Why oh why

[digi]

About 18 months ago I rescued a young swan that had flown in to power lines and broke its wing. The vets put it on the local lake and for a while it was a bit grumpy but daily visits to feed it resulted with him becoming very friendly to me and answering to the call of Swanny. He would follow me round the lake then get out walk up to me and we would sit for ages while he allowed me to stroke him. Just before Xmas I went to feed him and all was well, we had our usual chat then I left. The following day when I returned I was told that three youths had been taunting him and he has not been seen since. He could not fly so I think the worst must have happened. Why do people treat birds and animals in this way. I was devastated it was like losing a friend, in fact he was a friend.

Digi

[Fourwings]

It never ceases to amaze me just how cruel some people can be, young people inparticular.
All three of my children have been raised to love & respect all things wild or otherwise - its not difficult so why can so few manage it!!

[Lou-D]

Hi Digi

Sorry to hear about Swanny. It's always such a privilege, I think, for a wild animal (or any animal come to that) to learn to trust us. I, too, cannot comprehend how people can be so cruel and thoughtless. What makes me crosser though, is that if they are caught they are given a slap on the wrist and sent away . I would like to see offenders like this (and here I'm being very diplomatic bearing in mind this is a family group!) being made to work in animal welfare or for a wildlife group for a month or so. This might even teach them a little respect???

[Boddie]

I'll be less PC. Lock them up for a few weeks, and fine the parents, then hope that the parents take appropriate action when they return home, or have them out cleaning the streets and parks for weekends on end under supervision wearing bright orange jackets with BULLY emblazoned on the back.

[digi]

I hear that the dolphin that was rescued from the harbour had been pelted by stones and beer cans, whats wrong with these people!

[crisscross]

As a society I don't think we wish to know about how disturbed a section of our young people are. Encouraging an interest in 'the great outdoors' is undoubtedly one route out of 'failure' in the incredibly narrow test score culture in schools. But that would probably still invite ostracism from ones gungho age group. We need a lot more diversity of all sorts.

[fbcpmike]

As volunteers looking after our local park we see a lot of cruelty, Ducks, Geese and other wildlife. Near to the pond there is a picnic bench, its recently been removed as the local group of Homo Sapiens stupidus used to sit at the bench and launch their empties at the Ducks. We have had Geese shot and blinded.

Originally Posted by Boddie

I'll be less PC. Lock them up for a few weeks, and fine the parents, then hope that the parents take appropriate action when they return home, or have them out cleaning the streets and parks for weekends on end under supervision wearing bright orange jackets with BULLY emblazoned on the back.

I'd be a *LOT* less PC (but thats just the grumpy old git in me ?).
A lot of the parents don't care and probably don't pay their own fines anyway.
As for getting them out on community service, don't bother here either, we have had groups from the local probation/community service. There are so many "health & safety" cop outs you will be lucky to get 2 hours work total in a day out of a group of 8. After all you can't treat them badly can you, make them work in the cold and rain - it's cruel. Poor things, just misunderstood.

Now when the Army were in control of their probation service - things were a different matter !!, the jobs we got done. The Garrison Commander was so apologetic when it was transferred.

This is a subject close to our hearts at the park, but needs carefull handling, and one I fear will not be resolved in a meaningfull way. The government has to take some of the blame Eg. unrestricted opening hours, 18 hour off-licence outside the park gates, with a non UK owner who does not care who he sells to, Etc, Etc.

The local police, there were 3, have been recently moved and "amalgamated" with the next town 5 miles away, don't expect a quick turnout. New officers have been put into the now empty station - Community Support Officers - civilians with a uniform and no powers, looks good and they cost less !. It turns out that little old me has more powers than a CSO. If he aprehends a miscreant he can only hold them for 30 minutes and has to let them go and they know it.

I'm afraid this has turned into a bit of a rant, my apologies to all, but it's so infuriating, and we had better not start a specific thread, it would probably take over the forum !.

[digi]

We see these things all the time but it puzzles me as to why people behave like this to animals. Early last year whilst walking around Carsington Water I noticed a group of people huddled round and when I got close they were watching a Hedgehog that had come out of hibernation early and was walking in circles. Two very young children watched by their parents kept going up to it and giving it a light kick with their feet. I went to the rangers office and he came back with me and we put the Hedghog in a box and it was taken to safety but the parents were not discouraging the youngsters from harrasing the Hedgehog. Why? its not my place to tell them off.

[digi]

Swanny

[nightshade]

You have ignorance to deal with and without being able to approach and
reinforce a lesson with a clip around the ear all is lost
There were some boys shooting at a goose in a field ,luckily their air-rifles were not powerful enough and the large pellets were just bouncing off its feathers I approached them and gently remonstrated with them only to recieve a torrent of abuse, I persisted and showed them my own target rifle and demonstrated accuracy and consistency, shooting dandelion clocks at 40 yds.They and their attitude improved within half an hour,and they found a new direction for their natural hunting urges.Locals tell me they both belong to a field target club and shoot competitively and well nowdays
With the political correctness of today and every child knowing its Rights,I would not consider approaching these people lest I become the victim and the PC police force comes after me

[Tragus]

Hi Digi and Welcome to WAB
If you can remember where the swan hit the powerlines then get a grid refrence and report it to the local power people, eg: Manweb, of whichever supplier is in your area. You can get diverter discs put on the lines to stop swans flying into them. Swans have appalling eye sight and the lines are practically invisible to them so the diverter discs do help.
As for cruelty....Welcome to the world of a wildlife rehabber!!!
We deal with this sort of thing on an almost daily basis, it's one of the more depressing aspects of our work.
Having said that, the good folk outweigh the bad in our opinion, and hopefully if people report what they see to the police wildlife liaison officer or local RSPCA then maybe prosecutions will follow and discourage others from like minded curelty.
I would suggest to anyone seeing cruelty to report it, get as much information as you can, eg What the people look like, If they are driving vehicles, get the registration, and if you have a camera Take photos!!
The priority is to make sure you don't put yourself in danger, some of these 'sickos' can be very dangerous (eg. Badger baiters for example)
If you can rescue the animal, then take it to the nearest Vet or rescue centre for a check up, some injuries may not be apparent.

We had a small Hedgehog who had been put in a metal bucket by children and repeatedly kicked about inside. A very kind gentleman rescued the said Hedgehog and clipped the kids about the ear OOPss!!! ( well we were secretly pleased he did however I don't condone this approach !)
When he got it to us it was curled up tightly into a small ball, and only after knocking it out with anaesthetic gas did we realise it had a fractured hip, so badly so that it had to be Put to sleep.
I could go on and on, but it becomes depressing to dwell on the cruelty people can inflict on animals so I'll stop now!
Tragus

[digi]

Originally Posted by Tragus

Hi Digi and Welcome to WAB
If you can remember where the swan hit the powerlines then get a grid refrence and report it to the local power people, eg: Manweb, of whichever supplier is in your area. You can get diverter discs put on the lines to stop swans flying into them. Swans have appalling eye sight and the lines are practically invisible to them so the diverter discs do help.
Tragus

Thanks for the advice Tragus, I have rescued quite a few animals and do contact the RSPCA for help.


Its amazing that people can get away with this sort of ill behaviour to animals yet, others that feed and look after them get fines!

What a sad world we live in.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by digi

Thanks for the advice Tragus, I have rescued quite a few animals and do contact the RSPCA for help.


Its amazing that people can get away with this sort of ill behaviour to animals yet, others that feed and look after them get fines!

What a sad world we live in.

Hear hear.

[carlj]

Report today tells of a 19 year old yob who fed a pets corner Rabbit to an alligator at Colwyn Bay Mountain Zoo, because it had scratched him.

Personally, I'm in favour of biblical retribution, except he'd probably give the alligator indigestion.

[matt_xyz]

I only came across the above thread today. I have always found animal cruelty extremely depressing and can never understand how anyone can cause pain and suffering to an animal. You only have to own a pet cat or dog to know that animals can suffer a whole range of emotions not least pain, fear and anxiety.

Although the above thread makes depressing reading, I am heartened to see so many of us on this forum feel so strongly about animal cruelty and abuse. Given the prevalence of such cruelty it's easy to feel like a lone voice.

Matt

[crisscross]

Hi Carlj,

the bible is in two parts and the new testament outdates the eye for an eye bit with a message of forgiveness. The precondition for forgiveness is understanding.

I know some things take a lot of understanding, for me especially things human beings do to their own species, not just to other species. Anyone so disturbed as to do this is only going to become a serious criminal if just sat-on and repressed further.

Chris

[carlj]

Chris, I did mean it in jest, but the action he took is beyond comprehension. I fear for our race's future, unless the next generation take some responsibility for their own actions.

Carl

[Wild-Woman]

I completely agree with the above posts. And yes there are some real sickos out there that enjoy suffering. However, there are young people who are kind and thoughtful.My son joined the armed forces 3 years ago and on his first guard duty one night,he saw a Hedgehog appear from under some hedges and go towards the main road near his base.He knew the road was busy, even at night, so he held up the traffic to let it cross and the people in cars waited patiently..........Mind you he was carrying a rifle so I don't think anyone would have argued with him! But my point is if a child s brought up to love and respect animals,birds and the environment, as mine have, then generally they will pass on those qualities to their children.ww

[PhilBriggs]

Try jailing the wee buggers for anything these days never mind wildlife and cruelty offences, talk about frustrating.
We need to get tough with the young ones, but also need to educate as well.
I used to run a project for high tariff young offenders which involved conservation work, learning about our environment, effects of crime etc etc.
Worked for a few of them, one of my previous students whom used to be a car thief has now just started his PhD n agriculture and conservation at university.

He’s doing really well and now good at nicking tractors.

Phil

[John]

The majority of cruelty cases are from adults that should know better. If young kids are brought up in an environmemt where the adult has no consideration for wildlife in general what chance have the kids got. Even worse if they are brought up in a family environment where kicking the cat or dog, or generally mistreating them is the norm what do you expect but more of the same from the children of that family.

I have to agree with Phil regarding education but we also have to accept that a lot are beyond that mark and no amount of education will change that. We can only hope that the kids of the next generation of adults are a bit more switched on to things around them and also have more of a conscience as it seems like a fair proportion of todays youngsters are lacking just that (but I won't hold my breath on that).

In my time I have rescued a few animals but the tale of our Max takes some beating.

My Mrs and I thought that getting a second dog would be company for our Golden Retriever, Jasper. We went to a dog rescue place near Aldridge and came across this pitiful looking Alsation / Collie that looked so forlorn and lost. We took it for a walk outside with Jasper and they looked to get on straight away.

Max's rib cage was showing quite badly and as we got to talking about Max's history so the staff produced some newspaper clippings of a raid on a farm where 11 Alsations and Max had been rescued. All had been beaten, including our Max, and even worse for Max was the fact that they don't think he had seen the outside of a shed for possibly more than two years. He had been beaten, totally underfed and virtually abandoned. In fact after being rescued it took over a month of feeding to get him to the condition he was in when we saw him, and that was distressing to say the least.

Needless to say we took him straight away and he turned out to be the most loving and affectionate dog you could imagine.

One can only dream of the torment and torture Max had been through but on a days outing a couple of months after getting him it really brought it home to us. We took both Jasper and Max out for a days birding and towards the end of the day ended up on an old favourite fishing site I used to go to when I was an Angler. It is a beautiful site with pools that are tree lined plus many Willows that drape down into the water. We were walking along the path that skirts one of the pools. As we approached one Angler pulled his rod back to place it on the ground by the side of him. Max saw this and yelped and whimpered and wrapped himself around my leg in a tight embrace and was shaking totally out of control. I couldn't get Max to go past this chap and when we turned to retrace our steps another Angler had withdrawn his Rod and Max took one look and completely froze. I had to pick him up whilst he was still whimpering and that will be a moment I will never forget as long as I live.

It is still beyond me at the cruelty that us humans can dish out to defenceless animals. What the answer is is beyond me but I hope the answer is found one day.

John