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Inappropriate' Animal Photos Prompt Police Investigation

post #1 of 26
11/24/10 at 9:26am
Thread Starter 
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/25885521/...ml?source=char

This makes me livid. Shelter employees sedating animals so they can pose them with knives, cigarettes, etc. It's at a Mecklenburg County shelter in NC. I saw it on the news when I went to get my lunch today and couldn't believe it.
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post #2 of 26
11/24/10 at 10:08am
Disgusting... For some reason the first thing that came to mind was the Abu Ghraib prison's incident in Iraq. Same thing, different subjects of torture...
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post #3 of 26
11/25/10 at 5:41am
What a bunch of . As if going to the vet isn't traumatic enough for a feral cat.

I can't believe they are even saying those people might just get a leave without pay, they should be F-I-R-E-D for sure.

This would be outrageous if it happened to a person.
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post #4 of 26
11/25/10 at 6:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
Disgusting... For some reason the first thing that came to mind was the Abu Ghraib prison's incident in Iraq. Same thing, different subjects of torture...
That's the FIRST thing that came to my mind as well--DEGENERATES--I'm glad they were stupid enough to take photos!!
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post #5 of 26
11/25/10 at 7:49am
The article was not really clear about this.. Were they sedating animals just to "play" with them or were they sedated for other reasons (vet care/surgery) and they were just handling and posing them before the sedative wore off? The former is a problem, the latter is just unprofessional and immature but not cruel.
I would think that they would not just be getting into the sedatives to do stuff like this because those are controlled substances that are counted (or should be) due to their misuse by people. If they were doing that they should have been caught early on. So that makes me think that it was animals that hadn't woke up from other procedures, yet.

Again, doing that and taking pictures was rather stupid, but not harmful to the animals. Much better that they're just played with a little while sedated than having anything cut off...
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post #6 of 26
11/25/10 at 8:03am
Actually, yes there could be harm done. Once those animals came to, they might have experienced pain in muscles and limbs that were bent into positions those limbs and muscles were never meant to be bent into.

It just boggles the mind, what human beings will do to animals.
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post #7 of 26
11/25/10 at 8:23am
Have you never seen how techs handle sedated cats? Especially if they're doing a bunch of spay/neuters in a row. They'll scoop them up one handed and then just lay them out. Not at all as gentle as we are with our own pets. People would love to think so..

Again, I think a little handling is better than having anything cut off. Yet, I and others have had cats come home with cat that their claws are nearly completely snipped off at the base (skin) of the toes. We haven't sued and no one has went to jail for it - despite it causing pain after the animal wakes up, because honestly there's nothing we could really do because in some clinics it's normal to abuse an animal like this.

Also, it mentions that an "animal advocate" reported the photos - PETA or HSUS? And how long until they report a picture of someone's pet in a costume or in clothing needed to keep them warm?
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post #8 of 26
11/25/10 at 9:48am
First let me say that it was a stupid awful thing to do to any animal. These workers should be fired.
BUUTTTT........it might show the plight these of homeless animals and get some of them furever homes. It did not appear that any animal was harmed. I really hope that something good might come of other people's stupidity. Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid, and even more unfortunately, stupidity is not illegal.
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post #9 of 26
11/25/10 at 9:49am
Even if they were waking up after being sedated for some needed procedure... Think about how much you'd like it if someone put your finger in your nose and took a picture while you were coming out of sedation.
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post #10 of 26
11/25/10 at 10:18am
I think the biggest point is, if these people did this to these poor animals, what kind of respect do they have for their lives? Are these the type of people we want working in a shelter?
Sure, it might not been harmful... But what kind of harm can this type of people potentially do to animals in a shelter environment, when they are capable of doing this to them so nonchalantly? That is my concern... I would not trust an animal's life in any of those people's hands.
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post #11 of 26
11/25/10 at 10:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekomania View Post
This would be outrageous if it happened to a person.
Isn't that the truth.

My hubby said the same thing, that if it is happening after a procedure, while it isn't as terrible, it's still immature and wrong for these people to do such things to them.

I still stand by the notion that none of them should be allowed to handle an animal if that's what they think is funny to do. What about the bald ferret they mentioned Nair with?
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post #12 of 26
11/25/10 at 12:56pm
I couldn't watch when the news introduced the headline - I can't watch the link you posted - I can't.

I know there is Evil in the world when I even hear of things like this.

I hope there's some justice to be found!
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post #13 of 26
11/25/10 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
I think the biggest point is, if these people did this to these poor animals, what kind of respect do they have for their lives? Are these the type of people we want working in a shelter?
Sure, it might not been harmful... But what kind of harm can this type of people potentially do to animals in a shelter environment, when they are capable of doing this to them so nonchalantly? That is my concern... I would not trust an animal's life in any of those people's hands.
My feelings exactly. Thanks for putting it so succinctly.

I didn't click on the link either. I just based my comments on what was said in this thread, that was more than enough detail for me.
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post #14 of 26
11/25/10 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
The article was not really clear about this.. Were they sedating animals just to "play" with them or were they sedated for other reasons (vet care/surgery) and they were just handling and posing them before the sedative wore off? The former is a problem, the latter is just unprofessional and immature but not cruel.
I agree.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekomania View Post
Even if they were waking up after being sedated for some needed procedure... Think about how much you'd like it if someone put your finger in your nose and took a picture while you were coming out of sedation.
It would be horrible, because if I ever saw the photos, I would be humiliated. If the cats saw the photos, I don't think they would be embarrassed.

If they did it as part of the sedation, then they should face disciplinary action for being so stupid, and possibly termination of employment for bringing such embarrassment to the shelter. If they were drugging the animals for the purpose of taking photos (which I imagine they weren't), they should be charged with animal abuse.
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post #15 of 26
11/25/10 at 4:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara & Rob View Post
What about the bald ferret they mentioned Nair with?
Have you never seen a picture of a sphynx with a joke caption about Nair or being shaved? In the case of the ferret someone simply took a picture and put a joke caption on it. This site has joke caption threads... maybe they should be protested, too, for "humiliating" cats.

And if the employees were actually getting into the medication and drugging animals, not only would that be animal abuse but it would be theft of a controlled substance. Otherwise this is a shelter issue, not one for the police. Instead the police are investigating and this is costing people money..


I don't believe, though, that attacking people's character, calling them names, and assuming that they were outright abusing these animals from a very vague story is very nice, though. It only lowers you to the same sort of level if you're hateful towards people.
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post #16 of 26
11/25/10 at 5:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
I think the biggest point is, if these people did this to these poor animals, what kind of respect do they have for their lives? Are these the type of people we want working in a shelter?
Sure, it might not been harmful... But what kind of harm can this type of people potentially do to animals in a shelter environment, when they are capable of doing this to them so nonchalantly? That is my concern... I would not trust an animal's life in any of those people's hands.
You're exactly right.

This is my home state and there are plenty of people who need work here. It shouldn't be too hard to find someone willing to behave in a professional manner...and be happy to have a job.
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post #17 of 26
12/13/10 at 1:40am
I can't look at the link, and just reading your posts was enough info for me on whats happend.

What they did was totally unprofessional so they shouldnt be working with animals end of!.
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post #18 of 26
12/13/10 at 2:56am
It has always worried me how some of the photos on the Cheezburger site are taken. Our TCS joke captions are totally different - they are taken of our cats doing silly or cute things themselves and we manage to get a snap of them. But some of the ones I have seen must be posed, even though I have to admit I have laughed sometimes.
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post #19 of 26
12/13/10 at 5:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennyranson View Post
It has always worried me how some of the photos on the Cheezburger site are taken.
I have to agree with you there Jenny. Some are funny, but some look like there being used in the wrong way.

I know theres one picture on there i've seen many times and it looks like the cats been thrown. It probably wasn't hard, but that's not the point
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post #20 of 26
12/13/10 at 6:30am
Ughhhh how awful!!!!! People are sooo awful, how can they do such a thing??? It's like they want to humiliate and demean the animals, and laugh at them.
No wonder I like animals, it's because no animal would ever do such a ridiculous thing to someone else for kicks and giggles.
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post #21 of 26
12/13/10 at 11:45pm
It's not very nice, but I don't think it is actually harmful. It seems likely the animals were sedated for some medical procedure when the photos were taken.

The one with the ferret, it's probably a ferret with adrenal disease (they lose their hair) and someone thought it would be funny to add the caption.

Is this any worse than 'Stuff On My Cat'?
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post #22 of 26
12/14/10 at 1:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekochan View Post
Is this any worse than 'Stuff On My Cat'?
I don't like those pictures either
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post #23 of 26
12/14/10 at 8:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosiemac View Post
I don't like those pictures either
Why not? I myself will set stuff on my cats when they're laying around. The heaviest of which being a tv remote. The cats don't care unless it's something they want to play with.

A little O/T, but along the same lines as stuff on my cat, does anyone remember Oolong the rabbit? Having had rabbits in the past, if they didn't want to do something they wouldn't and would let you know their feelings. To many it may have seemed like that rabbit was being exploited for it's trick, I have no doubt that the rabbit didn't mind and liked the attention.
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post #24 of 26
12/14/10 at 10:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
A little O/T, but along the same lines as stuff on my cat, does anyone remember Oolong the rabbit? Having had rabbits in the past, if they didn't want to do something they wouldn't and would let you know their feelings. To many it may have seemed like that rabbit was being exploited for it's trick, I have no doubt that the rabbit didn't mind and liked the attention.
I guess that's the main difference, the perception that the rabbit and the 'Stuff on my cat' animals can presumably object and walk away if they don't like it (although maybe not in the cases where the cats are wearing hats and things that are otherwise 'attached') while the cats in these photos are sedated so they can't object. However you could also say that this is not as bad as the 'Stuff on my cat' type shots because those cats are awake and may be unhappy while these are unconscious and not aware so not upset.

I'm not saying I think it was ok to take those photos of the sedated animals, I think they should be treated with respect and care as I would want my own pets treated when sedated. However I also don't think it is necessarily something that requires a criminal investigation.
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post #25 of 26
12/14/10 at 2:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Why not?
Not that i need to explain myself, i just don't like it.
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post #26 of 26
12/19/10 at 7:28am
It's not the photos that gets me, it is that we have supposed 'professionals' acting in a totally unprofessional manner

Let us face it. If this happened to a sedated patient in a hospital we would be having a harry canary about it...and the doctor, nurse, or whoever would be ejected out of hospital without a license to practice...

This is not how ANY professional should be behaving....period
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