Well, maybe they'll lock him away for that month without food or water and abandon him, like he did to the animals.

What an ignorant comment from a human being that is supposed to have compassion and humanity. How about we take your kids and thrown them in a cage of lions...let them eat them...no problemo. No wonder I have no use for most human animals.

Mary Jones first rule of internet etiquette: "if you can't say something intelligent or witty, just open your mouth and make an ass of yourself." People like her a dime a dozen.

Also Tom-1921301-1921301 , he has already served one month if you read the article. Also, we have no jails or prisons that are allowed to make prisoners go without food or water, though I definitely agree that would be wonderful.

I would like to suggest to anyone that wants to enter a civil discussion on the Internet, to READ the article, then READ the article again, and for some of you, READ it a third time. THEN, when you make a post, click the spell checker, since many can't seem to spell past a third grade level.

Lastly, any posts involving animal neglect, abuse, torture, killing, etc. are pretty much a waste of your time if all you want to say is "I wish or hope or something bad should happen to the vermin that do this sort of thing", or "maybe Karma will get them". All that wishing and hoping isn't helping a single animal on this planet. How about making a REAL difference and use your time and typing skills to send emails to judges, city officials, mayors, governors, etc., to get laws strengthened and enforced and maximum sentences.

Instead of buying another piece of crap that you don't need that is made in China (a country that skins dogs alive), make a donation to an animal rescue organization. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Mary Jones-The snake should have been let loose in your bed! You and your type of people need to be removed from this planet without a trace. There are good people in need of the space and resources you are abusing on this planet.......You heartless ignorant thing......Feel sorry for your neighbors...

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." --Mahatma Gandhi

Mary Jones... Your problem is obvious; it's called Cranial-rectal inversion.

"Don't overestimate the decency of the human race." H.L. Menken

Do you people not understand that in the wild there are in fact carnivorious animals? Please watch a nature show from time to time. Most of those little mice that pet shops sell, they feed the snakes that they also sell.

Granted, the passive attitude is harsh the fact remains that animals eat other animals

@Evelyn - So tell me now, just what did some miscreant's innocent children do to merit being eaten alive by a massive and vicious predator??? Do you behave like this in your family and workplace -- wrecking revenge and retribution on the innocent and defensless bystanders??? Do you abuse the chldren of their father for the sins of their father??? One wonders what investigations from HR at work and Human Services and Child Welfare at home would find out about you.

CincyJoe if people like Mary are a dime a dozen, then they are VERY overpriced.

Feed them to the snakes see how they like it!

@evelyn ball you are exactly like the PETA members on south park, complete nutjob.

Hey everyone. Just think of what your saying as you eat your hamburger or pork chop. Not to mention the fish. Did I leave anything out?

One month without food and water would have been a fine punishment, actually. Unfortunately they gave him meals where he was. Oh, and Mary Jones? I don't eat animal protien. And I was raised on a farm, so don't pretend you know more than I do about the life and death of meat producing animals. These, however, were animals left to starve and dehydrate.

Oh and Bill. All I do is help animals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's my profession and my charity work. Don't put down people who hate animal abusers. And donating to a random animal charity may only be putting money in some orginizations enormous bank account, so if people really want to help they should head down to their local animal shelter and ask what they can do. Maybe find a home for that neighborhood stray, or donate to the local stray-spay program if they have one.

People are starving every day. But I don't see you doing anything about that. If we can't treat humans right, what do you expect people will do to animals they are just going to keep in a cage. That was going tobe their life. Sorry PETA people. I feel for the animals but I feel more for the children in Con.

To NMEast, I get your point but cockroaches are insects, not animals.

Mary Jones- do you think you have to exclusively care about people or animals? Can I care about both or does that make you insane? I cried a bunch over the mass murder in CT since it is where I live and the death of a child - never mind 20- is always a tragedy. But I cry over any living creature's suffering, be it human or non-human. I can't even bring myself to kill a spider. Of course I'm sure someone like you would mock that. Not that I care.

Mary Jones is obviously one of those superior humans who does not understand that needless neglect and abuse of any sentient being deserves attention and punishment. The article is about a human who took animals in, made them totally dependent upon him for their survival, then left them to die slow, lingering deaths by starvation and dehydration. This article is not about the tragedy of human suffering; therefore there is no need for comparison between which is more disturbibg.

If you cannot understand or feel any empathy for the victims here (no matter that they are not of the human species), then please at least realize that your sarcasm and lack of compassion is a reflection of the lack of an ethical standard that we should hold ourselves up to.

#1.8 BJ -Do you people not understand that in the wild there are in fact carnivorious [sic] animals? . . . the fact remains that animals eat other animals.

Yes, we people understand that in the wild, there are carnivorous animals. But animals can't eat other animals if they are locked in cages. Get it?

Mary Jones: you are a troll.

The post that started this @!$%# storm said he should have let all the animals out of the cages and the snake would have eaten the rodents. That is what I was referring to, please read the comment before you get self righteous.

BJ35774: Your initial comment was sarcastic and rude, a no-no in this forum.

Mozzie, have you been reading hear long? Because I'm pretty sure that 'sarcastic and rude' is the norm.

I wasn't being rude, if your heart is breaking because a snake might actually eat a rodent then you have little to no knowledge of how nature works. You do understand that the meat you buy in the store is not man made, yes? If you're upset at the thought of a snake eating a mouse then you should know that you do the same thing anytime you eat meat. (Now that was being sarcastic and maybe a little rude.)

A "so what" attitude from the ASPCA? Did you forget your meds this morning?

Yeah, the guy who sells pythons is a decent guy and the SPCA doesn't care. Riiiggght.

You got something against guys that sell pythons?

Ask the people near the Florida Everglades what they think of STORE BOUGHT Phythons and Lizards.

GHX--sadly, that might have been true. Many SPCA chapters do NOT take "donations" of critters. By abandoning them, the association was forced to act.

But hey, DO make a donation people.

And lets get some laws passed banning the importation of exotic reptiles.

We don't have enough info from this article - maybe the guy made arrangements to meet someone & he thought they already took them off. He didn't just dump them in the desert. He took them to a pet store. Did he have the key?

How would anyone know it was this man unless someone else had been dealing with him before hand.

or did her own the store and left them behind? I doubt that a pet store owner would do that. Anyway, he's the one in the courtroom and can't handle animals anymore.

reread that koali, he owned the pet store, closed it up and let the animals inside unattended.

A python snake, several reptiles, 16 birds, 11 chickens and some rodents were found inside the shop after the SPCA and San Diego Humane Society received complaints that the store had allegedly permanently closed for business and live animals were left inside.

Six animals died inside the store. The SPCA's law enforcement agency said the other abandoned animals were housed in unhealthy conditions, left behind without water.

People like this scum bag should be shot. If you dont have the compassion and kindness to take care of an animal than 99% likley you dont have much for people either. The dirt bag should burn.

Gee they are going to take his right to own pets for 10 years I wonder if he whines about his kids not being able to have a pet if aspca will let them have a pet just like that did Micheal Vick..

Great Post bigbill311, the most intelligent I have read within the last couple of days. Hoping, praying and wishing will not further any cause, action speaks volumes. However, one can make donations to prisoners to treat animal abusers the same as say...child molestors.

Granted, I know full well that my comment is a bit droll. I am just in the mood to see morons like this suffer. It seems the innocent always end up getting the @!$%#e end of the stick no matter what walk of life they may be.

One month in jail for abuse!!! That's crap and everyone knows it! This sorry POS should rot in jail!!

Yeah, blame the building owner. Like when someone skips out on an apartment because they owe rent and 2 weeks later the landlord shows up and finds a starving dog that's been drinking out of the toilet. That's his fault, right? I've seen that happen, and the landlord pays out of his own pocket to save the poor animal and then find it a home. Why would that be his fault and not the POS that abandoned it? It's always the owners responsiblilty to find a place for their pets when they can no longer care for them. Don't get one if you're not willing to take on the responsibility- Dogs can live up to 18 years and cats up to 23. Think about that before you bring that cute fuzzy creature home. (Rabbits can live to be 14, Guinea Pigs to about 8, Ferrets about 7, parakeets- 14! That parrot might live 80 years, do you have someone to will it to?)

He had already served the month............READ the article.

littlebill: What an arrogant, narcissist you are! Boy, your neck must hurt every day from carrying that immense swollen head of smartass righteousness. Poor baby.

There must have been nothing happening in your life then, to have read this 'useless' article, eh?

I wish that all of the news every day was no worse than this.

hey why dont you just STFU?

you are sick and twisted buddy.

Agree completely.

Most people who profit from the sale animals have this attitude, from breeders and brokers to pet store owners.

Jenny, you'r obviously an undereducated moron. The studies and statistics have proven without a doubt that individuals that harm animals, often abuse family members. Police officers responding to a domestic violence situation are taught to look for signs of neglect of family pets, and some state like Arizona, actually remove the family pets from the home, as these abusers will often threaten family members that they will harm the pets if they get arrested, or the spouse tries to leave the situation. Get your facts straight before spouting off garbage!!!!!

A lack of empathy tends to manifest itself across the lines of species. People who are cruel to animals are missing some of the basic neural wiring that makes the rest of us instinctively watch out for other living creatures. Granted, our empathy varies with the inter-species distance - a chimp or dog touches us in a way that an ant doesn't - but the complete lack of empathy is a huge warning flag.

Jenny, Maybe you didn't realize that every serial killer and mass murdered start their killing in life with animals. If you are so sure that this is junk science, please pray tell, inform us here all your research on the subject and how you came to that conclusion. BTW, most people in prison hate certain types of criminals, those that would hurt a child and those who hurt animals. I hope his time in prison is a memorable one, so much so that he never ever wants to get near another animal.

Eagle, Early, and Norsk, I'm completely in agreement with you that a tendency, or even a supposedly 'one-off' incident like this one, towards animal neglect or abuse, is almost always a warning sign of a potential for greater evil to come.

Yes, I said evil. I'm a die-hard Progressive, and opposed to capital punishment, but hearing stories like this make my blood boil. No doubt my judgement has been clouded by the years that my wife and I took in and fostered abused or abandoned dogs, and seeing at first hand the unthinkable cruelties people can inflict on a helpless animal that's been selectively bred to be a companion to humans.

Jenny, your point about the U.S. prison industry is spot-on, and illustrates America's hidden shame- a vast gulag of prison-for-profit, something that has only one parallel- the Hell constructed by Himmler's infamous SS, where prisoners were 'sold' to German industrial concerns for slave labor. Think it can't happen here, folks? Guess what- it already has, with the vital difference being that in the American slave labor system, the prisoners aren't expected to die.

Our Constitution guarantees against "cruel and unusual punishment", and it's only right for a civilised state that it should be so. Were that not the case, I'd certainly sign a petition to have every convicted animal abuser condemned to suffer a small, non- lethal measure of the horrors they inflict on the weaker of God's creatures.

Jenny

Sadly, you are greatly misinformed and promulgating erroneous information. I am loathe to uprate a comment that called you a "moron," despite my overwhelming agreement with the bulk of that comment. There is a reason that animal control officers are mandated reporters. There is a documented correlation with animal abuse in the early years of some who grow to become serial killers. There is a prevalence of animal abuse in families and homes where we intervene for reasons of domestic violence and child abuse. I know these things are true because I have witnessed them in my work. They are well-documented and even minimal effort will provide you with a wealth of information on the topic from highly-respected sources and based on results of superb research and analysis supporting the accepted studies. While you are clearly entitled to your own uneducated opinion, you are also clearly wrong.

Jenny- Empathy is & can be learned, even as an adult. Parents are the ones responsible for teaching their children about pain & hurting others, including animals. While killing a human is a huge step up, it slowly grows from the lack of concern when hurting a small animal. Parents need to step in at the first sign of animal abuse in it's earliest forms. Anger is taken out on anything defenseless. Teach young one's that's it's OK to express words of disappointment. This will help vent any anger from becoming pent-up to where it becomes a social issue.

Lol at people not understanding a lack of empathy toward animals, yet holding great empathy toward humans. Animals are not people, they do not have feelings, they operate on base instincts. Your pet does not feel sadness or anger or joy. Your pet experiences pain and pleasure and operates in a very hedonistic manner. These pets are not what disney portrays as animals.

Nosence. Animals suffer and feel pain. Starvation is starvation no matter what life form. If you stab a dog it feels the same pain as a human and if you kick it it suffers the same injuries. Don't make idiotic comments. They do not think and reason as humans, but they have the same nerve endings and ability to hurt physically. Your lack of empathy is exactly that. You don't care and can't understand why someone else would, but that is just you lacking empathy- not other people lacking anything.

Right on! What a di*k!

I don't think he should be allowed to do anything with animals, including scoop their poop. And we shouldn't have supported him, just locked him in a dark empty cell with no food or water for a couple of weeks. Sentence served.

I'm sorry, but in my mind, the very existence of marine parks is an obscenity.

Consider: I would never allow a greyhoud or a Labrador retriever to be adopted by somebody who lives in an inner-city studio apartment. Big dogs need wide-open spaces, and the bigger the animal, the more space is needed. A Siberian tiger may hunt over an area as big as Orange County, CA.

Now, imagine an orca- the sea's apex predator, accustomed to hunting over millions of square miles of open ocean! Is it too much to imagine that these extremely intelligent and highly socialized animals may go mad, or simply perish of lonliness in their tiny concrete cells?

Marine parks are horrible. No rational or moral lover of animals could accept or absolve those places.

Fox Trotsky--while I do understand your sentiment re: Orcas, and other animals in zoos, the fact is that in many cases, those animals were orphaned or injured, and only the intervention of Man saved them.

And the public awareness raised by the display of such beautiful creatures may be what saves their species from being wiped out like so many other whales in the long run. It is well known that ZOOs may be the only hope for the survival of many species.

And BTW--I'd imagine many species of dogs or horses or cats would ALSO 'prefer' to be free. Doesn't mean they'd live long happy healthy lives if allowed to do so.

MOmaid, your points are well taken. It is certainly true that many zoo animals are rescues, not all that different from the abused dogs we've cared for. Some have been orphaned by poachers, or injured by traps. And it's also true, as you stated, that in many cases the only alternative for these animals was death, sometimes a prolonged and painful one.

Your remark about 'public awareness' is also relevant; I am given to understand that some of these marine parks are very involved in outreach and education programs.

I'm the son of a biologist, so I'd like to believe that my judgement is not totally clouded by sentimentality; however, I make no claim to objectivity. I admit that I have a visceral dislike of seeing these animals reduced to conditions which, if applied to humans, would provoke cries of outrage and no bloody end of lawsuits and investigations!

It would be nice to believe that all of the many places that display animals for profit were always keeping the well-being of their furred, finned or feathered charges first and foremost. Until we can be confident of that, it behooves those of us who love animals to let them know that we're keeping an eye on them- and that neglect or deliberate cruelty will be punished.

Momaid...There are zoos and there are zoos. Some do work for conservation and the protection of species that are nearing extinction, and do their best to provide the animals with natural enviornments; the San Diego Wildlife Park comes to mind. However; places like Sea World are billion dollar profit makers...The performing whales and dolphins are kept in environments totally unlike their natural habitats, are forced to perform little tricks for people's amusement, and suffer from many ailments due to their unnatural conditions. Please read some articles about how the orcas suffer from grinding down their teeth from biting at the metal bars that keep them penned off in small spaces, as well as the aggression seen when forced to share tiny, confined spaces with others. These animals travel hundreds of miles in their natural habitat; they don't live in tiny little swimming pools.

Did you ever watch the incessant pacing back and force of large cats in concrete-floored cages with nothing to relieve their boredom, often living without the company of another of like species? You cannot teach people anything about animals if they are forced to live in conditions that do not mimic their natural home. Our little zoo in Tucson here in AZ had 2 (then only one) polar bears living outside in 100+ degree temperatures. No more needs to be said about that.

Because the law does not recognize animals as "beings." They are recognized only as property under the law. I, for one, chafe mightily at this and would hope to see it changed one day; however, it is the reality at this time. It will take a public outcry and a sustained public insistence to see the law change and penalties for animal abusers increased because of this.

Buffarilla..... Great comments, as are those from Ro Mar! The human animal is too self-centered and ignorant to recognize these things, not all, but the majority. The good news is that time can change anything and everything!

Well, if someone left children like this they could still have more children if they wanted. The question should be if someone has to wait 10 years to own another animal after being convicted of abuse why shouldn't a person who has been convicted of abuse of a child have to wait 10 years before they can have another child under their care.

That is just ridiculous! Animals are created by God, but are in no way equal! I love animals, but would much rather lose a pet over a child. People sound so STUPID when they act like animals are the same as human beings. 30 animals or 28 babies/grown ups gunned down while at school??? Are you mourning for these animals the same way you do for the innocent people in CT?? Get a grip

By mourning animals does not mean that we do not not mourn humans. We can mourn both. I have had many dogs that where much better beings than many so called humans.

Sorry, but everyone has the right to mourn the loss of something they love, be it an animal, child or whatever. Some people don't have children and try to fill that void with pets. They love their pets like children and the loss can cause depression and sadness just like the loss of a child. This in no way lessens the loss of a child- it is an individual grief and no one has the right to tell someone else how they are allowed to feel or grieve their individual losses.

Animals are not viewed with the same value as people because that surely would interfere with the raising of millions of animals for people's voracious appetite for meat. I never could understand the 4H Club. Children lovingly raise their animal, give them a name, pamper them, enter them compete for ribbons, then auction them off for slaughter.

"They were only black." "They were only women." "They were only animals." "They were only rodents and snakes people."

Suffering is suffering whether it's wrapped in feathers, fur or scales. Sad to see such apathy for living things.

Where do you think that Steak, Ribs, or chicken you eat comes from?? Think they treat those animals Humanely? Ever been to a slaughter housewhere they use Cattle prods? How about a Large Chicken house where the lights are left on for twenty four hours a day?? That's where your concern should be. Look at the everglades today with all the "Pet" store snakes and Lizards that have been let loose and are killing everything that walks, swims or crawls.

Shelley, I totally agree. My sister has been a vegan for over 10 years. I have slowly converted over the years. I have eliminated 99% of all poultry products, 99% of pork products, 90% of non-yokal-local eggs (eggs produced from my friends backyard lays; 80-90% of dairy products; and significantly reduced my use of beef; don't buy leather products anymore, and only eat fish species that do not come from overharvested fish stocks. It is a long process for some, but the journey is worth it. Elilminating cheese was the hardest thing I have ever done.

If folks want to start, eliminate dairy products first. The dairy industry is one of the worst abusers in the factory farm industry, for one thing the female is forced to be perpetually pregnant to produce milk. When her life is over as a milk producer she is carted away to become your McDonald's & Wal-Mart hamburger. A neighbor of my sister drives a cattle transport cart, and when he was discharging his cows at a feed lot before slaughter, one of the dairy cows had given birth in the cattle truck. (My sister said this is actually common.) The guy actually brought the cow home and the family hand raised him. The still have him after 2 years. Even if they land up killilng him for meat, at least the animal has known kindness and warmth.

Nope, I don't like stories like this, but no way I'm becoming a Vegetarian, and I don't care what others think of me for that.

When your health is ruined by adopting an unnatural diet, it may be too late to turn back the pages of your health history. Follow guidelines of societies that live long & prosper. Milk products, fermented foods, meats, nuts, greens, vegies of all types, fruits, berries, & fish are all part of a natural & healthy diet. Add seaweed, etc. for additional supplementation.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Mentally Sick is right

THIS criminal, this murderer, needs to be dealt with as they would in a CIVILIZED country, like Singapore, where he would be tied down and whipped with a rattan cane twice for each animal he abandoned, and three times more for the ones he killed.

I'm getting freakin' tired of reading this kind of stuff. Dead kids, dead puppies & kittens, what the f**k is wrong with this Greatest Country in the World, this Pillar of Democracy, this Land of Freedom? Screw it.