Special Treat ??“ Kay Seefeldt

June 12, 2005

HI Carol-- this is written about an article in the Morning Sentinel a couple days ago. After reading it, I spend most of the day writing and crying for this poor dog.

Beyond Cruelty

Kay Seefeldt

What could be the most horrific, terrifying way to die? Fire, drowning, or freezing to death. For a four year old mixed breed female canine in Presque Isle, Maine this past week, her death came at the hands of three brutal killers.

Three teenage boys (one 16 year old and two 17 year olds), kidnapped the pet from her family??™s yard. The helpless young dog was then tied to a fallen tree where the trio commenced to slice, stab, cut, and bludgeon her until her howls and whimpers mercifully ended.

To add to the gruesomeness of the crime, her broken and bloody body was discarded on a bike path near the Presque Isle High school and an elementary school for innocent children to find.

The names of these juveniles were not released, but the news article said they have been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and theft. Two of the youth were already on probation for other felonies. They are now being held at a juvenile correction facility; the other on house arrest. Their court date is set for August 4th.

I??™m a firm believer in letting the punishment fit the crime, but I can??™t even think of a punishment suitable enough for this type of abuse that goes beyond animal cruelty. One thing I am certain of, neither of them should be allowed to own a pet of any kind, ever.

What kind of sadistic joy could possibly come from torturing and murdering a defenseless family pet? Her life tragically silenced in exchange for a few minutes of their cruel, uncaring laughter.

What could possible provoke those boys to commit such a horrendous crime against one of God??™s creatures? This goes far beyond ???boys will be boys type mischief.??? To me this act was clearly premeditated. There is no excuse for what those three did, and they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. They do not deserve protection of anonymity from the public because they are teenagers. These teens are on the threshold of adulthood and definitely to the age of understanding of the carnage they created.

These boys need psychiatric care or, even more, God??™s divine goodness to overpower their life and set them free of the evil that has a hold on their hearts. Profiling of serial killers has uncovered animal abuse in many of their histories. What starts with animal abuse could turn into the killing of someone??™s child later in their lives. If they aren??™t rehabilitated to feelings of compassion and empathy for living things, it is hard to tell what road their heartless insensitivity will take them.

Some where over the rainbow bridge, I hope this faithful pet is at peace. Her eyes no longer terrified, but brimming with love once more. It would be wonderful to think she has another special family with an adoring boy or girl waiting there to love her again.

Kay Seefeldt <birdnest @ megalink.net>

?©6/11/05

Kay has had numerous stories published on Petwarmers, Gardenwarmers, 2theheart and Storytime Tapestry: "Clover Alert," ???Second Chances,??? "White Rose Wreath," and "Gull Trouble." She enjoys gardening, reading, writing, painting in watercolors, and teaching watercolors to adults. She and her husband share their home with 6 fids (feathered kids) and are continuously filling a variety of feeders outside their windows for their "other fids." She thanks God for all the blessings in her life - great and small.