OpEd by R.T. Fitch ~ President of the Wild Horse Freedom Federation
Horse Abuse is Launching Pad to Human Maltreatment
I ran across this article on the internet over the weekend and it caught my eye not because I am a pervert, deviant or attracted to violence but because it scared me to death on several different levels:
Alleged Horse Abuser Arrested For Rape
WILMER, Alabama – A Wilmer man is being held in Metro Jail without bond charged with rape, domestic violence and burglary.
Other charges are pending.
Mobile County Sheriff’s investigators say Eric Easley broke into his former girlfriend’s home in Wilmer Saturday night, where he beat and raped her.
The victim managed to escape and call authorities.
Sheriff’s deputies found Easley hiding under a table at his mother’s home in Wilmer.
Last November, Easley was arrested and charged with animal cruelty for allegedly sexually assaulting a miniature horse.
It’s such a small little blurb but behind the text lurks a very dark and dangerous beast and speaks to me on two salient points:
1.) Over a decade ago I sat next to Jerry Finch, president of Habitat for Horses while we attended a multi-day seminar put on by the Texas Animal Control Association and one of the haunting lessons that forever froze in my mind was the presentation that pointed out that abusing large animals is the last step serial killers take before moving on to humans. They start with insects and work their way up attempting to get bigger and greater thrills until cattle and horses come into the picture and when they don’t satisfy their thirst for an abusive high, they step up to abusing people. Horses are the jump point to humans…and I see it here.
2.) We have seen and documented equine abuse being rained down upon our unassuming wild horses and burros by the contractors hired by Obama’s BLM. You have seen the videos, from Sun J’s renegade helicopter pilot using his aircraft as a weapon, which will be proved to be illegal I might add, to the pictures of BLM wrangles kicking and dragging horses about by their ears and tails, etc., etc. Next stop…people.
No doubt that it takes an out of touch spirit and a heart born of hate to do what is being done to our national icons but what scares me more is how this violence is accepted as “the way we do business” by the BLM and to date no one has successfully won a challenge against their inhumane and abusive tactics. It’s terrifying.
So while the BLM contractors have not been caught having coitus (I used that word to confuse them) with any horses to this point, there is one thing for certain; they are raping the land, the law and the citizenry of the United States as they cruelly decimate and dismantle the once majestic herds of native wild horses on their rightful land.
Just thinking about it, makes me yearn for a shower.
Related articles
- Ninth Circuit Grants Wild Horse TRO in Wake of BLM Ruling (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- Shady Tactics Surround Obama’s BLM Roundup of Famous Kiger Wild Horses (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- Another Win in Saving Colorado Wild Horse Herd from BLM Eradication (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- Obama’s BLM Flips Off Wild Horse Advocates with New Board Appointees (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Just sickening. The victums are often killed too. This link between animal and human abuse has been proven but still strong laws against animal abuse aren’t passed and enforced. I was told Farm Bureau is against any laws benefiting animals.
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Yep…Farm Bureau, the reckless, cruel lobbying arm always against compassionate, responsible human goodwill trying to advance society and make our world a better place for all living beings.
Technically, I suppose they would be labeled “enablers” in the clinical sense.
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You are absolutely correct about the Farm Bureau. In this state the Farm Bureau as for YEARS BLOCKED the passage of any animal protection law in our state Legislature, and they succeeded in their barbaric and sick fight against any benefit or any protection for animals. The Farm Bureau, with their constant fight against protection of animals and their support of abuse of animals, uses lobbyists to fight against any legislation that benefits any animals. Shame on the disgusting Farm Bureau, and the despicable lobbyists who fight against animals for financial gain with monies paid to them by the Farm Bureau.
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Here’s what I don’t understand: Why do compassionate, informed humans do any business with these cretins???????
I have some very compassionate farm and animal owner friends…treat their horses like family and are antislaughter. BUT THEY DO INSURANCE BUSINESS WITH FARM BUREAU! Why?
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WHAT? Please point me at this data! I think I have Farm Bureau insurance on my car! If this stuff is true I want another insurance company no matter how cheap the price is! I never connected an insurance company to this outrage.
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For T. A. Paxton:
What, what? Farm Bureau is one of the most aggressive anti-animal welfare businesses in the US (NCBA, USMEF, AQHA, etc are up there too).
Their primary business is insurance and a powerful entity that lobbies for everything proAg and anti-animal.
Many loose cannons, anti-animal welfare in the media are drones for them. Every state has their own Farm Bureau Association and then there is the National Association. They are heavily involved with contributions, get out the vote and specific proAg candidates. They have their own PR machines that contacts media and elected reps to spew their tripe.
Just google Farm Bureau and keep flipping pages….you’ll get your data. All of it true? Nope, but just as their tripe and positions aren’t 100% either.
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Here’s a link that would make even the brightest minds scratch their heads:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Farm_Bureau_Federation
Bear in mind, I don’t believe wiki is the burning bush….look at the money, locations and the so called separation of the insurance end of their all Ag is good scheme.
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Here’s where it can get complicated. One day last year at the end of the day I was talking to the person who worked in the booth next to me at the renaissance festival. I said something about Hobby Lobby, the big craft store chain. This person said he NEVER buys at Hobby Lobby because of their extreme christian views and the extreme christian right organizations he claimed they support and give money to. I made no comment but thought to myself “I’m glad my customers don’t judge me on similar bases.” The point here being a company can be very complex. TRUE, apparently FB supports things that we are against. I try not to let my personal views creep into my business because a whole lot of my regular customers have very different views than I do. YES, one of the best ways to vote and make change is with our pocket books. In fact, it is probably the best, albeit most subtle, way to go about it. You should, perhaps, let FB know the reason you are making the change, otherwise they will blithfully continue supporting those very causes that you oppose.
It’s complicated. just sayin’. But I, for one, will continue to fight for the animals.
Good post R.T. I’ve long said that how we treat the other creatures on our planet mirrors how we treat our own species. To love an animal is the greatest love I’ve ever found.
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You nailed it, R.T.
Cruelty IS business as usual during round-ups, and afterwards. Contractors such as Cattoor and Sun J hear the cha-ching of $ as each horse is driven into their traps, NOT the cries of the captives.
Outside the U.S., photos of young men whipping horses toward slaughter house floors, show a kind of terror, but they conquer it. They are paid for overcoming revulsion and empathy.
Power, cruelty and reward have intertwined in a sickening coil which should never be supported by thinking people.
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Terri – I have to disagree with your comment: “Outside the U.S., photos of young men whipping horses toward slaughter house floors, show a kind of terror, but they conquer it. They are paid for overcoming revulsion and empathy.” They don’t do it for the money, they do it for the thrill of being powerful over another living creature – whether it’s a dog, cat, horse, child, or women (of any age) and men! Last year’s news was multiple incidents of young boys (in the US and England!) seen beating animals to death with sticks or rocks on golf courses, in city parks, and in neighborhoods where they lived – some were wild animals (fawns, geese) while others were domesticated (cats being set on fire, puppies being beat to death or near death). Last year when a young female high school student back east was gang raped outside the gymnasium during the prom, and 18 people watched and used their cell phones to record it instead of calling the police or helping her – we have a major problem across the board. I’ve lived long enough to see “respected” men treat horses just like the cowboys do at the BLM roundup pens – kicking them when there down, watching the roan stallion with the broken neck (from trying to jump the panels) lay on the ground dying while they smoked and talked to each other. When I was younger, I stood up to them and tried to stop it – and was told to leave NOW! Today I would have a different approach – but the point is the need to feel powerful is fed by being powerful over a 1000 pound animal (hell, watch the undercover videos on the cruelty to circus elephants and training babies!). And as a “society” we are not stopping it. It’s not always the money – it’s a sick thrill of being “more powerful” over anything that’s alive – animal or human. That is what scares me more than anything else!
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RT,
We hope to invite several experts to discuss this very topic at the next International Equine Welfare Conference. It is an extremely important topic and one that is all too often overlooked. Ann
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In my opinion ALL persons involved in the abuse and cruelty toward our horses, especially the leaders of the Bureau of Land Management who are the perpetrators of this illegal and cruel treatment of helpless horses, should be prosecuted, convicted and should serve time in prison. Just because someone works for the government does not mean they are exempted from punishment for felony abuse of animals. In fact, we pay their salaries as taxpayers, and we consider our present governement responsible for the killing and abuse of our American horses, and we demand action which will stop this abuse of our horses and an end to the atrocities by BLM. In my view there is something mentally wrong with people who have visited such cruelties on helpless horses just because they could, and they behave as though they have a demented and sick vendetta against horses.
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Actually this is one of my areas of research. I will be on a panel discussing the link between human and animal violence for the Pa Bar Institute’s Animal Law Conference on July 21st. The knowledge of the link between human and animal violence can be traced back to the Pre-Socratic Pythagoras. Philosophical literature from 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries is full of arguments that cruelty to animals is linked to cruelty to humans because those who engage in such cruelty lack empathy which is a necessary pre-condition of moral behavior. The link is not a casual link but a strong correlation exits (according to current social research) between animal violence, domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse. That is why a group I have co-founded in Pa is working to de-privatize human police officers and make them a division of our State Police so that animal abuse (which is part of the crimes code) becomes the repsonsibility of the state to enforce. Many of you may not be aware that in most states humane police officers work for non-profit corporations and therefore animal cruelty laws are second class laws. Denise we have been told by many Pa elected officials that the Dept of AG is like an 800 pound guerrilla sitting on any animal legislation. However, I must tell you that we are getting support from family farms. I am also involved in helping homeless cats (I do not like the term feral) and the more I learn about the issues the more apparent it becomes that cat haters are also horse haters and the pro-slaughter people are merely equine puppy millers. Ironically, the pro-slaughter folks keep relying on Adam Smith’s theory of laissez faire capitalism without realizing it is grounded in utilitarian ethical theory and one of the founders Jeremy Bentham argued that the question is “Not can they think but can they feel.” Sorry for ranting but the perversion and misuse of philosophical theory drives me crazy.
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Whoa Nellie!!!! GREAT STUFF faith!!!!! Thanks.
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Faith, thanks for your involvement in this important issue. I’m waiting to see the names of two local animal abusers show up in a human abuse case. They tried to cut off a pitbull’s head with a knife, and, when that didn’t work, they tried a chainsaw! Neighbors called the sheriff, and Animal Control came out and shot the dog – after it suffered for hours.
The abusers were both charged with felony animal abuse, but charges were dropped on one guy “who only watched”! I imagine the other will plead down to a misdemeanor, not serve any jail time, and not pay a fine. Maybe he’ll have to do some public service (sometimes at the Animal Shelter!), but who knows.
About Ag. Farmers are going to take a hit in the new budget (a proposed $30-35 billion over 10 years). The question is how much they’ll lose, and who’ll be impacted. Obviously small, family farms will be the least able to absorb these cuts. They’ll probably be forced to sell at least some of their land (and water rights!) to corporate Big AG, the leeches that are all about satisfying stockholders, executive bonuses, and shipping U.S. products overseas.
Meanwhile, U.S. consumers are increasingly forced to buy foriegn Ag products from countries with dubious standards and practices. How do we keep small farms afloat, and our country’s bounty on supermarket shelves at a reasonable prices?
I suppose farmers could keep more subsidies if welfare ranchers (including corporations) were required to pay more to graze on our public lands, and if the BLM would retire allotments to “maintain a thriving ecological balance”. Fat chance of that happening while Salaczar controls the information that gets to Obama, the Chicago “city boy”.
A president trusts his cabinet to provide decision-making information. I wish
candidates had to provide names of potential cabinet appointees before the primaries and general election. That way we’d know more about their leanings than we get from any phony stump speech.
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Well, Lincoln didn’t trust his cabinet….but he still won the war to maintain the Union. Big price he paid in the end and the majority of his cabinet helped rape and beat the rebel states into painful submission and “peace”.
What’s the saying? “Know your friends, but keep your enemies closer”?
Ginger, I don’t know who is more despicable, the perps or the legal system (Law enforcement, DA, judge) that continually gives these sickos a pass.
Ironic comment about the “community service hours” and will probably wind up in the local animals shelter…..just sick and happened all the time in my former county.
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Faith, thanks for the educational information. I think I read somewhere that many employees that worked at slaughterhouses (before slaughterhouses were finally shut down in the U.S.) were criminals. Does anyone know about this?
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“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”—Francis of Assisi
Look who else thought of that R.T. and when..the more things change…the more they stay the same..My God that’s scarey!!!
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We must create a new generation, a better generation. Let’s make some advocates! This war is far from over! See website https://sites.google.com/site/fictiononfact for ‘Facts of Life’ Presentation, In Accordance with the Natural World’s Universal Truths
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This Battle HAS JUST STARTED
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I am a very gental, loving, soft hearted, animal especially horse lover. I don’t know what I would be capable of if I came across someone doing filthy things to a horse. I think I would lose it. What a sicko. The BLM is no better than the sicko above they think they have power to do what they please. I wil advocate for the horses till the day I die! BLM I am not going away.
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RT
Sad to say BLM has known for about twenty years that the boardwalk at Old Faithful is NOT ADA approved. The “walk”is higher than the sidewalk leading up to it. Someone could easily trip and fall.
BLM has known and has negligently been avoiding fixing this cause they rather spend our tax dollars sorting the earth of “these rats on hooves”. Blame Salazoo for that one…
And oh by the way…the pit toilet on the Fishing Bridge side of the lower loop? it smelt like someone had died. Rank doesn’t even begin to cover how bad it was.
Question. You have a male sexual deviant–what would spay vac do to him? Do they have to mix up a slightly different mix of drugs–would this man not hurt anyone else or animals–or do we need to castrate him and put him in Salazoo’s zoo?
What a waste of a life.
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Bob Abbey is the one who referred to Our Mustangs as rats with hooves, ever since that day he said that ,I have hoped he would have to eat those horrible words, how dare he have such little respect for the very animal that Literally built the West, that is on almost every page in American History books, the horse graciously carried us on his back, he delivered the mail (pony express which again moved this Country, ) The Horse is a HUGE part of Our History, Again How DARE He speak of them like that…………….
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Very disturbing stuff.
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THIS is exactly what I warned of…for the State of Michigan, just after that “extremely well-documented” Horse ABUSE case…who was LET GO with No punishment, –by their County PROSECUTOR! The local Police & animal Rescue/Advocacy groups had done Such a Thorough investigation; they were Sickened!!by the non-verdict !
I wrote in that newspaper’s comments that, “this is a Huge Blaring WARNING for your law enforcement & child advocates/protective services there…You should Immediately start sending ppl out to Investigate what is happening to the CHILDREN & ELDERs/Disabled in those affected areas!”
I even called the lg. Univ. Children’s Hospital–with the same sickening Warning! (I worked in a pediatric ICU for a Long time! This correlation is Well-known & documented…& unfortunately >>Expected>>)
1 Anon. police-assoc-commenter later stated…(approx.)…”they were aware, & ‘while they Always step-up vigilance for Domestic Abuse during these hot, humid days’, especially in hard economic times….indeed, the Force had IMMEDIATELY set up several extras for Investigations around the Co…!”
You are correct; it is PROVEN; this is a Hallmark of progressive–Psychopathic behavior, world-wide: “they do it for the THRILL of being powerful over another living creature– whether dog, cat, rooster, horse, child, woman or man” (of any age)! *several States now list severe Animal-abusers, similar to sex-offenders; & almost always begin an on-going Child-protective investigation in such cases.
My God, to think–! of all those unfeeling, stone-faced, hardened-BLM
‘wranglers’ & ‘zappers’, & helicopter crews… that Must have CHILDREN out there, somewhere…. [hopefully Not the Catoors!]
~~I wish I Hadn’t eaten breakfast already…. (:3^p
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I think most folks know that animal abuse soon becomes human abuse. It gets written about several times a year. WHY can’t our judicial system figure this out. They are so busy paying attention to little piddling technicalities that they can’t think straight!
I wonder if the BLM workers get checked for such “infractions”?
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The correlation between , child abuse and animal abuse is astounding, in almost every case I have read , it always starts with animal abuse, I wondering, how many of the Catoors, Sun J, And The BLM , are child abusers????? I would like to know what the percentages are>>> amongst these 3 groups…………………Ill bet extremely high…..cannot imagine how high it is with Slaughter house workers………………………???????
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Well, individuals involved in these kinds of activities have some type of civil/criminal record as a rule, but not completely. As to it’s severity….that is a matter of interpretation (and frequently, DAs err on the side of “benefit of the doubt” formula instead of slamming animal (sometimes spouse/elder/child abuse) abusers immediately…sometimes, it’s the state code and financial resources.
I say, we can pay now…or pay later. Later is always more expensive and frequently results in severe human injury or even death.
Can’t fix stupid!
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Is there a connection between animal abuse and human abuse?
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Rhonda Robinson
, Wilmington Animal News Examiner
June 6, 2011 – Like this? Subscribe to get instant updates.
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Studies have shown there is a direct connection between children who abuse and torture Animals, and violent criminals who take out their rage on humans later in life. This behavior is not a minor problem when a child abuses, tortures or kills an Animal. It should be taken seriously; it is a red flag that something is mentally wrong with the child and needs to be investigated further.
The connection between Jeffrey Dahmer, David Berkowitz and Ted Bundy, all notorious serial killers, was the abuse, torture and killing of animals in their youth. Jeffery Dahmer showed a fascination with dismembering animals as a child, and later went on to dismember about 16 people. Albert DeSalvo (The Boston Strangler) who killed 13 women also trapped cats and dogs in boxes and shot arrows through the boxes. The same type of sadistic behavior was shown by Dennis Rader (the BTK Killer) and sniper, Lee Boyd Malvo.
Research done by North Eastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA, discovered that people who abuse animals are at five times greater risk of abusing humans. In one American Humane Society Study, out of 57 families receiving counseled for child abuse 88% also abused animals. In the same study in 66% of the cases, it was a violent parent who abused the family pet to cause emotional pain on the child or spouse. Children often imitate an abusive parent, and vent frustration on the only things weaker than themselves; the family pet or neighborhood animals.
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A very disturbing trend has emerged among school age children. Kip Kinkel of Oregon and Luke Woodham of Mississippi, also were fascinated with animal abuse, and proceeded to go on a shooting rampage at their High School. Eric Harris and Dylan Kiebold, the Columbine shooters talked frequently to their peers about animal mutilation. Their shooting spree took 12 lives and also their own.
Dr. Harold S. Kolewicz, Director of the Child Study of New York University had this to say about future violent offenders while still children; ”You have a child who has symptoms of aggression towards his peers, an interest in fire, cruelty to animals, social isolation, and many warning signs that the school has ignored”. This is a lethal combination, a ticking bomb that could explode at any time.
Abuse starts at home. Children need to be taught that killing a living thing is wrong and there are consequences, now and later. If a child shows signs of violence it should be dealt with immediately. Parents, schools, courts and the community need to pay more attention to potential risks to public and animal safety, and deal with these children who abuse accordingly. The courts need to stop looking at the age of the abuser but the cruelty of the crime and the potential of future violence towards society.
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Jumping back to the subject at hand of this man Eric Easley who abused this little horse. I knew Eric back many years ago when he was 13 or 14 yrs old. Eric and his two older sisters went through a tramatic time in their childhood years of being repeatedly molested by the mothers boy friend at the time who forced Eric to watch as he himself performed these acts on animals.
Eric showed signs of mental disorder at a young age and never recieved treatment that was needed. This by no means justifies what he did or what he is capable of doing. He went from raping a horse to raping an ex-girlfriend. He is in prison where he belongs but we all know he won’t stay there indefinitley so what happens when he’s let out?
I worry he will continue this self destructive pattern until he’s locked away for good. So does he slip through the cracks of society until he does something far worse like murder? I hope not. Hopefully Eric will get some sort of treatment before they allow him back into society. This is the outcome of what happens to many (not all) people who where abused in some way in their life. His mind is broken but maybe he will get his life straightend out before someone else or some other animal suffers.
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The following is a personal account – quite the opposite of the man the article sites, but illustrating how children may be influenced in either direction.
When my son was small we were visiting a woman who had some very young kittens. Another family was also visiting the woman. The children were playing outside (ages 5 and 6 years). Both of us mom’s were in the house chatting with the woman. In my side vision I saw a small object go up in the air. I rushed out to investigate just as another little furry missile was launched past me, up onto the roof. Immediately it became clear the kittens were being thrown up on the roof, rolling down, falling to the ground.
Boy, was I ever mad! I read the riot act to my son and the other two boys, then marched my son aside for more lecture, “You DON’T hurt living beings… EVER – unless you have to protect yourself from them hurting you!!!” (I had punished him recently for stomping on bees who were minding their own business, “drinking honey” from our lawn clover blossoms.)
When I simmered down my son was crying “for the baby kitties” and told me the other boys were throwing the kittens but he was trying to stop them.
Still angry about the kitten abuse, but relieved that my son had not taken part, I hugged him and reaffirmed that “We DON’T hurt living beings”, and he had done a good thing trying to protect them.
In his growing up years and since then, he always was (and is) the protector, be they 4 legged or 2 legged, and particularly for people with special challenges and disabilities (such as his sister who has cerebral palsy).
From time to time, in my animal advocacy efforts, the kitten incident comes to mind. Then, I also recall a pivotal point when I was 5, attending my first Rodeo. When the calf roping event started, I went ballistic – screaming, “Stop hurting the baby cows!! Leave them alone!!” No amount of explaining or shushing consoled or quieted me, and I finally had to be carried out… still screaming my demands. (And I’ve not shut up on the subject yet – over 60 years later, and I won’t till they lay me in the cold ground.) 🙂
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According to an article on Care2Causes – beastiality is legal in some of your
states in America – what can we say? Just sickening – and sorry to say but
the children usually learn from their parents on how animals are treated. Educate the children – you will not change an adult.
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