Teens tormenting animals at VBS

[Heart of Sword]

I didn't want them to get thrown into jail, and they won't be. Just the other day some teens (not the ones who killed the fish) beheaded some chickens to see if they'd run around with their heads cut off. All they had to do was clean the chicken coop for a little while and read a book on animals' feelings so that they wouldn't do that to animals again.

I think that they need to be told that it's illegal to do what they did, but anyway it's not considered animal cruelty to kill goldfish. However "teens will be teens" doesn't apply to everyone.

Everything's been taken care of though, the teens won't torture fish again, and at the next VBS I'm going to make sure that there isn't another fish pond.

[Vyse]

I agree Heart of Sword, what they did was very wrong, I really hope they don't do it again... its just a shame they don't feel any remorse about this...

[c-girl]

Those poor goldfish!! >OO<; It's worse than being eaten by a bird!

[Heart of Sword]

i dont like the humane society at all, they think animals have more rights then us, but anyways i really cant say much cuase ive done much worse things then just throwing a fish.

They don't think that animals have more rights than we do; they're just there to make sure that people treat animals right.

All the fish that survived found good homes though. ^^

[Rev. Doc]

Actually, since you are talking about minors here the church and any adult leadership may be held liable for the lack of supervision of the minors in regard to the mistreatment. It will depend on how far the Humane Society wishes to take this plus the fact that someone will most likely need to press charges against the minors for mistreatment if any action is expected to take place. Now, the Humane Society can do an investigation and they themselves can press charges. Sad part is, should this take place it will most likely find it's way to the press. You would be better off having the pastor and deacons of the church handle the situation along with any reprimand. When you begin bringing in secular organizations you must adhere to their regulations and societal expectations, which tends to show little mercy or grace which is how the church itself should handle it, with a firm yet loving attitude.

[Heart of Sword]

I'm re-emailing them telling them that everything has been taken care of and the teens won't be doing this again. That the leaders took care of it.

Then it will be dropped because it's not illegal to torment fish anyway. As long as the humane society knows that it won't happen again, nothing further will happen (they even specified that fish do NOT count as animals).

[EireWolf]

One thing you might tell the teens (or have someone who isn't quite as directly involved tell them) is that God commanded humans to "Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." This does NOT mean that we can do whatever we want to them... it means that we are to take care of them. In Genesis 9, God gave humans permission to eat animals, but not to torture them indiscriminately.

[TrigunX89]

That's just plain sick.

Tell the kids you'll throw THEM off of the roof and give them some perspective. I don't care if they're older than me. I'll still call them kids, because they have the minds of 5-year olds.

[Lunis]

A little while ago, some teens were arrested for beheading two chickens (the other four died of stress from watching...how sad).

Chickens can really die from watching other chickens die?! I did not know that!!! Wow! o_o

I feel really bad, because I have dont that before. On a lower scale, to a grasshopper, and when I was younger, but I still feel bad!! I caught a grasshopper, and kept throwing it down on the pavement, letting it get up, and then doing it again. I DON"T KNOW WHY!!! It lived, though, because I started feeling too guilty for hurting it for no reason. I'm so bad!!

Then again, I remember another time when I was even littler, I saw a little lizard and dropped something heavy on it!! I need a hug!! Forgive me, for I know not what I do!!

[SManBeyond]

I am very saddened to hear about this. The Bible does not allow cruelty towards animals.

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs 12:10.

[Kinkosami]

Yes, well said.

I agree that we should be looking out for the animals well being and obey the Lord by taking good care of them.
Getting the law involved it a bit extreme for something minor like this (yes minor). Kids are stupid and do stupid things, sometimes giving them a little talk is all that's needed.

I remember when I was little, my brother would go around smashing every bug that he saw. Not to be mean or to hurt them, just because. Me being an avid animal lover would cry at him to stop and finally end up telling my mother, who of course made him stop. He is a very calm, gentle person. He doesn't go around killing things just for fun... the way he acted was just... being human. We aren't perfect...

I'm not saying they were right to do that to the fish, but getting them in trouble with the law is just going to far... and that's good that you re-emailed them. The animal rights people don't need to get involved.

I'll pray for them and for you... I really did feel a bit sick reading about the poor goldfish. I love Gods creation and try very hard to keep them safe, I don't even like fishing I hope that doesn't happen again, but I think you handled it well, I would have yelled at them too.

[Fsiphskilm]

I would of cr

[Ashley]

Guys, when a mod says they will start deleting messages, they mean it. So please, if you don't have anything new to contribute, just don't post. That's unneccesary spam and it irritates everyone.