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Cat killers get off light
Protesters howl over two torturers' sentences
By PHILIP LEE-SHANOK, Toronto Sun
Two men who skinned a cat alive were allowed to go free yesterday, drawing cries for public justice outside Old City Hall courthouse.
Anthony Ryan Wennekers, 25, was sentenced to 10 1/2 months, which he has already served in custody. Jesse Champlain Power, 22, was given 90 days in jail to be served on weekends.
Both men had pleaded guilty to mischief and cruelty to animals.
A third man, known only as "Matt," remains at large.
About 100 animal activists, many with their pets, greeted Judge Edward Ormston's ruling with cries of "Shame! Shame!" and there was some talk of public punishment for the two men.
Ormston acknowledged his first instinct was to jail the pair for the maximum 30-month sentence requested by the Crown.
"As a person who has shared his life with cats for 30 years, this was very difficult for me," the judge said. "I needed to distance myself and use law and logic, not emotion."
Ormston said he repeatedly viewed a 17-minute videotape that showed Power, Wennekers and Matt hack and slash at a white tabby cat, hanging by its neck from a cord.
The skinned and headless carcass of the cat was later found in a fridge by police officers.
In the end, Ormston ruled that Power and Wennekers didn't intend to torture the cat to death, but to kill and eat it.
"If torture had been their motive it would have been done differently and longer," he said, adding it was videotaped by Power in a way similar to an anti-meat art project in which the man had killed, cleaned and eaten a chicken.
"(Power) is a young man who made a mistake which ended in the cruel death of a cat," said Ormston. "Although many vocal opponents may see him as the devil incarnate, there are worse ways that this cat could have died."
THREATENING LETTERS
Ormston said threatening letters had been sent to both Wennekers and Power and their families.
Court security officers escorted Wennekers to the courthouse exit and he walked out a free man. Wearing a sweater and slacks thrown over his orange prison jumpsuit, Wennekers refused to say whether he was headed home to Alberta.
"I'm not going to tell you where I'm going. You can publish what you want," he said.
Power left court with his father, William J. Power, and will be under house arrest at his aunt's home in Toronto when not serving his 90 days of weekend jail time.
"This sentence doesn't inconvenience him at all. Power should serve the same jail time as Wennekers. He was the ringleader," said Amy White of the Toronto Humane Society. "It was his plan and the others followed it."
Crown Robin Flumerfelt said his office is reviewing the sentence and considering an appeal.
This is the report after they were originally arrested - horrendous - a lot of this was left out of the above story.
FROM pulse24.com, sorry, forgot to get the date.
Part of a horrifying home videotape of a cat being skinned alive has been released by police. "It was well groomed and well fed, and certainly belonged to somebody recently," said Detective Gord Scott.
Two men were charged with animal cruelty after the skinned carcass of a cat was found in a refrigerator in a Kensington Market apartment. Detectives are looking for a third suspect. Police want to find the cat's owner, but say that even if they obtain convictions, the accused will likely only face fines. "The cruelty to animals law is an old law . . . and hasn't been updated in some time," said Scott.
More than 70 tapes were seized, containing images of live and dead animals. A live dog was also impounded. "Unless we're ordered to do something differently, our intention is to keep the dog in our care," confirmed Amy White of the Toronto Humane Society.
outside looking in
4/19/02, 03:40pm
:( :mad:
Professur
4/19/02, 08:53pm
I hate cats, but I'd like to introduce those guys to a 2x4 in a dark alley.
I would beat them to a pulp and send my cat assassin's after them. Poison claws and all :)
In reality I have like 15 cats in my house (some are locked up) and have had cats all my life, I hate people that do such and think that they should be skinned themselves for their evil acts.
Professur
4/20/02, 09:22am
15 cats? What the hell? The smell must be awful.
Originally posted by Professur
I hate cats, but I'd like to introduce those guys to a 2x4 in a dark alley.
There was quite a melee outside the courthouse after the pathetic sentencing was announced. I think that's what going to happen if the animal activists get a hold of these guys. It has been threatened by several of them.
Professur
4/20/02, 11:24am
And canadians eat beaver. What's your point?
no point...I saw it on TV.
did you know your avatar looks like a penis?
Professur
4/20/02, 11:33am
Y'know, noone's ever noticed that before. I guess we know what you had on your mind when you're thiking of me, eh;)
I always have had a soft spot for you prof
Professur
4/20/02, 12:12pm
riiiight. You're in love with Unc, and you've a soft spot for me. I'll be leaving now before my skin crawls off me.
Grrr... I think those people should meet a lynch mob and skin them alive then cover them with salt.:mad2:
Professur
4/20/02, 12:26pm
Don't forget the bbq spice. Hey Na, you've been to a luau. How long do you need to spit cook 175lbs of meat?
unclehobart
4/20/02, 12:33pm
I don't think the spit cook em over there. Its probably more Polynesian style with the trench and coals and burying it for 2 days.
Professur
4/20/02, 12:41pm
2 days? Frig that. I'm hungry now.
unclehobart
4/20/02, 12:47pm
oy cobber... Get ye down to market and get a leg and a half chicken then.
Professur
4/20/02, 12:55pm
"Git ye down't market."
If you're gonna accent me, do it right.;)
unclehobart
4/20/02, 01:03pm
I was actually saying it in my voice using what little lingo I know. T'wern nigh gi'n tuh rake ye scot brouge laddie.
Professur
4/20/02, 01:21pm
Actually, 'Git ye down't market' would be a middlands accent.
unclehobart
4/20/02, 01:22pm
Can you say it in Welsh?
Professur
4/20/02, 01:32pm
I wouldn't want to put my tongue at risk.
unclehobart
4/20/02, 01:42pm
Its easy... Just remove all the vowels and stick in several random d's and yt's.
What's really disturbing is how it seems people get more worked up about this sort of thing than they do when humans are murdered/tortured etc. It's a twisted world.
I can't speak for all but as for myself I weep for humans and animals alike.
Originally posted by Professur
Don't forget the bbq spice. Hey Na, you've been to a luau. How long do you need to spit cook 175lbs of meat?
Unc's right - no spit cook here. Traditionally, our meat is cooked underground in an imu (oven-type thing).
175 lbs is not a lot of meat ... I'd say a couple of hours at the most. ;)
Professur
4/26/02, 11:39am
Originally posted by Elwood
What's really disturbing is how it seems people get more worked up about this sort of thing than they do when humans are murdered/tortured etc. It's a twisted world.
It's a cultural sort of thing, Elwood. Personally, I'd rather see a city nuked than a dog put to sleep. People, even innocent children, have a capacity for evil that no dog ever will.
Professur,
While I agree that all humans have a tendency for evil (and therefore no one is innocent), animals are not even in the same realm as humans. Man has dominion over them. I'm not saying it's alright to torment them, but we use them as we see fit. That's how things were set up from the beginning.
Our cat was run over a few weeks ago. I could tell my wife was a little upset about it. My 8 year old daughter asked when we could get another one before I had the last of the dirt over the carcass. That was the extent of her emotional attachment. I really liked the cat, as far as cats go, but there are plenty more where that one came from. I think people have seen too many Disney movies. Most of them that are that emotional about animals are either unmarried or don't have, and probably never will have, children.
If my daughter had been the one we found in the street, would that have been better? (rather see a city nuked) Like I said, very disturbing.
Animals are good for one thing ... food :D
Were they oriental ?
Mabye they were realy going to eat it.
greenfreak
4/29/02, 11:22pm
Everyone has their opinion on what good pets are or aren't. The problem comes when people who feel that animals are worthless adopt/buy pets. Or worse, abuse them. Maybe I have a greater empathy and respect for dogs because I had one as a pet growing up, I don't know. But they should be allowed only for the people who are going to treat them with respect--unfortunately, that doesn't happen alot of times.
You're right, greenie. The same goes for humans. Wouldn't it be a better place if only the people who wanted children conceived/adopted?
greenfreak
4/29/02, 11:37pm
That point is reinforced every time someone looks at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that we don't plan on having children. Think about how much of the general population is selfish, crazy, abusive, stupid people. Now think of how many of them have kids. Scary, isn't it?
MitchSchaft
4/30/02, 12:13am
Mine's due November 11th;) :eek:
StuTheWise
4/30/02, 03:43am
Now think of how many of them have kids. Scary, isn't it?
And that's why you should have kids... so you can contribute bright, responsible, caring humans to the population. ;) I'm joking of course. I hate kids... can't stand them, but after having two, and a third due anyday now, I gotta tell you there is nothing like that instant love that you suddenly feel -- for someone you've never met and don't even know -- the second they pop out of the womb.
I am not kidding... when my first son was born, I took one look at him and thought to myself, "Damn! That is one ugly looking creature!" About three seconds after his birth (and about a millisecond after I thought my previous thought), the instant love kicked in and my son was no longer some ugly creature, but the greatest blessing of my life, and I realized that I would never hesitate for even a nanosecond to give my life for him.
Back to the subject at hand... if someone can so callously torture an animal w/o care for the pain and suffering that the animal is experiencing, how much do you think that person would care about the suffering and torture of a human?
CoffeePotUnit
4/30/02, 05:55am
too much text!!
someone make a summary for me :headbang:
greenfreak
4/30/02, 10:08am
Kids make you love them.
People who abuse animals shouldn't have kids.
;) :D
Stu, I have to totally agree with you about your last paragraph. And I do feel boundless love for my nieces and nephews-but that's enough for me. I took care of two of them for a long time when they were babies as if I was their mother. I do feel a bond with them because of that but I also got a taste of what parenting was like and decided I could do without it.
Once my bf and I move into a place with a yard and fence, we can get the dogs we always wanted, then I'll be happy. :D
Gato_Solo
4/30/02, 10:16am
On a personal note...I grew up with 2 dogs, and, even though I took care of them and played with them, I never really 'loved' them. Sure, they were loyal and caring, but the spark just wasn't there. I feel the same way about cats, although cats seem to go out of their way to rub against my legs at every opportunity (my neighbors own 2 cats). I would never harm an animal that I wasn't going to use as a food source, and I would DEFINITELY not harm someone's pet. I WOULD, however, harm a person that abuses their pet. Does that make sense? :confuse3:
I live with animals too ... dogs, cats, fish, birds, pigs, goats (an occasional mice or two ;) ), and I think I feel the same way as you, Gato. These animals get the basics: food, water, shelter, attention, but I don't know why some people "humanize" their pets.
What's up with special diets, special bedding, special clothing, etc..? These animals live better than humans in third world countries. I even saw on the news a clinic specializing in canine acupuncture :rolleyes:
they are only animals - it doesnt matter
greenfreak
4/30/02, 07:39pm
I don't know about pet acupuncture and pet psychics but I would definately go further than just giving a dog the basics. I tend to get more out of a pet if I put more in, and that's probably the case with many people. Rusty and I have each other to spoil and our nieces and nephews but when we get pets, we'll probably transfer some of that attention to them. I guess they'll turn out to be surrogate children as we are not going to have any. There's nothing wrong with doting on a pet especially when it's returned. But I'm not going to bring my dogs to a psychic to find out if they're pissed because I switched dog foods on them. :P
greenfreak
4/30/02, 07:46pm
I keep thinking about my friend Bobbi's dog Layla. I was there when she adopted her and I actually named her too. When she hears my voice on the answering machine, she goes nuts running around the house looking for me. When I come to visit, she can barely control herself, she's so happy to see me. When I was going through the worst time in my life and living with Bobbi, Layla would come over and lay her head in my lap and look up at me. When I cried, she would try to lick the tears from my face. She's acted more human than some humans I know. I don't understand how some people cannot reciprocate the unconditional love of a dog.
Layla (http://www.greenfreak.net/people/brad_layla.jpg)
My dogs don't know they're not people. I never want them to find out either.
greenfreak
4/30/02, 08:52pm
I won't tell them. :)
I won't tell them either, Q.
Greenie, I can see the love you have for dogs. They're lucky to have you. My cousin has that same kind of love for her two dogs too.
outside looking in
4/30/02, 10:47pm
We (my parents) have two dogs. One is named Missy I think, but we've been calling her CornChip for years now. She has a gland problem... and smells like a freaking Frito. She also has an overactive tongue... can't stop licking things, the ground, the cat (;)), your shoes... :confuse3:
greenfreak
4/30/02, 11:22pm
Sadly, I don't have any dogs. Yet. We plan on getting a yellow lab, chocolate lab and black lab when we get a nice place. Till then I only have my boyfriend and my plants to nurture. ;)
You people do realize that every time you step on a roach or drown a spider with Raid ("If a bit's good, the whole damn can must be better!"), you're killing an animal, right?
:confuse3: cockroaches, spiders, thought those were insects.... :confuse3:
I really don't kill insects as a rule (ants and cockroaches yes without question - they invade space and poop in your cereal, also will destroy all manner of bees, mosquitos and blackflies - self defense), live release where possible is my motto.
Spiders, ladybugs, beetles, junebugs, most things I won't kill, but would rather pick it up, put it out and set it free.
*STOMP*...yep. I can manage ok with a few less bugs in the world. :D
Gato_Solo
5/01/02, 09:25am
Ummm...I believe that, when dealing with RAID, a little dab'll do ya'. :D
BTW, Leslie, spiders are not insects. Spiders are Arachnids... ;)
:o realized that after I posted, was going to edit, then thought about the cockroaches, thought they weren't insects either, then the bees :confuse3: :eek: too much google searching :laugh: so I left it. Should have listened in biology instead of just cramming to pass the exam.
greenfreak
5/01/02, 09:43am
Originally posted by Inkara1
You people do realize that every time you step on a roach or drown a spider with Raid ("If a bit's good, the whole damn can must be better!"), you're killing an animal, right?
So what's your point?
I was mixing a bag of soil in with some peat moss last night and this 2 inch long bug with tons of legs fell out and I screamed :eek: LOL I didn't expect that I would find something like that in a sealed bag of soil. I had Rusty come over and kill it-I was acting like such a girl. It skeeved me bad. I still don't know what it was. I thought it might be a centipede or something. Eiw. *cringes*
people only keep pets for their benefit - not the animals
Gato_Solo
5/01/02, 11:05am
Depends upon the pet, actually. MOST pets live longer, and healthier, with people than without.
Hmmm ... shall we go into the whole zoo/aquarium debate?
[b] [b]
:D
Gato_Solo
5/01/02, 03:51pm
Only if you can name one domesticated animal in the zoo/aquarium... :D
Stop Laughing
5/01/02, 04:00pm
The seeing-eye dog the last blind visitor brought in. :P :D
What do I win?
Originally posted by Gato_Solo
Only if you can name one domesticated animal in the zoo/aquarium... :D
The dolphins and whales in an aquarium are basically domesticated ... they do tricks, they're trained. Just because they aren't traditionally labeled as "pets" doesn't mean they don't have feelings :P
:D
Gato_Solo
5/01/02, 04:12pm
I've seen dolphins do some of those same 'tricks' in the wild. I'll give you a little on the orcas, though, but when I watched a Discovery Channel show about those 'trained' orcas, I remember one of the trainers saying that their 'star' was the one teaching the humans tricks...
BTW...The dolphin story is pretty dull, but it goes like this...
See Gato snorkling in about 7 feet of water off of Folley Beach. Dolphin 'sees' Gato and, AFAIK, decides to have some fun with the creature out of his element. Dolphin then proceeds to swim up behind Gato and pull on his snorkle. Funny, funny dolphin. Gato, who was busy trying to gather a rather testy crab, didn't see the dolphin until AFTER the snorkle got yanked out of his mouth. See Gato empty his bladder and flatulate at the same time. See the dolphin swim off, turn around, and shake it's head at Gato. See Gato swim back to shore, while the funny dolphin swims around him.
The dolphin left me when I was in water just over my head. I think it knew I was in a foul mood...
Hey Gato ... is that an ABC special? :D
Here's my dolphin story...
Kuu & boyfriend swimming in secluded bay. Dolphins swim around us. Tourist enter bay and swim straight towards dolphins, chasing dolphins away. Kuu & boyfriend get mad at stupid tourist for ruining it,
My German Shepard got hold of a Siamese cat one night. Slung that little bugger from one end of the patio to the other.
http://www.mycfnow.com/sh/education/stories/education-142555320020430-090440.html
Well, he was properly marinated :rolleyes:
outside looking in
5/02/02, 10:28am
Originally posted by alex
http://www.mycfnow.com/sh/education/stories/education-142555320020430-090440.html
Well, he was properly marinated :rolleyes:
:rolleyes: ?( :eek: :( :D
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