# I pit cruel, heartless reprobates who shoot at innocent animals. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244 "2017-08-21T02:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/1 "2017-08-21T02:57:26Z")
> **[Cat loses leg after being shot in Thomaston](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2017/08/19/news/midcoast/cat-loses-leg-after-being-shot-in-thomaston/)** > > Police call it "tragic," and now they are hoping to find the person responsible. Seriously, to hell with the monster who did this. I’m not against hunting for food, and I’m not against shooting to kill something that is a legitimate threat to safety. But this? This is just the work of a sick sadistic piece of shit who wants to cause pain for the sake of causing pain. I hope he accidentally shoots himself in the balls and ends up having to have them amputated before he ever has a chance to reproduce. To hell with this worthless piece of human trash. Exile is too good for him! ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/2 "2017-08-21T06:13:59Z")
Very vile. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/3 "2017-08-21T07:45:45Z")
I support this pitting. Cruelty for the sake of cruelty is a terrible trait. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/4 "2017-08-21T10:21:11Z")
As you no doubt know, Maine has a significant feral cat issue, and Thomaston is not a “big city” kind of place. It would not surprise me at all if Harry was out availing himself of a snack at a neighbor’s bird feeder, chicken coop, or rabbit hutch, was mistaken for a feral cat, and paid the unfortunate price for it. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/5 "2017-08-21T14:08:31Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > As you no doubt know, Maine has a significant feral cat issue, and Thomaston is not a “big city” kind of place. It would not surprise me at all if Harry was out availing himself of a snack at a neighbor’s bird feeder, chicken coop, or rabbit hutch, was mistaken for a feral cat, and paid the unfortunate price for it. I can semi-support this (keep your cats inside, folks!) - but if someone shot Harry thinking he was feral, then finish the job and make sure he is dead. He certainly wasn’t running away with that leg. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/6 "2017-08-21T15:45:54Z")
I have cats, my own personal “rescue cats”. Every one of them was a stray or someone else’s throw-away. I keep them inside, but cats being cats there will always be a chance of one sneaking past me. It can happen. There is another cat, someone else’s that likes to visit my yard and sit in the sun on the roof of my garage. I have no patience for this kind of thing. It pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/7 "2017-08-21T15:51:05Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I can semi-support this (keep your cats inside, folks!) - but if someone shot Harry thinking he was feral, then finish the job and make sure he is dead. He certainly wasn’t running away with that leg. There is no justification for shooting a cat, feral or not. If it’s not your cat, it’s illegal to kill it in Maine. [M.R.S. Title 17, §1031](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17/title17sec1031.html) > [@](#): > > 1-C. Cat or dog; exceptions. Except as provided in subsections 1-D and 1-E, a person is guilty of cruelty to animals if that person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly: > A. Kills or attempts to kill a cat or dog. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; or [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).] > B. Violates paragraph A and, at the time of the offense, has 2 or more convictions for violations of this section, section 1032 or essentially similar crimes in other jurisdictions. Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime. [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).] > [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF) .] > 1-D. Licensed veterinarian. A licensed veterinarian or a person certified under section 1042 may kill a cat or dog according to the methods of euthanasia under subchapter 4. > [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF) .] > 1-E. Owner or owner’s agent. A person who owns a cat or dog, or the owner’s agent, may kill that owner’s cat or dog by shooting it with a firearm if the following conditions are met: > A. The shooting is performed by a person 18 years of age or older using a weapon and ammunition of suitable caliber and other characteristics to produce instantaneous death by a single shot; [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).] > B. Death is instantaneous; [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).] > C. Maximum precaution is taken to protect the general public, employees and other animals; and [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).] > D. Any restraint of the cat or dog during the shooting does not cause undue suffering. [2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §16 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).] ---
**Author:** ![Pippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5a626/32.png) [@Pippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pippers)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/8 "2017-08-21T22:02:03Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > There is no justification for shooting a cat, feral or not. If it’s not your cat, it’s illegal to kill it in Maine. It doesnt make a difference to me whether it’s legal or not. It’s vile and disgusting. So many people take pleasure is killing an animal, and when called on it they try to excuse their actions with crap like “there’s too many feral cats around and they’re bringing in diseases”. Bullshit, they simply want a reason to kill. Live trap, neuter or spay and release. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/9 "2017-08-21T22:28:51Z")
You know, during a raccoon incursion we tried to live trap the beasts and did get about four of them before they worked out that the cages were indeed traps… but when we woke up one night to a raccoon - you know, a wild animal - trying to climb up the foot of our bed I didn’t have any problem at all with my spouse shooting it dead. (The first time we used the crossbow. Subsequently, we purchased a sufficiently powerful airgun to dispatch a live raccoon without going entirely through a wall of the building). Look, I’m all for live trapping and being kind to animals, but at a certain point being an animal lover can put me and mine at risk, and I’m not willing to do that in my own home. A truly feral cat is a wild animal. I’d prefer to come to a non-violent solution (I have not one but two live-trap cages and an animal control pole) but if I can’t, and me and mine are at risk, then too bad for the cat. I assure you, I don’t take pleasure in killing. It’s a nasty thing to do, but less nasty than everyone in the family needing rabies shots or having to get surgery because of the damage caused by animal bites at least from my viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/10 "2017-08-21T23:46:48Z")
I only shoot guilty animals. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/11 "2017-08-22T00:41:05Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I can semi-support this (keep your cats inside, folks!) - but if someone shot Harry thinking he was feral, then finish the job and make sure he is dead. He certainly wasn’t running away with that leg. How do you know the shooter didn’t want to finish the job? How do you know he didn’t try really hard? The article has a photograph of the cat post-shooting. Someone knows where that cat is, apparently. So it’s not too late; go finish the job. > [@Pippers](#): > > So many people take pleasure is killing an animal, … Bullshit, they simply want a reason to kill. Double bullshit. There’s no evidence the shooter took pleasure in it, and you have no clue what they want reasons to do. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/12 "2017-08-22T02:21:59Z")
> [@Pippers](#): > > Bullshit, they simply want a reason to kill. > > Live trap, neuter or spay and release. This is my own practice, _however_ the evidence for its success is somewhat equivocal. In larger colonies it appears to be [less effective than trap and humanely euthanize](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23009077). And in areas where natives are under heavy pressure from ferals I would always advocate euthanizing any unadoptable cats - in some areas colonies simply can’t be allowed to exist, stable or not. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/13 "2017-08-22T03:20:12Z")
Forget it, Jake; it’s Thomaston. Seriously, I’ve driven US Route One up coastal Maine, Freeport to Ellsworth, since 1983, and Thomaston is the only town on that road with a distinctly creepy vibe. I’m not shocked that it harbors pet animal shooters. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/14 "2017-08-22T12:28:18Z")
My neighbors have a sweet, small black cat that they allow to roam the neighborhood. I worry that he’ll either meet with a similar fate, or get run over. ☹ Also, from the article: “…he could’ve mistaken it for a rat, a wharf rat or something like that…” What the hell kind of rats do you have in Maine that look and act like stripey orange cats?? ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/15 "2017-08-22T14:36:44Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Also, from the article: “…he could’ve mistaken it for a rat, a wharf rat or something like that…” > > What the hell kind of rats do you have in Maine that look and act like stripey orange cats?? While [wharf rats can be huge](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ks644nIP1Y4/TM4_k53FBMI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/r3Uxcsgjao8/s1600/giant-rats.jpg), they are easily distinguished from cats. That line smells like bullshit to me. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/16 "2017-08-22T14:49:17Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > What the hell kind of rats do you have in Maine that look and act like stripey orange cats?? Kinda makes me wonder whether the animal control officer has a pretty good idea who actually did it, and doesn’t want the guy to get caught, or wants him to be excused for it if he is? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-cruel-heartless-reprobates-who-shoot-at-innocent-animals/794244/17 "2017-08-22T15:00:08Z")
I really don’t like sport hunting, and I think that people who go out and shoot intelligent animals for nothing more than a trophy are no better than a star NFL quarterback who drowns injured pit bulls after a dog fight.