the like. I called him an evil bastard a few times and generally avoided him thereonin.

Trying not to cry. :m :m Sick, sick fucks... that reminds me... *Warning* More icky cat things coming up, it's bad, I'm warning you.

My friend's sisters ex had a massive temper, and I heard through the grgapevine that he threw a cat over the top of his bedroom door, and slammed the door shut... you can imagine what that would do...

And.. this is bad bad bad, I cried for like, an hour... My cousin told me last weekend that she knew a guy who buried a cat in the ground alive and left it's head sticking up above the ground, and then ran over it with a lawnmower.... *gets choked up, nearing vomitus*... it's bad. So bad.... I'm sorry if you read that, but I had to tell someone. I warned you, man....

-=Cherry=-

[kozmic_tar]

yeah, um, some people on this planet are very fucked up and dangerous :a

[cecilia]

Words cannot describe the horror and utter disgust I am feeling right now..... I'm a big cat lover, I have two of my own and am totally devastated to read this.

:s :m ;d ;p

Yesterday I was just reading in an article about a "day in the life of a worker for the RSPCA" (national animal rescue/protection service in Australia), and how they'd just arrested a man who bought pit bull terriers and held dog fights in his own home and video taped them.

Apparently when the RSPCA went to his home, they found a room covered in animal blood where he held the fights (he called it "the blue room" and refused to clean the blood of previous fights off the walls) and discovered he would continue the fights for up to 30 minutes until the dogs were profusely bleeding and had half their jaws ripped off.

They also rescued a puppy who had been starved and covered in cigarette burns and a kitten who had been trapped between fence pailings for days....

Apparently thats just an average day :a :a :a

[CherryAllamanda]

Originally Posted by cecilia
they found a room covered in animal blood where he held the fights (he called it "the blue room" and refused to clean the blood of previous fights off the walls) and discovered he would continue the fights for up to 30 minutes until the dogs were profusely bleeding and had half their jaws ripped off.

:m :m :s :a This is so sickening... How can people DO that? I just don't get it! Did the dogs actually die? Oh my God... I didn't realize how much more upset I would be hearing about dogs than cats. (not that this thread wasn't upsetting before, but I love dogs so so so so so much.)

I'm seriously going to be sick. SICK. Bleh... My heart goes out to all humans and animals that have suffered at our disgusting species hands...

-=Cherry=-

[pelegurl]

hrmm..it's not the worst way to die..
well, i bet the tune would be changed it if were a HUMAN that was killed in this manner.
i know that humans and cats are waaay on a different level...but the severity of the cause of death would remain the same..

what a horrid thing to do. anyone who would do this is DEFINATELY a danger to society. any judge that doesn't see that should NOT be a judge.

[grumpydawn]

I am not a big animal rights kind of person- but reading that just made me think of how animals sent to slaughter have more humane ways of dying.

I can only justify killing an animal if you are planning on eating it.


What those guys did was for kicks- not an "art" statement!!


Jeffrey Dahmer got his start the same way.:m

[Gnomesane]

I'm with anastasia1009 here. I've seen the clips that were showable on the late evening news. That poor cat looked so terrified. The notion that it was "performance art" is pure tripe when you see the video. If you could have seen even the smallest parts of it, you'd see that it was three punks with very sick minds and a videocamera. Nothing more.

The idea that someone could hold the videocamera as this cat was being murdered really makes me ill. That is to speak nothing of the "people" who could actually follow through with the act.

*shakes head and tries not to imagine the audio portion of that tape*

[Princess Buttercup]

The judge in this case pisses me off more than the sick bastards who killed the cat. You accept that there are sick people in this world; that fact isn't a surprise to me anymore. But it is this judge's JOB to make sure that these SICK CRIMINALS get justly punished for their crime. This wasn't just some minor miscalculation that was made, it was outright disregard for that poor cat. "Not the worst way it could die"??? My ass! That's the kind of shit you'd expect from Hannibal!

It's obvious that the judge doesn't regard animal cruelty as a real crime :r

[RasinGirrl]

"There are worse ways that this cat could have died."

Oh yeah cause skinning it was so humane. :s

Well, there are lots of ways for a human to die. I think that cancer is pretty horrible. So let's skin these 2 guys and see how they like it.

And they videotaped it to protest the killing of animals fo rmeat??? Hmmm. I protesting killing so I'm going to kill. Makes sense.

How would the judge like it if someone skinned his wife or daughter.

Asses.

[Steve SFM]

Originally posted by CherryAllamanda
I'm seriously going to be sick. SICK. Bleh... My heart goes out to all humans and animals that have suffered at our disgusting species hands...

I certainly share your disgust at this story. But I do have to point out that "our disgusting species" is also capable of great kindness toward animals.

I have a friend who had a cat that he loved (it was a great, great cat, this beautiful, uppity, postitively regal creature) that he couldn't keep anymore, and he couldn't find anyone to take her, so he had to take her to the pound. There, they couldn't find anywhere to place her either (it's hard to place 15 year old cats), and she was acting up, so they put her to sleep. He was feeling very guilty about that, saying "I killed her" and stuff like that. And I told him, look, you may have been responsible for her death, but you were also responsible for her life. And she had a great life.

We hear these stories about unspeakable cruelty, and there are probably countless stories of other cruelty that we don't hear. But there are also countless stories of people who are devoted to their kitties, and treat them like the lovely beings they are. (Many of those people, it seems, are posting in this thread, heartbroken about a kitty they never even knew.)

So I understand the anger. But I do think our species deserves SOME credit, sometimes. :)

Steve the Sweet Fat Man

[Lord_Raven]

<font color=blue>Give me a scalple(sp?) and an address and I'll show you a punishment fit for the crime...

If I was those people in the court room, I would have strung up those two and the judge...

Yes, I am a cat person...

Killing in the name of food -- Acceptable...
Killing in the name of art (right, whatever) -- Unacceptable...

[lacuna]

*screams*

*takes a breath*

*screams again*


that is incredibly sick. What is so bad about cats to some people. I know someone who thinks they are evil. They only get pissy when someone is fucking teasing them and shit.

I'm a cat person too, completely. I've been obsessed with cats for as long as I can remember. Yes, I will probably end up being that old woman who lives in the yellow house across the street with 50 cats. They are so lovey!! of course in order for them to be lovey you have to be lovey to them.

hiss, snarl, pfft, pfft.

as Diamanda Galas would say "let's fuck 'em with a crowbar"


*can't wait to get home and give kitty a treat and ear scratch*


and here's another *pfft* for good measure! :s

[pagefire]

Originally posted by Lord_Raven
<font color=blue>Give me a scalple(sp?) and an address and I'll show you a punishment fit for the crime...

If I was those people in the court room, I would have strung up those two and the judge...

Yes, I am a cat person...

Killing in the name of food -- Acceptable...
Killing in the name of art (right, whatever) -- Unacceptable...

This thread has haunted me since seeing it yesterday. Earlier, someone mentioned something about somebody getting these guys now. I was thinking this morning that I hope whoever does get them brings along the right equipment for the job..handcuffs, duct tape, and a scalpel.
Cherry Allamanda..when I was four or five I saw two guys do that lawnmower thing, too.
I have a cat. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to look at her again without thinking about this.

[devnull]

i read this yesterday but couldn't form a coherent response til now. i posted this in the thread that is happening in animal rights forum a few minutes ago, too.

this LITERALLY made me sick. i ran to the bathroom and puked a couple minutes after reading it.

in fact every time i think about it i'm still traumatized. i know animal abuse happens all the time, and i'm always horrified with it when i read about it, but something about this case was different. the whole "we're activists doing performance art" this is incredibly ...well crazy. there's this whole trend in performance art about provoking intense emotion, even if it's intensely negative. my gf was locked up in a classroom along with a bunch of other students (and the teachers) for several hours as a part of someone's impromptu performance art piece. this one girl in the class started having a post-traumatic stress induced attack -- she'd been put in the trunk of a car at some point in her life and she started just freaking out. she's pressing charges against the guy who locked them all up. he's claiming that her reaction was just part of the piece.

my gf and i were talking, she was entertained by the whole "got locked up today as part of someone's art piece." i was horrified. the phrase being lobbed around her classroom is "art as terrorism" -- when does someone's performance piece cross the line? when is it intended to produce extreme pain and suffering? is it art anymore?

i think these FUCKERS in canada who did this may actually believe they did something artistic. that they may be feeling satisfied with all the public uproar it's provoking.

i'm a pacifist. but i sure wouldn't mind seeing them play the role of that poor helpless cat in a similar "performance piece" done by someone else.

and that detail about the little "mews" waning away as they did what they did. it's just unspeakable.

redstamen

[Erich]

i guess its obvious how i feel... but i wanted to comment on the fact that I dislike the disclaimer on the thread. personal opinion.

[Steve SFM]

Originally posted by redstamen
the phrase being lobbed around her classroom is "art as terrorism" -- when does someone's performance piece cross the line? when is it intended to produce extreme pain and suffering? is it art anymore?

Technically, perhaps. But just because something is "art" doesn't mean it's moral, or justifiable, or acceptable on any level. The "art" that this thread is based on wasn't, that's for sure.

Like I said before, this is what happens when someone gets some sort of intellectual idea and completely forgets to take morality and decency (not in the Jerry Falwell way, but in terms of how you treat people and other beings) into account. The thing about locking people up would seem to be the same thing.

I wonder if the guy who locked people up would consider it "part of the piece" if someone punched him in the face over his "art".

Yes, provocative art is a good thing. Even disturbing art can be very valuable. But there are COUNTLESS ways that one can provoke or even disturb without actually hurting others. ("Others" here including animals.) It just takes some imagination, and a basic realization that making a point does not justify harming others.

Erich: the disclaimer on the thread came about sometime after it was first posted, and my guess is that was because some people found it so intensely disturbing (and the original title didn't really warn what was coming). Personally, I think that adding the disclaimer was a good idea.

Steve the Sweet Fat Man

[ecstasia]

Originally posted by Sweet Fat Man


Technically, perhaps. But just because something is "art" doesn't mean it's moral, or justifiable, or acceptable on any level. The "art" that this thread is based on wasn't, that's for sure.

Like I said before, this is what happens when someone gets some sort of intellectual idea and completely forgets to take morality and decency (not in the Jerry Falwell way, but in terms of how you treat people and other beings) into account. The thing about locking people up would seem to be the same thing.

I wonder if the guy who locked people up would consider it "part of the piece" if someone punched him in the face over his "art".

Yes, provocative art is a good thing. Even disturbing art can be very valuable. But there are COUNTLESS ways that one can provoke or even disturb without actually hurting others. ("Others" here including animals.) It just takes some imagination, and a basic realization that making a point does not justify harming others.

Erich: the disclaimer on the thread came about sometime after it was first posted, and my guess is that was because some people found it so intensely disturbing (and the original title didn't really warn what was coming). Personally, I think that adding the disclaimer was a good idea.

Steve the Sweet Fat Man

i'm the one who requested the warning in the thread title. i read this horrible story a few days ago on a news site and was absolutely horrified. so horrified i didn't want anyone else to have to read. i'm glad the admins agreed with me about the warning.

*misses her kitty horribly*

- ecstasia

[ecstasia]

Animal Cruelty Warning!
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http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSLaw0204/18_cat-cp.html

Cat mutilators sentenced

Animal rights advocates outraged about perceived light sentences
By NANCY CARR-- Canadian Press


TORONTO (CP) -- Animal-rights activists were outraged Thursday after a man convicted of skinning and torturing a live cat was freed from jail and his accomplice was sentenced to what they considered a "grounding."

Anthony Wennekers, 25, was sentenced to the time he has already served in the downtown Don Jail since his arrest almost a year ago.

Jesse Power, 22, was sentenced to 90 days' jail time to be served on weekends, plus house arrest requiring him to stay in his home except to attend school and work, followed by three years on probation.

Both men were charged with cruelty to animals and mischief. The cruelty charge carries a maximum sentence of six months; the mischief charge, a maximum of two years. The Crown sought a 21/2-year sentence for both Power and Wennekers.

Their sentencing follows a trial in which a gruesome videotape of their crimes was played to the courtroom, bringing spectators to tears.

For 15 minutes, the men and one other, who remains at large, hung a cat by its neck from a telephone cord, slit its throat, stabbed, kicked and skinned it. They then plucked out its eye with a dental tool and ripped off its ear with a pair of pliers.

To gasps of horror, Ontario Court Judge Ted Ormston told the packed, tearful courtroom Thursday he didn't sentence the men to the maximum time allowed because he felt their crime was not the worst offence possible.

"There are worse ways that this cat could have died," said Ormston, who took more than two weeks to deliberate the sentence.

"I find the cat died a cruel death at the hands of these men, but I do not find it was the worst offence."

After viewing the videotape Ormston said the men could have spent longer torturing the cat, but didn't.

That enraged some animal rights activists who had closely followed the proceedings.

"I just simply can't believe the judge -- a 30-year cat-owner himself -- had the audacity to say that cat's suffering wasn't enough, it wasn't heinous enough," said Anne Gibson, a member of a Toronto animals rights group.

"He felt the intention was not to torture the cat. I can't imagine how he could come up with that conclusion."

Ormston said that in court psychiatric reports, letters from Power's teachers and from Power himself, he was convinced that Power was the ringleader of a "misguided venture" to kill and eat a cat to protest animal cruelty. He did not find the "initial motive" was torture.

Both Power and Wennekers pleaded guilty in January to the charges after the cat's headless corpse was discovered last May in a Toronto rooming house.

Police are still hunting for a third man who took part in the bizarre mutilation, the motive for which remains unclear.

Power's lawyer, Andrea Tuck-Jackson, told court it was part of a college art project intended to make a statement against meat-eaters.

Tuck-Jackson painted her client as a brilliant artist and animal-lover whose art project had gone awry. Prior to creating the cat-skinning video, he made one for class at Toronto's Ontario College of Art and Design where he slaughtered and consumed a chicken. He received a grade of A in that class.

Amy White, spokeswoman for the Toronto Humane Society, said she was angered that Ormston sentenced Power in a manner that allows him to keep going to school.

"He has committed a crime and we shouldn't now make the punishment fit around his lifestyle," said White, who wanted Power to serve time in prison for his crime.

Czernik had argued in early April his client had already suffered during his custody in the Don Jail, where he was in "super-protective custody" because of threats received from other inmates. He was allowed to leave his cell every other day for a shower and he went outside for exercise four times in 10 months.

Dozens of animal-welfare activists outside the court held placards and banners urging the government to change the criminal code to increase jail-time for animal cruelty. Proposed legislation would see the penalty go from a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of $2,000, to a maximum of five years in jail and an unlimited fine.

The proposed legislation would also carry a lifetime ban on owning animals for people convicted of cruelty to animals.

[DevasMa]

There are posters with these guys' pictures plastered all over downtown toronto, around the area they used to live, so they'll get what they deserve.

devas

[AndyKat]

:a :a :a

I just don't know what to say......





Rest in Peace, little kitty. You're in a better place now and your suffering is finally over.

[Steve SFM]

Originally posted by DevasMa
There are posters with these guys' pictures plastered all over downtown toronto, around the area they used to live, so they'll get what they deserve.

devas

I can't say that I'm terribly surprised about that.

Or, although I tend to frown on vigilantism, terribly upset.

Steve the Sweet Fat Man

[bratboy]

Originally posted by ecstasia
To gasps of horror, Ontario Court Judge Ted Ormston told the packed, tearful courtroom Thursday he didn't sentence the men to the maximum time allowed because he felt their crime was not the worst offence possible.

"There are worse ways that this cat could have died," said Ormston, who took more than two weeks to deliberate the sentence.

"I find the cat died a cruel death at the hands of these men, but I do not find it was the worst offence."

After viewing the videotape Ormston said the men could have spent longer torturing the cat, but didn't.


hmmm...and I thought our system of law was fucked up...

Since when do you get off for not being "as cruel" as you could have been? :m

[cecilia]

I actually study performance art at university (I major in scupture/vis arts.) and I don't know if the same rule applies in the US and Canada.... but for all our work/performances, there are strict guidlines as to how the viewer is treated.

Instances such as redstamen mentioned about how the guy locked the students in the room are infact illegal to perform here in a university or gallery space/public space. You are by no means allowed to subject the viewer to anything he/she is unaware of or against their will.

And by no certain circumstances are animals allowed to be used in any visual art in our universities (and use of animals in a work in a gallery/public space are heavily discouraged, and definitely abuse/cruelty is illegal)

A guy at a neighbouring university held a performance last year where he killed a mouse with a machette and was arrested on the spot by police.

I just don't understand these people who perform these acts. Its like artists are so bored, they're trying to think of every possible way to horrify and shock people. Its not art.... its a disgusting act of attention seeking.

But in the case of the cat, the guys using the excuse of "art" and "protest" for the abuse of the cat is totally lame and unacceptable. I cannot fathom the sentance they got off with. That judge needs his fucking head checked.

:a :a :a


LONG LIVE THE REIGN OF THE BEAUTIFUL FELINE!!!

[lacuna]

Originally posted by ecstasia


Tuck-Jackson painted her client as a brilliant artist and animal-lover whose art project had gone awry. Prior to creating the cat-skinning video, he made one for class at Toronto's Ontario College of Art and Design where he slaughtered and consumed a chicken. He received a grade of A in that class.



What?! I thought he was a fucking vegetarian?! Oh, this makes perfect sense, nice point dip-shit. :r


This is not art at all. I'm really beginning to hate that word, "art." I swear to god it has been dried of any kind of definition, foundation, and purpose. Oh look everyone, I have a hangnail! It's art!!! It represents the insignificant pain of such a tiny cut caused by me ripping out these assholes' throats. It's entitled "Ouchie." It's art because it's ironic. Anyone buying?

[Steve SFM]

I dunno. I still love art.

GOOD art is one of the things that makes this existence worthwhile. I don't think we can let amoral assholes like these guys blind us to that.

Steve the Sweet Fat Man

[Rinky vs.4.0]

Originally posted by ecstasia
Prior to creating the cat-skinning video, he made one for class at Toronto's Ontario College of Art and Design where he slaughtered and consumed a chicken. He received a grade of A in that class.

Oh, art ................. fart. :r :r :r

[lacuna]

Steve, I like things that are artistic/creative, but i really hate the abuse of the word art, that's what I'm saying.

[Princess Buttercup]

Originally posted by lacuna
Steve, I like things that are artistic/creative, but i really hate the abuse of the word art, that's what I'm saying.

I agree. Art is by nature hard to define, but I just want to roll my eyes when people do something ridiculous and call it art. He slaughtered and ate a chicken, called it art, and got an A. What the fuck is that about?? To me, something like that tends to degrade the value of art as a whole.

And I get frustrated when someone answers me with the line "who are YOU to say what is and isn't art??". The art teacher that gave this whackjob an A probably thought that too.Doesn't that leave the door open for people to do ANYTHING and call it art? Come on people, there's got to be some boundary.

[tempestinateacup]

I know I find these threads way too late... but I have tears in my eyes now. That's horrible.

Stupid motherfuckers. 3 years probation???

That's not nearly enough.

~maryam

[violent_n_delicious]

Yes, I am in a HUGE debate on another board about this very topic and I seem to be one of the few that is actually outraged by this...here's some quotes...

"basically, anything of the same level done to a human being is worst. why, you ask?
basically let's admit the suffering is the same for animals and humans (wich i'm not convinced of). now the big difference between killing an animal and a human being is that the human being has hope, decency (ie are self conscious of their worth) - things the animals don't have. this is how you can say that human lives are more valuable than that of animals, imo. but their are more reasons to this, though. i just find it exasperating when people mourn the death of one, especially since it's an animal, white thousands of people die everyday in atrocious conditions. so if you're going to be caring for the world's suffering, at least look at the right side, or so i think."

"if marilyn manson did it, none of you would give a shit.

its just a fuckin cat. if they lured it with a mouse, it was obviously a stray.
whats the word for domestic cats that go wild?
feral. yes.
its a feral cat, i presume.
and as a result i couldnt care less. not saying i want to see the video, but i dont think they should make them go to prison over it"

"Its a fucking cat, its not a person. thank god these sickos are only skinning cats. but whats the big fucking deal, Im amazed that they werent just fined. I mean seriously people, it was only one cat, we kill animals all the time. "

"I am of the belief that animals are only a resource. I think that killing this cat was a waste, but not a crime. Animals are not here to look pretty. An animal is just the same as a tree, or fruit. I dont think Im being selfish, just realistic. Although I admire you for your kind nature."

"I said that ANIMALS were a comodity. I said nothing about humans. If i had to kill 1 human of 100 000 dogs, I would kill the dogs. Its as simple as that. I think we should work on helpign out the actual people who are in need rather than wasting our resources on the downtrodden animals in our society. I only say this because On time i saw a begger in front of an animal shelter, which i found amusing "

"i don't see what the big problem is here. it's not like it was your cat. cats are PROPERTY... i can smash my blender if i want, but you wouldn't give a shit would you? i'm no philanthropist here, admittedly so. no, i don't care if someone beats their kids, as long as they aren't my kids i really couldn't care. if the cat belonged to someone else and these guys skinned it then someone should be angry, but i doubt that somone is you. "

"They need a stiff fine. Worse than death. For all we know these people are only mildly disturbed faggot artists who actully believe that they were tryng to make a social statement in this video. "

I cannot believe people still think this way. I went off about the use of the word "faggot" in that last one. Most of these quotes are actually from him, he's some 17 year old kid and when I questioned his use of the term I got THIS explanation.

"When I say faggot, I do not mean homosexuals. I know some really nice gay people. Faggot, is the term I use to a stereotypically gay artist queer type person. I also call people wiggers, preps, jocks, ect. Im not insulting their sexual preferance, only their character.
If you act like Big Gay Al, then your queer "

:m :m :m :m :m :m
Sometimes I am embarassed to be a part of the human race.

[devnull]

prettyh8 -- those quotes are so depressing. they aren't even infuriating -- just incredibly depressing. just a rude awakening to how fucking stupid and monstrous people can be.

redstamen

[jcldragon]

Originally posted by Princess Buttercup


I agree. Art is by nature hard to define, but I just want to roll my eyes when people do something ridiculous and call it art. He slaughtered and ate a chicken, called it art, and got an A. What the fuck is that about?? To me, something like that tends to degrade the value of art as a whole.

And I get frustrated when someone answers me with the line "who are YOU to say what is and isn't art??". The art teacher that gave this whackjob an A probably thought that too.Doesn't that leave the door open for people to do ANYTHING and call it art? Come on people, there's got to be some boundary.

He should have been arrested for slaughtering the chicken. How does a vegetarian slaughter a chicken & eat it? That teacher giving him a "A", was encouraging him in harming animals, & partly responsible for the torture & murder of the cat.

Czernik had argued in early April his client had already suffered during his custody in the Don Jail, where he was in "super-protective custody" because of threats received from other inmates. He was allowed to leave his cell every other day for a shower and he went outside for exercise four times in 10 months.


Apparently, these inmates have a sense of right & wrong, even though they are criminals.

All living things experience pleasure & pain, and possess a sense of personal identity. When people lose sight of this fact, it seems that they are lacking souls. Is crucifixtion performance art? Have we made no progress beyond the Roman Circuses?

~sighs~

I went out to the living room where Nemo, my deceased Aunt Marge's 15 year old cat was sitting in the window to get some sun, & petted him, before making this post...

[pagefire]

Originally posted by jcldragon

Apparently, these inmates have a sense of right & wrong, even though they are criminals.


They just know what a true piece of shit is when then they see one. I hear child molesters are real popular in there, too.

[Kari]

Originally posted by lacuna
*screams*

*takes a breath*

*screams again*


that is incredibly sick. What is so bad about cats to some people. I know someone who thinks they are evil. They only get pissy when someone is fucking teasing them and shit.

I'm a cat person too, completely. I've been obsessed with cats for as long as I can remember. Yes, I will probably end up being that old woman who lives in the yellow house across the street with 50 cats. They are so lovey!! of course in order for them to be lovey you have to be lovey to them.
:s
My friends all call me the Cat Lady! LOL...I will scare all the kids in the neighborhood with my 50 cats LOL!
I agree! I am never having children (blech, kids LOL), only kitties! I have one and Mike and I are going to adopt another. I rescued my Scampy from the Humane Society and they had found him in a dumpster. He was sick for 2 months after I got him and I cannot STAND PEOPLE HURTING KITTIES! Or people either...I mean, thinking about how people must have suffered when 9/11 happened trapped, ughhhhhhhh....I can't even watch violent movies because I cannot stand the thought of suffering. I can't.

This is the most horrifying thing I have ever heard except the kitten in the microwave story I heard once (UGH! Gasp!

:g :g :g :g :g :g :g :g ). How people can be so cruel I'll never know. "Artists" my fucking ass. They were just getting their rocks off torturing an innocent cat. This made me cry....

***snuggles Scampy and gives him a cat treat***

*Kari

[ecstasia]

Originally posted by LustSiren

...STAND PEOPLE HURTING KITTIES! Or people either...I mean, thinking about how people must have suffered when 9/11 happened trapped, ughhhhhhhh....I can't even watch violent movies because I cannot stand the thought of suffering. I can't.


*Kari

i saw on a newsite that there was a pregnant kitty in this restaurant on the bottom of the world trade center when the attacks occured. three weeks later she was found ALIVE with her litter of kittens. since they were in a restaurant they were able to survive on the food they found. i have pictures of them somewhere on my computer, i'll post them if i find them. i checked where the article was but it had been taken down since.

- ecstasia