"Gothic kittens" woman faces trial for animal cruelty

[The Lizard]

video: http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/17950987#video=17954768

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35196694/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - A northeastern Pennsylvania woman is heading to trial on animal cruelty charges for marketing "gothic kittens" with ear and neck piercings over the Internet.

Thirty-five-year-old groomer Holly Crawford is scheduled for trial Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre.

Prosecutors say she inflicted pain on the cats to make money. Attorneys for Crawford say she didn't act maliciously.

Crawford's home outside Wilkes-Barre was raided in December 2008 after the SPCA of Luzerne County received a tip that she was marketing the animals online for hundreds of dollars.

Crawford said she used sterilized needles and made sure the kittens were healing properly. She said she wasn't trying to hurt them.

OK, so the piercings on the backs of the kittens' necks look pretty bad in particular, even though they supposedly didn't hurt the animals.
But -- devil's advocate question: is this really that different from bobbing dog's tails and clipping their ears for aesthetic purposes?

 

[ross2287]

Looks like the cat's...out of the bag.

 

[Aesop Rocks]

What a completely stupid concept.

"I have piercings...I wonder if.....Kitty Cat...come here!".

 

[Bad Superman]

I wonder if she would enjoy getting the back of her neck pierced with an ice pick. . .

 

[Danalys]

i really hate people treating animals as fashion accesories or doll like playthings.

 

[Reikowolf]

I've heard of people tattooing hairless cats as well.

It sucks, but there are far worse things being done to animals around the world.

 

[chamber-music]

Was she playing Love Cats by The Cure as she did it

 

[Kane52630]

I've heard of people tattooing hairless cats as well.

It sucks, but there are far worse things being done to animals around the world.

like killing them and eating it for dinner?

 

[chaseter]

mmmmmm animals are tasty.

 

[Reikowolf]

like killing them and eating it for dinner?

nah, eating animals is part of the circle of life.
I'm talking more along the lines of Dog fights, etc.

 

[Figs]

video: http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/17950987#video=17954768

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35196694/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/



OK, so the piercings on the backs of the kittens' necks look pretty bad in particular, even though they supposedly didn't hurt the animals.
But -- devil's advocate question: is this really that different from bobbing dog's tails and clipping their ears for aesthetic purposes?

Not at all. In fact this probably hurts less than cutting their ears and tails down.

These animal rights freaks can go overboard. They call it animal cruelty when some people die their dogs a different color...even though it's been proven that the type of die they use is non toxic. My gf did it to her dog putting leopard spots on her back just once.

 

[huskerwebhead]

OK, so the piercings on the backs of the kittens' necks look pretty bad in particular, even though they supposedly didn't hurt the animals.

But -- devil's advocate question: is this really that different from bobbing dog's tails and clipping their ears for aesthetic purposes?

I'd say yes and no. Most of that stuff originates from an actual need to help the animal in some way. For example, Pembroke Corgi Tail's are often cut/bobbed short. This was done because they are hearding dogs and, because they were low to the ground, often got their tails stepped on. Dogs who's ears are taped up (i.e. dobermans, Corgis, etc.) are done so because when the ears fold over they are more susceptible to ear infections. And taping does not hurt the animal in any way. One might also say that "fixing" their pet is on the same level. We all know why that is necessary and why it's acceptable.

Granted, if you own a Corgi in the city you likely don't need to have his tail bobbed, but it doesn't cause any long term issues for the animal. Our two Corgi's have their tail's bobbed (done when they were puppies before we purchased them) but I don't think it's necessary and if I were to get another one, I'd look for a breeder that leaves the tails intact. In fact, most breeders are starting to do that now anyways.

Now, things that are "purely" for aesthetic purposes and actually cause harm to the animal are another story. Especially when talking about piercing cats!! Cats do a crap ton of climbing, running, squeezing through tight spaces, etc. I've had cats growing up that had their collars caught on branches or fences and thus slipped out of them. Imagine one of these cats getting a piercing caught on a fence or branch. Imagine getting it caught while running from a dog or another cat. There's no slipping out. Simply tearing it from their skin. There's no reason for it. It's cruel.

 

[terry78]

I gotz a ring on mai belly

 

[Majic Walrus]

I'd say yes and no. Most of that stuff originates from an actual need to help the animal in some way. For example, Pembroke Corgi Tail's are often cut/bobbed short. This was done because they are hearding dogs and, because they were low to the ground, often got their tails stepped on. Dogs who's ears are taped up (i.e. dobermans, Corgis, etc.) are done so because when the ears fold over they are more susceptible to ear infections. And taping does not hurt the animal in any way. One might also say that "fixing" their pet is on the same level. We all know why that is necessary and why it's acceptable.

Granted, if you own a Corgi in the city you likely don't need to have his tail bobbed, but it doesn't cause any long term issues for the animal. Our two Corgi's have their tail's bobbed (done when they were puppies before we purchased them) but I don't think it's necessary and if I were to get another one, I'd look for a breeder that leaves the tails intact. In fact, most breeders are starting to do that now anyways.

Now, things that are "purely" for aesthetic purposes and actually cause harm to the animal are another story. Especially when talking about piercing cats!! Cats do a crap ton of climbing, running, squeezing through tight spaces, etc. I've had cats growing up that had their collars caught on branches or fences and thus slipped out of them. Imagine one of these cats getting a piercing caught on a fence or branch. Imagine getting it caught while running from a dog or another cat. There's no slipping out. Simply tearing it from their skin. There's no reason for it. It's cruel.

Totally agree.

Pictured below. Animal abuse.

Spoiler

 

[katie_girl09]

video: http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/17950987#video=17954768

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35196694/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/



OK, so the piercings on the backs of the kittens' necks look pretty bad in particular, even though they supposedly didn't hurt the animals.
But -- devil's advocate question: is this really that different from bobbing dog's tails and clipping their ears for aesthetic purposes?

No! I would think that cutting an animal's tail or ears would be much more painful.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

If this is animal cruelty, then piercing an infant's ears should be considered child abuse.

 

[SuperFerret]

Not at all. In fact this probably hurts less than cutting their ears and tails down.

These animal rights freaks can go overboard. They call it animal cruelty when some people die their dogs a different color...even though it's been proven that the type of die they use is non toxic. My gf did it to her dog putting leopard spots on her back just once.

No! I would think that cutting an animal's tail or ears would be much more painful.

Ear crops are done under general anesthesia. Very bloody surgery though. I won't defend tail docks because many are done when the puppies are just days old, which is too young for anesthesia. They scream.

If this is animal cruelty, then piercing an infant's ears should be considered child abuse.

An infant is generally supervised better than a pet and the earrings put in place on a child aren't easily caught on things and torn out, as these would be. Husker is right, this is cruel simply due to the most likely outcome of the procedure. One way or another, most cats would pull these out, causing injury to themselves.

 

[Carcharodon]

Ear crops are done under general anesthesia. Very bloody surgery though. I won't defend tail docks because many are done when the puppies are just days old, which is too young for anesthesia. They scream.

One word: circumcision.

 

[Nirvana]

Hahaha, crazy people. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's animal cruelty, but it is stupid. The cats look hilarious.

 

[CeeJay]

Some people are really weird. What is it about Americans though?

 

[SuperFerret]

One word: circumcision.

I fortunately don't remember it. But one could argue that circumcision is for hygienic purposes. The same could be said with ear cropping, as pricked up ears allow for more air flow and gives way to less infections.

 

[huskerwebhead]

No! I would think that cutting an animal's tail or ears would be much more painful.

As Ferret said, the ears are generally done under anesthesia. Tail cropping can be done with a a scalpel as a surgical procedure but generally it's done using a rubber ligament, fancy rubber band, that simply cuts off the circulation of the tail and it falls off after a short time. This does not cause any pain to the puppy.

If this is animal cruelty, then piercing an infant's ears should be considered child abuse.

That's apples and oranges. In most cases the child wants to have it done, they have a choice to take them out if they don't like them.

Animals don't know what these things are and don't know how to react to them. Have you ever seen a dog or cat get a claw stuck on a toy or in carpet or something? They freak out and start pulling and twisting to get free. Usually it doesn't take much, but in worst case scenario's they can pull their claw out. Putting these looped earrings on cats would be disastrous as they'd be yanking them out all the time. There is absolutely no reason to do it.

Again, there are health issues surrounding/influencing most of the tail docking and ear cropping. Granted, most are likely not needed for animals these days unless they are still doing what they were bred for (i.e. hunting, herding, etc.).

 

[terry78]

Some people are really weird. What is it about Americans though?

Don't even play that card, "mate."

 

[Spider-X]

If this is animal cruelty, then piercing an infant's ears should be considered child abuse.

Here's the deal...Us humans, we pierce our ears for fashion and we do it because it serves a purpose for us...we feel we look good. We pay for it and we want it because it can make us look prettier and thus we get more attention.

For these cats...the piercings serve no other purpose than the vanity of their owners. The piercings serve no other purpose. They don't help and could only hinder the cat. While the human child might grow up and say "i would have appreciated if you didn't pierce my ears when i was a baby," the cats will never have that voice. I couldn't imagine a cat not getting pissed off when you are trying to put something through their skin and have it be their permanently.

Piercing your animals is not just stupid...it's cruel. end of story.

 

[Figs]

Some people are really weird. What is it about Americans though?

A lot of the people that protest ridiculous **** in our country are people who have little to nothing going on in their lives and want the attention.

Honestly, for the most part you mainly here all these ridiculous protests in America. It really bugs me at times living here with some of the rampant stupidity and how shameless people can be seeking attention.

Don't get me wrong, there are protests that are actually good and I will agree with but most of them...started by bored attention ****es.

I wish more people actually protested and started a revolt against true important matters. Like the corporate bankers who took the bail out money that was meant to help sustain the banks themselves to help our economy and just used it to give themselves insane bonuses. I can't speak for everyone but my blood was boiling after hearing that.